Difference Between the Captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli

Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and now concurrent skipper Virat Kohli have all led the Indian team with aplomb. A captain plays a crucial role in the team’s success. After all, it is rightly pointed out that a leader is someone who knows the way, shows the way and goes all along the way.

It is a captain’s responsibility to instil confidence among his players, especially the younger members of the team. Furthermore, a skipper should also back its players not only when it is all hunky-dory but even when the odds are against them.

In fact, Ganguly, Dhoni and Kohli have done an excellent job while leading the Indian team. Furthermore, their records are a testimony of this fact.

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Sourav Ganguly’s Captaincy:

ODI Record: 146 matches, Won: 76, Lost: 65, Winning Percentage: 53.90

Test Record: 49 matches, Won: 21, Lost: 13, Drawn: 15, Winning Percentage:42.5.

Southpaw Ganguly gave the confidence to the Indian team to do well in the foreign conditions. In fact, he was instrumental in making the most of players like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan respectively

Ganguly lead in an aggressive way and India savoured great success in his leadership. Furthermore, Sourav Ganguly always put his weight behind his players.

More importantly, Ganguly had a vision like great leaders do. He quietly knew what kind of players he wanted in his team, and he even fought for them with the selectors. Furthermore, veteran gave ample opportunities to his players to showcase their skills. He knew how to take his players along with him.

Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly led the most popular side of India. He led the team that was full stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble.

However, he was never shy of confidence. In 2003 World Cup final led India from the front, but India could not cross the final hurdle against Australia.

Ganguly had his charisma of leading the Indian team. He had his class and India started to gain the confidence of playing well overseas while he was at the helm.

Characteristics: Aggressive, Backed his players to the hilt, Got the better-desired results from his players, gave ample opportunities to players to prove their mettle.

MS Dhoni Captaincy:

ODI Record: Matches: 199, Won: 110, Lost: 74, Tied: 4, No Result: 11, Winning Percentage : 59.57.

Test Record: Matches: 60, Won: 27, Lost: 18, Drawn: 15, Winning Percentage: 45.

T20I Record: Matches: 72, Won: 41, Lost: 28, Tied: 1, No Resut: 2.

MS Dhoni was handed over the captaincy in his young days of International career. Dhoni did justice to his role when he won the World Twenty20 Cup in 2007 with a young Indian team.

Later, Dhoni led India to the World Cup glory in 2011 and also the Champions Trophy final in 2013. In fact, he had the confidence to promote himself in the World Cup final despite having a mundane tournament with the bat. Thus, he was brave in his decision making.

Dhoni always had leadership qualities, and he got better with experience. Moreover, Dhoni had a calm head on his shoulders which helped in making the best decisions during crunch situations of the match.

In fact, Dhoni reactions were always the same. He neither showed his disappointment nor his excitement whatever may be the result. He might feel the pressure within himself, but he will never put it on display for the opposition.

Dhoni was always one step ahead of the opposition. He knew what cards he should be playing at what time of the game. Therefore, he knew how he should get the best of his players.

Meanwhile, Dhoni’s field placements were always entertaining and exciting in the same breath. He knew where a particular batsman would target his runs.

On the other hand, Dhoni was a bit defensive in the Test format, especially while playing in the overseas conditions. However, Dhoni was the king of the limited overs format. Consequently, he always led from the front in the white ball version.

It is often noted that Dhoni gets the accolades for guiding India to three major titles. However, Dhoni has always given credit to the collective team effort of the side.

In fact, a captain has to face criticism if his team fails to perform well. Similarly, a captain is praised when his team does well. Therefore, the skipper of the side is always under the radar.

Characteristics: Cool, Ability to take the right decisions at a proper time, Get the better of his players, Giving confidence to the youngsters.

Virat Kohli captaincy:

ODI Record: Matches: 52, Won: 39, Lost: 12, No Result: 1, Winning Percentage: 76.47

Test Record: Matches 37, Won: 21, Lost: 7, Drawn: 9, Winning Percentage: 56.75.

T20I Record: Matches: 17, Won: 11, Lost: 6, Winning Percentage: 64.70.

Virat Kohli is said to be still a work in progress as a leader of the Indian side. The current Indian skipper loves to take the bull by its horns, and he loves to have a challenge.

Kohli always likes to go for a win which goes on to show his attacking mindset. He had shown the same promise when he went for the target in Adelaide and played two masterclass innings.

Meanwhile, Kohli is the most consistent batsman in the contemporary times and his batting has shown upward swing after he was handed over the captaincy reins.

However, Virat Kohli can be overaggressive with his captaincy. Thus, he can put extra pressure on his players. In fact, his record as the captain of the side is staggering, but he demands the same intensity from his players as he exhibits aggressiveness. In fact, it is crucial to respect each other’s game.

On the other hand, Kohli has also given confidence to young players like Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Both the wrist spinners have been instrumental in India’s success, and Kohli has played his part in giving consistent opportunities to both spinners.

However, Kohli has not yet found an answer to India’s number four conundrum. He has not given enough opportunity to one particular batsman, and he needs to provide a longer rope to one batsman to yield results.

Kohli can also put pressure on other players with his aggressive way of leading. He can even get excited, and there is no doubt that he needs to take a leaf out of the predecessor’s book, MS Dhoni.

Virat Kohli’s has got a right side, and his captaincy will be judged on the success rate in overseas conditions. Indian bowlers have done well for him, and the Indian skipper will want more application from his batsmen.

Characteristics: Sometimes over-aggressive, excited, passionate leader, wants to push the limits, gives confidence to the young players. And above all a batting mainstay to shoulder the responsibility.

In the postscript, it could understand that Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have done wonders respectively for its nation.