Famous Cricket Captains: Inspirational Leaders

Cricket is a game of thrill and entertainment and cricket fans always want these two out of every game. However, more than these two things, a cricket fan wants his team to win every time on the field. The pressure of winning games is always there on every player who is on the field. More than the pressure on an individual player, the leader of the team has a huge pressure to lead the whole team in the right direction. The captain’s job is not only to win the matches but to maintain harmony between the players who come from every part of the country and every background.

A team consists of players who are always insecure about their position in the team but a captain’s job is to clear that insecurity and keep the individual focused towards the goal. In this article, we have compiled a list of the most successful captains in international cricket.

5) Imran Khan – Pakistan

Imran Khan was one of the most prominent leaders from Pakistan who displayed his heroics in the 1992 World Cup. He won the 1992 World Cup and placed Pakistan’s cricket on the international map. Imran was known for his charismatic personality and the charm he carried with him. Very few cricket fans are aware that he retired after Pakistan’s loss in the semi-final of the 1987 World Cup but decided to come back to the team because his country needed him. As an allrounder, Imran Khan could handle any difficult situation and bring the best out of his team.

4) Sourav Ganguly – India

Sourav Ganguly not only led team India in difficult situations but also changed Indian cricket forever. Ganguly was the first leader under whom the team started displaying aggression on the field. Every individual was well aware of his role in the team and Ganguly was also known to maintain harmony among all the teammates. Sourav led team India in 146 ODI matches and scored a win in 76 fixtures. In the Test format, Ganguly captained India in 49 Tests and scored a win in 21 matches and 15 ended up in a draw.

3) Steve Waugh – Australia

Steve Waugh’s captaincy was the beginning of the golden era for Australian cricket. Under Steve Waugh’s captaincy, the Australian team reached new heights and became one of the most dominant teams in international cricket. They had a record-breaking winning streak of 16 consecutive Test victories, which started in October 1999 and ended in February 2001. This achievement solidified their position as the number one Test team in the world. Under his tenure as a captain, Australia also retained the Ashes in England in 2001 and 2003 and won the 1999 World Cup.

2) Ricky Ponting – Australia

Another Australian who took cricket in the nation much forward and dominated international cricket for the longest time. Under his leadership, Australia won ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003 and 2007, making them three-time champions during his captaincy. Ponting was known for his aggressive and attacking style of play, and he brought the same approach to his captaincy. Ponting captained Australia in 230 ODIs and won 165 out of them. He maintained his ODI win percentage at 76.14% and there is no way any other Australian skipper has come closer to date.

1) MS Dhoni – India

The biggest talent Indian cricket has ever produced and the man who is still known for his calm and composed leadership, MS Dhoni, tops the chart with his achievements in international cricket. Dhoni has won every ICC Trophy for Team India which includes winning the ODI World Cup after 28 Years. MS Dhoni-led team India won 178 ODIs out of 331 matches. He also led Team India to lift the T20 World Cup trophy in 2007 which became a historical moment in Indian Cricket history.