6 Captains Who Have Lost More Than One ICC Final In International Cricket

Winning an ICC final is a big achievement for any team, as they achieve a tag of world champions. ICC tournaments hold a great value in international cricket, as all the strongest teams compete against each other in the tournament.

There are 4 major ICC tournaments currently- ICC ODI World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and ICC World Test Championship.

When a captain wins an ICC trophy, he is lauded for his efforts and effective leadership. There are many captains who led their teams to ICC finals and won the ICC tournament, thereby, scripting their names in the history books.

However, there are also few captains whose fate did not favor them in ICC finals. Here, we take a look at 6 captains who have lost more than one ICC final in international cricket.

6 Captains Who Have Lost More Than One ICC Final In International Cricket

6. Brian Lara – 2 (CT 1998, CT 2006)

Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara is the first captain in this list. Brian Lara managed to win one ICC trophy while leading West Indies, which was ICC Champions Trophy 2004. The Brian Lara-led West Indies side defeated England in the final after chasing down a 218-run target in the match.

However, the left-handed batsman has also lost two ICC finals as a skipper. Under his captainship, West Indies lost two ICC Champions Trophies in 1998 and 2008.

West Indies reached the finals of ICC Champions Trophy 1998- the first edition of the tournament. However, they lost to South Africa in the final by 4 wickets, after the Hansie Cronje-led Proteas comfortably chased down a 246-run target.

Under Brian Lara, West Indies faced Australia in ICC Champions Trophy 2006 final. However, with Brian Lara’s team facing a batting fallout with just 138 runs on the scoreboard, Australia comfortably chased down the target with 8 wickets.

5. Sourav Ganguly – 2 (CT 2000, ODI WC 2003)

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly is another captain to lose 2 ICC finals. The left-handed batsman lost the Champions Trophy 2000 final and ODI World Cup 2003 final while leading India. However, the former Indian skipper has won one ICC title- the ICC Champions Trophy 2002 when the trophy was shared by finalists India and Sri Lanka.

Sourav Ganguly took India to the finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2000 against New Zealand. In spite of Dada smashing a century (117) in the final, India’s 265-run target was successfully chased by the Stephen Fleming-led Kiwi side. With Chris Cairns’ unbeaten century of 102, New Zealand won the final by 4 wickets in the last over.

Ganguly also led India in the ICC ODI World Cup 2003 final against Australia. However, Ricky Ponting-led Aussies’ mammoth score of 359 in the first innings was an uphill target for India, as they lost by 125 runs.

4. Brendon McCullum – 2 (CT 2009, ODI WC 2015)

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum is another captain who has lost ICC finals on 2 occasions. As the skipper of New Zealand, McCullum lost the finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2009 and ODI World Cup 2015. In both these crucial games, the Kiwis were outplayed by Australia. In both these ICC finals, New Zealand failed to put up a powerful target for Australia which became the reason for their loss.

In the final of Champions Trophy 2009, New Zealand batted first and could reach only 200/9 in 50 overs. Skipper Brendon McCullum, who was also the opener, was gone for a duck. This turned out to be an easy target for the Aussies, who won the match by 6 wickets with an unbeaten 105 by opener Shane Watson.

In ODI World Cup 2015 final, New Zealand were bowled out for just 183 batting first, with skipper McCullum again losing his wicket for a duck. For Michael Clarke-led Australia, the target was a piece of cake as they won by 7 wickets in just 33 overs.

3. Kumar Sangakkara – 2 (T20I WC 2009, ODI WC 2011)

Kumar Sangakkara is another captain to lose more than 1 ICC finals. The former Sri Lankan skipper lost ICC finals twice- during ICC T20 World Cup 2009 and ICC ODI World Cup 2011. In the second edition of the T20I World Cup in 2009, the Kumar Sangakkara-led Sri Lankan team faced Pakistan in the final.

In spite of Kumar Sangakkara’s unbeaten fifty (64*) in the match, Sri Lanka’s low total of 138/6 while batting first was an easy chase for Pakistan. With Shahid Afridi’s unbeaten 54, Pakistan won by match by 8 wickets.

Kumar Sangakkara led Sri Lanka to another ICC final during ODI World Cup 2011 against India. Sri Lanka smashed a decent total of 274/6 batting first. For Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene played a wonderful knock of unbeaten 103.

However, with Gautam Gambhir’s 97 and skipper MS Dhoni’s 91 run-knocks, India won the match by 6 wickets.

2. Mahela Jayawardene – 2 (ODI WC 2007, T20I WC 2012)

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene is another captain to lose 2 ICC finals. The right-handed batsman led Sri Lanka to the finals of ICC ODI World Cup 2007 and ICC T20I World 2012, but his team lost the finals on both occasions. In ODI World Cup 2007, Sri Lanka faced a strong Australia side led by Ricky Ponting.

Adam Gilchrist, who was then on the peak of his form during the tournament, took Australia to 281/4 in the 1st innings with his 149-run knock. The rain-affected match was reduced to just 38 overs. Sri Lanka, needing 269 runs for victory in 36 overs, could not emerge successful against the Australian bowling attack. The Jayawardene-led side could only reach 215/8 and lost the match by 53 runs.

Under skipper Jayawardene, Sri Lanka faced West Indies in ICC T20 World Cup 2012 final. This time, Sri Lanka needed just needed 138 runs for victory after restricting West Indies to just 137/6. However, spinner Sunil Narine’s 3 wicket haul proved lethal for Sri Lanka. Two crucial run-outs also added to Sri Lanka’s worry as they were eventually bowled out for 101, losing the ICC final to West Indies by 36 runs.

1. Virat Kohli – 2 (CT 2017, WTC 2021)

Indian skipper Virat Kohli is another captain to lose 2 ICC finals. Virat Kohli has won two ICC finals but as a player when he was part of the Indian team that won the ODI World Cup 2011 and Champions Trophy 2013 finals under skipper MS Dhoni. However, under Kohli’s leadership, the Indian team lost the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final to Pakistan and ICC World Test Championship 2021 final to New Zealand.

Facing Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final, the Virat Kohli-led side had to chase a gigantic total of 339. However, India’s top order collapsed against Pakistan’s dangerous pace attack, and they were bowed out for just 158. India lost the match by 180 runs.

In the recent ICC World Test Championship final, Virat Kohli and co. lost to Kane Williamson-led New Zealand by 8 wickets. New Zealand pacers bowled out India for just 217 and 170 in both innings, and later comfortably chased down the 139-run target in the 2nd innings.