Over the years, Indian cricket has produced some excellent teams. While India initially struggled in the first several decades after gaining Test status, they started to make a significant impact in international cricket by the late 1960s. Under the captaincy of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, India recorded their first-ever Test victory on foreign soil, winning in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1968. Moreover, they went on to win that entire series 3-1. Then in 1971, Ajit Wadekar led India to historic Test series victories over the West Indies and England. This marked a turning point for Indian cricket, which was forever transformed. In this feature, the top 5 Indian cricket teams of all time are ranked and discussed.
Kohli’s Fighters
Virat Kohli took over the Indian cricket team captaincy from MS Dhoni during a transitional period. Dhoni had retired from Test cricket, while other veteran players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, and Virender Sehwag had left international cricket altogether. Kohli built his own team and legacy, with only a few players like Ravichandran Ashwin providing a link between the old and new teams.
As Test captain, Kohli has led India in 60 matches, winning 36 and losing only 14. He is India's most successful Test captain to date. Kohli led India to their first-ever Test series victory in Australia in 2018-19, though he was not captain for their recent series win there. The team Kohli built was responsible for that later success. While Kohli has managed Test wins in England and South Africa, he is yet to achieve that in New Zealand. However, India has been dominant at home under Kohli, winning 23 of their 60 Tests.
Kohli's record as India's ODI captain is also exceptional. In 95 ODIs as captain, India has won 65 matches. Under Kohli's leadership, India reached the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup and the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. India has won multiple ODI series in Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa during Kohli's captaincy tenure. There is still room for Kohli to cement his legacy as India's greatest captain.
Dhoni’s Cool Guys
MS Dhoni is widely regarded as India's greatest cricket captain ever. Under his leadership, India achieved remarkable success, winning the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy - making him the only captain to have won all three major ICC titles. Dhoni's one-day international record is impressive, as he led India in 200 matches, winning 110 and losing 74. He also guided India to victory in the 2007-08 CB series in Australia.
However, Dhoni's captaincy had some notable setbacks. India lost the 2015 World Cup semi-final, the 2012 tri-series in Australia, and suffered an embarrassing ODI series defeat in Bangladesh in 2015 under his leadership.
In Test cricket, Dhoni had a mixed record, winning 27 and losing 18 of the 60 matches he captained. While he led India to the top of the Test rankings on the back of strong home performances, his away record was less impressive. India did manage to beat New Zealand in 2009 and draw a series with South Africa in 2010 under Dhoni. But his tenure also included heavy 0-4 defeats in Australia and England in 2011, as well as a 1-3 loss in England in 2014. These disappointing away results have somewhat tarnished Dhoni's legacy as one of India's all-time great captains.
Ganguly’s Brigade
Sourav Ganguly stepped up as India's captain during a turbulent period marked by a match-fixing scandal. He deserves credit for guiding the Indian cricket team back to success. Ganguly brought an aggressive and assertive approach to the team, and he backed a group of talented young players, instilling them with the confidence to become match-winners.
As India's captain in Test cricket, Ganguly led the team in 49 matches, winning 21, losing 13, and drawing 15. One of his most notable achievements was leading India to stop Australia's remarkable 16-match winning streak in Tests in 2001 on home soil. India went on to win that Test series. While India did not win any Test series in Australia or England under Ganguly, it was during his tenure that the team started to win more matches abroad. They achieved memorable Test draws in Australia (2003) and England (2002), including famous victories in Adelaide and Leeds.
In ODI cricket, Ganguly captained India to the finals of the 2003 World Cup and the 2000 Champions Trophy, though they fell short against Australia and New Zealand respectively. Overall, Ganguly led India in 146 ODIs, with the team winning 76 and losing 65. Under his captaincy, India enjoyed successful tours, winning 4 matches in Australia, 7 in England, and 11 in South Africa.
Kapil’s Devils
Kapil Dev was a pivotal figure who transformed the landscape of Indian cricket. In 1983, he led India's underdog team to a stunning World Cup triumph over the mighty West Indies, a victory that instilled a newfound belief in India's ability to compete on the global stage.
As India's captain, Kapil oversaw 74 ODI matches, with the team emerging victorious in 39 of those contests. He also guided the team to the final of the prestigious Benson & Hedges World Series in 1986, ultimately falling short against Australia.
While India's Test record under Kapil's leadership was more modest, with 4 wins and 7 losses in 34 matches, it's important to note that Test victories were a rarity for the team during that era. Notably, Kapil's India managed to defeat England 2-0 on their home soil in 1986, a significant accomplishment.
Beyond the numbers, Kapil's influence on Indian cricket went far deeper. He was a true game-changer, inspiring a new generation of cricketers and transforming the team's self-belief and competitiveness on the international stage.
Dravid’s Soldiers
Rahul Dravid served as the captain of the Indian national cricket team for a relatively short period, but he was able to achieve significant accomplishments even during that time. Dravid took over the captaincy from Sourav Ganguly in the midst of the turbulent Ganguly-Greg Chappell saga, and he brought a much-needed sense of stability to the team.
As Test captain, Dravid led India in 25 matches, winning 8, losing 6, and drawing 11. One of his major achievements was leading India to a Test series victory in England in 2007, a feat that no other Indian captain has been able to replicate since.
In One-Day International (ODI) cricket, Dravid captained India in 79 games, with the team winning 42 and losing 33, while the remaining matches ended without a result. The Dravid-Chappell era also saw India record an impressive run of 16 consecutive successful run chases.
However, Dravid's tenure as captain had its challenges. One of the low points was India's early exit from the 2007 World Cup, which was a devastating chapter in the team's history.
Overall, Rahul Dravid's stint as the Indian cricket team captain, though relatively short, was marked by several notable accomplishments, including a Test series win in England and a successful run of run chases in ODIs. His leadership helped provide much-needed stability to the team during a turbulent period.