Over the 17 seasons of the Indian Premier League, only eight captains have managed to lift the coveted trophy. The IPL’s format and top-level talent make winning the title very challenging. With the best domestic (Indian) and overseas players competing fiercely, it takes exceptional leadership to guide a team to glory. Here’s a look at the top four IPL captains with outstanding records ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
3 Best captains in IPL history
| Captain | Team | Titles | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 5 | 133 |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | 5 | 87 |
| Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 71 |
MS Dhoni
5-time champion and former India skipper MS Dhoni is the best captain in IPL history. The wicketkeeper skipper has the most wins (133) and joint-most titles (5) in his 16-year career with the Chennai Super Kings. Dhoni has the best win percentage among captains who have led their side in 50 or more matches.
Rohit Sharma
Despite leading his side in fewer matches (68) than Dhoni, Rohit Sharma has won an equal number of IPL titles as captain (5). Rohit has the second-most wins as captain in the IPL (87) and the second-best win percentage as captain (55.06) in the top 10.
Gautam Gambhir
Apart from Rohit and Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir is the only captain to win more than one title. Leading the Kolkata Knight Riders from 2009 to 2018, Gambhir managed to win two titles in 2012 and 2014.
The southpaw has the third-best win percentage for a captain (55.03) in the top 10.
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