3 Indian ODI Captains Who Never Lost A Match In Their Career

A captain is the most important figure in a cricket team than any other sport. Unlike Football, the captain is not there just for the namesake but also to shoulder the responsibilities for a team in crunch situations.

Anyone can come up with their own definition of the best captain and the qualities required to maintain that high-level position. A great captain will be judged by his strategies, tactics, decision-making skills, identifying the right players for the right role and most importantly being accountable for the consequences in tough times.

ODI is a format which has been in the limelight for its future in the competitions of different T20 leagues posing heavy schedules across the calendar year. Before the chapter of T20 cricket came to the fore, ODI cricket had already produced glorious moments for posterity to cherish. What happened in the 2019 World Cup final was just a cherry on the cake.

Australia’s Ricky Ponting holds the record of standing in most ODI matches (230) and winning the most games (165) as the captain in the format. MS Dhoni is the most decorated captain in the history of Indian cricket in ODIs, having led the team in 200 matches, 110 wins, one World Cup (2011) and one Champions Trophy (2013).

A total of 26 Indian players have taken the responsibility of donning the captain’s armband since Ajit Wadekar became the first captain of the ODI team in 1974. Only three players have a 100% winning record in the 50-over format.

3 Indian ODI Captains Who Never Lost A Match In Their Career

3. Anil Kumble

Kumble got his first opportunity to lead India in an ODI game against England in 2002, this was much before he led the national side in 14 Tests. Kumble was leading India against England in Sourav Ganguly’s absence.

The Chennai game was the third ODI of the six-match series and the series was tied at 1-1. Ajit Agarkar’s 4/34 and Kumble picking a couple of wickets helped India to bowl out England for 217 in 48 overs. Openers Virender Sehwag (51) and Sachin Tendulkar (68) struck half-centuries to set the tone for the chase. Wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra was not out on 29 as India chased the moderate score with 20 balls to spare.

It remains the only ODI match for Kumble’s captaincy before he filled the shoes of Test captaincy in 2007.

2. Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane was named the captain of the Indian team for the Zimbabwe tour in 2015. The Indian team played three ODIs and a couple of T20I matches against the African side. India swept the ODI series 3-0 but levelled the T20I series 1-1.

Rahane slammed 112 runs in the third ODI as India won by 83 runs to whitewash Zimbabwe. It was the only instance of Rahane in charge of India’s white-ball team. Apart from that, Rahane has never lost a Test match under his captaincy for the Indian team, winning four Tests in six matches with the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 being the highlight of his career.

1. Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir was appointed the captain for the five-match ODI home series against New Zealand with selectors resting five senior players including the likes of MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag after the Test series.

Gambhir finished the series with the most runs – 329 in five innings at an average of 109.66, including two centuries – to bag the player of the series. India completed a 5-0 ODI whitewash against the Black Caps.

Gambhir led India in the fifth ODI against the West Indies in 2011 with then stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag injured for the game. India won by 34 runs despite a scintillating 119-run knock by Kieron Pollard threatening the game away from the hosts.