It is true that a well-balanced team is required to win any international competition. The captain, on the other hand, is the most critical ingredient in developing a world-class squad. Every team requires a true leader who can take command when the chips are down and lead the team out of difficult situations.
When it comes to the ODI World Cup, there have been a lot of captains who have led their teams to tremendous heights. Ricky Ponting and Clive Lloyd are the captains with the highest win percentage. Several renowned captains have left their mark on this event over the years.
Here are the most successful ODI World Cup captains of all time:
1. Ricky Ponting | 89.65%
Ricky Ponting, the former captain of Australia, is on top. He led Australia to two straight World Cup wins, in 2003 and 2007.
Ponting has the best winning rate (89.65%) among players who have captained 15 or more World Cup games. Under him, Australia only lost two World Cup games and won 26 of 29 (No Result: 1).
2. Sir Clive Llyod | 88.23%
They won the first World Cup, which was held in 1975, and then won it again in 1979. The Caribbeans used to be a strong team, but they couldn’t make it to the 2023 World Cup.
The famous Sir Clive Lloyd, who helped the Windies get back on their feet, led the Caribbeans to these victories. Lloyd won 15 out of 17 games, with an 88.23 percent win rate.
Also Read | Why is Cricket in the West Indies on the Decline?
3. MS Dhoni | 82.35%
MS Dhoni is the best white-ball captain India has ever had. He is the only Indian captain to have won all three ICC limited-overs trophies: the T20 World Cup in 2007, the World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013.
In 2011, India won the second of its two World Cups while Dhoni was in charge. As a captain in World Cups, Dhoni won 14 of the 17 games.
4. Hasnie Cronje and Kapil Dev | 73.33%
Dhoni won India’s second World Cup title, but the great Kapil Dev opened the account in 1983. In an exciting and historic final match at Lord’s, India beat the West Indies against all odds. Kapil led India in 15 World Cup games and won 11 games, registering a winning rate of 73.3%.
Hansie Cronje also led in the same number of matches, but South Africa only lost three World Cup games when he was in charge.
5. Allan Border | 68.75%
Australia has won more World Cups than any other team. They are the only team to have won the title more than twice (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2015).
Allan Border, who was their captain when they won in 1987, started the winning run. Border also led Australia in the 1992 World Cup. As captain, he won 11 of the 16 games he played.
Final Words
The performance of a cricket captain ultimately depends on a variety of variables, including the calibre of the team they have available, the playing conditions, and the luck of the draw.
Ponting and Lloyd, though, are two leaders who have constantly proven their capacity to guide their teams to the highest level of triumph. Both of them are deserving of their spots at the top of the list of the best ODI World Cup captains ever.
As the 2023 ODI World Cup in India approaches, all cricket fans are hopeful that their respective team captains will lead from the front and bring the cherished trophy home.
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