As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season draws near, cricket enthusiasts around the world are eagerly waiting for their favourite team and the captains who will lead them to win the prestigious IPL trophy. We all know how a tournament can turn into a fierce competition between two teams, and the role of the captain is paramount in determining the success of the team.
In IPL 2023, we have some great captains from different teams. Whether it be Rohit Sharma, who is leading Mumbai Indians, or the captain cool MS Dhoni, who leads Chennai Super Kings, the leaders of each team have proven their worth in this tournament. If you are wondering who is leading your favourite team for this IPL season, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss the current list of IPL captains along with team-specific captains from 2008 to 2023. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
List of IPL 2023 Captains
We have 10 teams this time for the IPL 2023 that will be competing with each other in league matches. Each team will play 14 matches during the league stages. The captains of each team will do their best to win the trophy. We have MS Dhoni leading CSK, Shreyas Iyer leading KKR, KL Rahul heading LSG, and more. Check out the complete list of captains for this year’s IPL.
IPL Team | Captain |
Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni |
Kolkata Knight Riders | Nitish Rana |
Royal Challengers Bangalore | Faf du Plessis |
Rajasthan Royals | Sanju Samson |
Sunrisers Hyderabad | Aiden Markram |
Gujarat Titans | Hardik Pandya |
Delhi Capitals | David Warner |
Punjab Kings | Shikhar Dhawan |
Lucknow Super Joints | KL Rahul |
Also Read: IPL 2023 Schedule: Full List of Matches, Start Date, Timings, Venues and More
IPL Team Captains from 2008 to 2023
IPL tournament has seen several captains over the past few years that brought their unique leadership qualities and helped the team to go on to later stages. There are various captains leading the teams, including MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and more. Here’s what you need to know about each team.
Chennai Super Kings
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been the captain for CSK for the longest time. Under his leadership, the team won the IPL title four times.
Year | Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Win Percentage |
2008 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25% |
2009 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 14 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 64.29% |
2010 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25% |
2011 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 18 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 55.56% |
2012 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 18 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 55.56% |
2013 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67% |
2014 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 62.50% |
2015 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 58.82% |
2018 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 68.75% |
2019 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 58.82% |
2020 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2021 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 68.75% |
2022 | Ravindra Jadeja | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 25.00% |
2022 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 33.33% |
Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma has been the most successful captain for Mumbai Indians. The Indian player has been the team’s captain for 10 years, and during this tenure, Mumbai Indians have won 5 IPL titles.
Year | Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Win Percentage |
2008 | Sachin Tendulkar | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2009 | Sachin Tendulkar | 14 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 42.86% |
2010 | Sachin Tendulkar | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 68.75% |
2011 | Sachin Tendulkar | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 62.50% |
2012 | Harbhajan Singh | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 58.82% |
2013 | Rohit Sharma | 19 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 68.42% |
2014 | Rohit Sharma | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 46.67% |
2015 | Rohit Sharma | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 62.50% |
2016 | Rohit Sharma | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2017 | Rohit Sharma | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 70.59% |
2018 | Rohit Sharma | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2019 | Rohit Sharma | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 68.75% |
2020 | Rohit Sharma | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 68.75% |
2021 | Rohit Sharma | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2022 | Rohit Sharma | 17 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 23.53% |
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli has served as the captain for Royal Challengers Bangalore for the longest time. He has been the captain of the team for eight seasons.
Year | Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win Percentage |
2008 | Rahul Dravid | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 28.57% |
2009 | Kevin Pietersen | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 33.33% |
2009 | Anil Kumble | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 75.00% |
2010 | Anil Kumble | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 57.14% |
2011 | Daniel Vettori | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 71.43% |
2012 | Daniel Vettori | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 56.25% |
2013 | Virat Kohli | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25% |
2014 | Virat Kohli | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 35.71% |
2015 | Virat Kohli | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 56.25% |
2016 | Virat Kohli | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 62.50% |
2017 | Shane Watson | 15 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 20.00% |
2018 | Virat Kohli | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2019 | Virat Kohli | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 42.86% |
2020 | Virat Kohli | 15 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 53.33% |
2021 | Virat Kohli | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 64.29% |
2022 | F du Plessis | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25% |
Delhi Capitals
Check out the list of captains that have headed the Delhi Capitals team in each season of IPL.
Year | Captain | Matches | Wins | Losses | Ties/ | No Results | Win Percentage |
2008 | Virender Sehwag | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2009 | Gautam Gambhir | 15 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 66.67% |
2010 | Gautam Gambhir | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2011 | James Hopes | 14 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 35.71% |
2012 | Virender Sehwag | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2013 | Mahela Jayawardene | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 18.75% |
2014 | Kevin Pietersen | 14 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 14.29% |
2015 | JP Duminy | 16 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 43.75% |
2016 | Zaheer Khan | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2017 | Zaheer Khan | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2018 | Gautam Gambhir | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16.67% |
2018 | Shreyas Iyer | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 37.50% |
2019 | Shreyas Iyer | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 62.50% |
2020 | Shreyas Iyer | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25% |
2021 | Rishabh Pant | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 62.50% |
2022 | Rishabh Pant | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders’ longest-serving captain was none other than Gautam Gambhir. The Indian player was appointed as the captain of KKR from 2011 to 2017.
Year | Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win Percentage |
2008 | Sourav Ganguly | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% |
2009 | Brendon McCullum | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14.29% |
2009 | Sourav Ganguly | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2010 | Sourav Ganguly | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2011 | Gautam Gambhir | 15 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 53.33% |
2012 | Gautam Gambhir | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 72.22% |
2013 | Gautam Gambhir | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 37.50% |
2014 | Gautam Gambhir | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 78.57% |
2015 | Gautam Gambhir | 14 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 57.14% |
2016 | Gautam Gambhir | 15 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 53.33% |
2017 | Gautam Gambhir | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25% |
2018 | Dinesh Karthik | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 56.25% |
2019 | Dinesh Karthik | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2020 | Dinesh Karthik | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2020 | Eoin Morgan | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 40.00% |
2021 | Eoin Morgan | 17 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 52.94% |
2022 | Shreyas Iyer | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals has seen a quite shuffle for the captain position throughout the IPL seasons. Check out the full list here:
Year | Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win Percentage |
2008 | Shane Warne | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 81.25% |
2009 | Shane Warne | 14 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 35.71% |
2010 | Shane Warne | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2011 | Shane Warne | 14 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 42.86% |
2012 | Rahul Dravid | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 43.75% |
2013 | Rahul Dravid | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 61.11% |
2014 | Shane Watson | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2015 | Steven Smith | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2018 | Ajinkya Rahane | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 46.67% |
2019 | Ajinkya Rahane | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 42.86% |
2020 | Steve Smith | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2021 | Sanju Samson | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 42.86% |
2022 | Sanju Samson | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 58.82% |
Sunrisers Hyderabad
David Warner has been one of the most successful captains for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Under his leadership, the Sunrisers Hyderabad has won an IPL title along with 35 matches.
Year | Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win Percentage |
2013 | Kumar Sangakkara | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 58.82% |
2014 | Shikhar Dhawan | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2015 | David Warner | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2016 | David Warner | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 64.71% |
2017 | David Warner | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 64.29% |
2018 | Kane Williamson | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 58.82% |
2019 | Kane Williamson | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 40.00% |
2020 | David Warner | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2021 | David Warner | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16.67% |
2021 | Kane Williamson | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 37.50% |
2022 | Kane Williamson | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings has seen a quite shuffle for the captain position throughout the IPL seasons. Check out the full list here:
Year | Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win Percentage |
2008 | Yuvraj Singh | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90.91% |
2009 | Yuvraj Singh | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 53.85% |
2010 | Kumar Sangakkara | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 28.57% |
2011 | Adam Gilchrist | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2012 | Adam Gilchrist | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2013 | Adam Gilchrist | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2014 | George Bailey | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2015 | George Bailey | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 21.43% |
2016 | Murali Vijay | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 28.57% |
2017 | Glenn Maxwell | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 50.00% |
2018 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2019 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2020 | KL Rahul | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 42.86% |
2021 | KL Rahul | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 37.50% |
2021 | Mayank Agarwal | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16.67% |
2022 | Shikhar Dhawan | 14 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 57.14% |
Gujarat Titans
As for the Gujarat Titans team is concerned, it was introduced in 2022. Hardik Pandya was the captain of the team, and under his leadership, the team won its maiden IPL trophy. The team played 16 matches, out of which they won 12 matches and lost 4.
Lucknow Super Giants
Just like Gujarat Titans, the Lucknow Super Giants team made its debut in 2022. The team was headed by KL Rahul for IPL 2022 season. During the tournament, the KL Rahul-led team played 15 matches, out of which they won 9 matches and lost 6 matches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is the No 1 captain in IPL history?
MS Dhoni is the most successful captain in the IPL. He is the longest-serving captain for CSK in IPL history. Moreover, the team won 4 IPL titles under his leadership.
2. Which team has used the most number of captains in IPL history?
Punjab Kings is the only team in IPL history that has used the most number of captains in the history of IPL. Shikhar Dhawan is the 13th captain of the team.
3. Who is the youngest captain to win IPL?
Rohit Sharma was the youngest captain in IPL history who became the captain for Mumbai Indians and won an IPL title. During that time, the player was 26 years old.
4. Which IPL team never changed its captain?
Chennai Super Kings is the only team that has not changed its captain since its inception.
5. Who is the first non-Indian captain to win IPL?
Shane Warne was the first non-Indian captain in the IPL season. He was the captain of Rajasthan Royals in 2008, which was the same season when the team won its maiden IPL title.