7 Captains with Most Trophies in Cricket

In competitive cricket, whether on the international stage or in leagues, having a strong captain is crucial for a team’s success. Cricket enthusiasts have seen how certain captains have proven their leadership skills, achieving significant success.

While some captains didn’t have the opportunity to lead in T20 leagues, which were less common during their era, they still excelled on the international stage. This success is often seen as more prestigious than winning league titles.

7. Moises Henriques- 2 titles

Moises Henriques is well-known in Australia’s domestic cricket scene, although he hasn’t made a big impact on the international stage. He has played 44 matches across all formats for Australia, scoring 636 runs and taking 17 wickets.

In the Big Bash League (BBL), Henriques has been leading the Sydney Sixers since 2013. Under his captaincy, the Sixers clinched two titles. He guided them to victory in the 2019-20 season, defeating the Melbourne Stars in the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) final. This win ended the Sixers’ eight-year trophy drought.

In the following season, Henriques continued to lead aggressively, and the Sixers successfully defended their title. Currently, he shares the record for the most BBL trophies won by a captain with Adam Voges, who achieved similar success with the Perth Scorchers.

6. Gautam Gambhir- 2 titles

Gautam Gambhir was a prominent figure in international cricket for India. His stellar batting performances helped India clinch the T20 and 2011 World Cup, making them world champions. Despite his success as a batsman, Gambhir didn’t get many opportunities to captain the national team regularly.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gambhir led both Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With KKR, he achieved significant success by winning two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. In 2012, Gambhir guided KKR to their maiden IPL victory, defeating MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in the final.

In 2014, Gambhir’s leadership saw KKR lift the trophy again, beating Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) in the final at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. He remains the only captain to have won the IPL multiple times, alongside MS Dhoni of CSK and Rohit Sharma of Mumbai Indians.

5. Clive Lloyd- 2 titles

Clive Lloyd led the West Indies cricket team from 1974 to 1985, overseeing remarkable success. Known for their fearless approach, the West Indies became a formidable force under Lloyd’s captaincy during the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1975, Lloyd led his team to victory in the inaugural One-Day International (ODI) World Cup without losing a match. He played a pivotal role with the bat, scoring 158 runs in five matches at an impressive strike rate of 104.63.

The West Indies continued their dominance in the 1979 World Cup, again remaining unbeaten under Lloyd’s leadership. They defeated England in the final at Lord’s to retain the trophy. Lloyd is the only captain to win consecutive ODI World Cups alongside Australia’s Ricky Ponting.

Clive Lloyd’s tenure as captain is remembered for the West Indies’ aggressive playing style and his strong leadership on the field.

4. Dwayne Bravo- 4 titles

Dwayne Bravo played a crucial role in West Indies cricket from 2004 to 2021, excelling as both a batsman and a bowler. In addition to international cricket, he significantly impacted T20 leagues like the IPL and Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Bravo holds the record for the most wickets in the CPL, taking 124 in 97 matches with an economy rate 8.69. He is also the most successful captain in CPL history, having led teams to four championship wins.

Bravo led the Trinbago Knight Riders to three titles between 2015 and 2018. In their first victory in 2015, he claimed 28 wickets in 13 matches with an economy rate of 7.34, finishing as the tournament’s top wicket-taker. In 2021, he guided the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots to their first CPL title, showcasing his leadership skills again.

3. Ricky Ponting- 4 titles

Ricky Ponting was a formidable force in the Australian cricket team during the 2000s. Known for his aggressive batting and confident leadership, Ponting became Australia’s most successful ODI captain after taking over in 2002.

Under Ponting’s captaincy, Australia won the ODI World Cup in 2003 and 2007. In 2003, they defeated India by 135 runs in the final, with Ponting scoring an unbeaten 140 off 121 balls. Four years later, in the 2007 World Cup held in the West Indies, Australia clinched another title, matching Clive Lloyd’s record of consecutive World Cup victories.

Ponting also led Australia to victory in two Champions Trophy tournaments. They first won the Champions Trophy in 2006 by defeating the West Indies in India. In 2009, Australia secured their second Champions Trophy title by beating New Zealand in the final held in Centurion, South Africa.

Ponting’s success as a captain in both the World Cups and Champions Trophy made him one of the most accomplished leaders in Australian cricket history.

2. Rohit Sharma- 6 titles

Rohit Sharma has found immense success as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL alongside MS Dhoni of CSK. Under Rohit’s leadership, MI achieved a historic milestone in 2020 by winning their fifth IPL title, making him the first captain to achieve this feat.

Rohit took over as MI’s captain in 2013 during a challenging season where the team had three wins and three losses. However, his leadership turned things around, and MI won their first IPL title that year. This victory marked a significant achievement for Mumbai Indians in the T20 tournament.

Since then, Rohit has led MI to further IPL victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. They faced CSK in three of these finals and emerged victorious each time. In addition to IPL successes, Rohit led MI to victory in the Champions League T20 in 2013.

Rohit Sharma’s captaincy has solidified his reputation as one of the most successful leaders in IPL history.

1. MS Dhoni- 10 titles

MS Dhoni contributed significantly to Indian cricket through his batting, wicketkeeping, and captaincy prowess. His leadership was instrumental in India’s success in winning three ICC trophies.

In 2007, Dhoni captained India to victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa. India secured a thrilling five-run win over Pakistan in the final, showcasing Dhoni’s effective leadership skills.

Impressed by his captaincy during the T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Dhoni as the full-time captain for India in limited-overs cricket. In 2011, under Dhoni’s captaincy, India clinched the World Cup after 28 years. Dhoni played a crucial role in the final against Sri Lanka, scoring an unbeaten 91 runs to lead India to victory.

Continuing his success, Dhoni guided India to win the 2013 Champions Trophy with his adept leadership.

In addition to his achievements in international cricket, Dhoni is a revered captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In 2010, he led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to victory in the IPL and Champions League T20. CSK continued their dominance under Dhoni’s leadership with another IPL title win in 2011.

Following a seven-year gap without an IPL trophy, Dhoni led CSK to their second Champions League T20 title in 2014.

In 2018, after a two-year suspension, the anticipation was high as CSK returned to the IPL. Dhoni’s guidance was instrumental as the team clinched their third IPL title. Under his leadership, CSK continued to thrill the audience with two more IPL titles in 2021 and 2023.

MS Dhoni’s captaincy legacy in international cricket and IPL has cemented his reputation as one of the greatest cricketing leaders ever.

Conclusion

In cricket, the captains with the most trophies are often celebrated for their leadership and success. Players like Ricky Ponting from Australia, MS Dhoni from India, and Clive Lloyd from the West Indies are among those who have achieved notable success as captains, winning multiple trophies, including ICC Cricket World Cups and ICC Champions Trophies. Their ability to lead their teams to victory in major tournaments has solidified their legacy in the sport.

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