Leading a cricket team like India is not an easy task. There’s the huge expectation of over billions of fans on the back. So it’s difficult to thrive under such pressure.
But, fortunately, India have been blessed with some great captains. And they showed their greatness by taking India to ICC trophy wins.
Winning ICC tournaments isn’t a straightforward thing. One needs to navigate past the best opponents to clinch the titles, and only shrewd skippers have done so with finesse.
And here we’ll see those Indian captains who led their sides to ICC trophy victories.
1. Kapil Dev
ICC Trophy Won: Cricket World Cup 1983
The ODI World Cup was in its third edition in 1983. And the West Indies entered it being two-time champions.
So, everyone was expecting them to make a three-peat. But an underdog Indian team led by Kapil Dev pulled off a stunning victory over the double world champions in the final.
Few thought India had a chance at winning the trophy after dismal performances in the first two editions. But the third World Cup edition saw them make a 360-degree comeback.
In a low-scoring thriller, Dev guided his men cleverly to become India’s first-ever captain to win an ICC trophy. That victory brought a complete change in Indian cricket in the years to come.
2. Sourav Ganguly
ICC Trophy Won: Champions Trophy 2002 (Shared)
India were the joint winners of the 2002 Champions Trophy, but not many fans remember this. And they can’t be blamed at all, as the final wasn’t noteworthy.
The rain completely spoiled the title clash between India and Sri Lanka, not once but twice. On the original scheduled day, Sri Lanka batted through their innings, but when India started the chase, rain washed out the match. There was a repeat on the reserve day, meaning both teams shared the trophy.
Before that, though, Sourav Ganguly guided India well through to the final. Had it not been for the rain, maybe India would have been the outright winners.
Also Read | Top 5: Most Successful Captains in Champions Trophy
3. MS Dhoni
ICC Trophies Won: T20 World Cup 2007, Cricket World Cup 2011, Champions Trophy 2013
After getting the reigns of the T20I team in 2007, Dhoni didn’t disappoint in his first major assignment. He led the Indian side to the title victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. India defeated Pakistan in the final by five runs.
Dhoni didn’t just stop there. Four years later, Captain Cool took India to their second ODI World Cup triumph.
It was after 28 years that the Men in Blue laid their hands on the trophy after beating Sri Lanka in the final. And who can forget Dhoni’s winning six?
Dhoni completed the white-ball ICC trophy set in 2013. Under his leadership, India clinched the Champions Trophy. In a tight final, they overcame hosts England to win the 50-over event for the second time.
4. Rohit Sharma
ICC Trophy Won: T20 World Cup 2024
After being part of the 2007 T20 World Cup squad and the 2013 Champions Trophy squad, Rohit Sharma found himself in yet another title-winning team in 2024. But this time as a captain.
The dashing opener was the captain of the Indian team in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Throughout the campaign, India were a dominant force.
They didn’t drop a single match, leading into the final, where they knocked down South Africa. With that, Sharma became the fourth Indian captain to win an ICC tournament.
Following that, he retired from T20I cricket, leaving behind a legacy and a plethora of records.
Sharma would have added two more trophies if Australia hadn’t thwarted India from winning the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup in 2023.
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