Who is the most successful ODI captain? Most Successful ODI Captains in Cricket ever
A sport widespread across continents like fishes in the ocean, Cricket is not just a game for cricket lovers. It is an emotion, a feeling that knows no boundaries, a game that connects billions of people. With a devotion like that from the audience, comes a great deal of support for cricketers of all cricket formats. The most hailed form of limited overs cricket – The One Day International format has witnessed stellar performances by players over the years. ODI cricket has one of the best captains showcasing their leadership skills on-field. This article is about the most successful captains in ODI cricket and their triumphs.
Who is the most successful captain in ODI cricket ever?
It’s one thing being a player but it requires another level of dedication to lead a team as a captain. The best captain is the one who excels at his performance every day while uplifting the stats of all his players. Winning matches with flying colors and learning from each setback carve out the most robust and victorious leaders. We have compiled a list of the top 10 most successful ODI captains ever in the history of cricket. Based on the matches, wins, titles, and a number of tournaments, this list is authentic and brimming with all the specifications you need. Let’s walk down the cricket lanes and experience the ODI format unfolding before us.
Ricky Ponting (Australia)
You cannot talk about captains without mentioning the name of the Australian legend Ricky Ponting. The most successful captain in cricket, Ricky Ponting is Australia’s longest-serving captain in the 50 overs format. In his career of 10 years as captain, Ponting has led the country during its golden era securing 165 wins in 230 ODI matches.
Ricky Ponting Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| RT Ponting | 230 | 165 | 51 | 2 | 12 | 76.14 |
Best Performances as Captain
Ponting is one of the greatest batsmen to play the game and his innings have always been masterclass! His best innings have to be the 140 vs India in the 2003 World Cup. A stunning performance marked by a sheer class led Australia to the victory in 2003 World Cup.
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MS Dhoni (India)
The man behind the wickets, the greatest wicketkeeper India will ever have, a star batsman, a heartthrob of millions, and the best captain in the ODI history of India is MS Dhoni. He is known for his breathtaking performances under tight situations. MS Dhoni is one of the best finishers in cricket and he has exceptional captaincy skills. Under his captaincy, India won the 2011 World Cup, the 2007 WT20, and the Champions Trophy in 2013. Known as “captain cool”, Dhoni is the most successful captain of India.
MS Dhoni Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| MS Dhoni | 200 | 110 | 74 | 5 | 11 | 59.52 |
Best Performances as Captain
MS Dhoni is the captain who led the Indian team to victory in the 2011 World Cup after 28 years. His shocking 91 vs Sri Lanka in World Cup 2011 is christened in the memories of every cricket fan since.
Allan Border (Australia)
Allan Robert Border AO, known as Allan Border and by his playing nickname A.B. was the captain of the Australian team for many years and one of the best ODI captains Australia has ever had. In 1987, he became Australia’s highest run scorer in Test cricket and continued the legacy to become the world’s top test scorer. Australian team emerged as a gem under his captaincy and he guided the team through all the highs and the lows.
Allan Border Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| AR Border | 178 | 107 | 67 | 1 | 3 | 61.42 |
Best Performances as Captain
Border was never a natural leader but when given the responsibility, he proudly stood the test of time as captain. He led the Australian team to magnificent glory, from winning the World Cup in 1987 and then dominating the Ashes two years later. He holds a record of 5000 runs and 50 dismissals in One-Day Internationals.
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Hansie Cronje (South Africa)
Wessel Johannes Hansie Cronje was the captain of the South African national cricket team in the 1990s. Despite the scandalous life he has had, Cronje was an outstanding captain. His contributions as captain of South African cricket are remarkable.
Hansie Cronje Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| WJ Cronje | 138 | 99 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 73.70 |
Best Performances as Captain
Hansie Cronje’s best performance has to be the 101 at Eden Park where South Africa won by a whopping 93 runs. If you want to read more about the early and international cricket life of Hansie Cronje, click here.
Stephen Fleming (New Zealand)
Showcasing on-point captain and leadership skills is Stephen Paul Fleming ONZM, former skipper of the New Zealand national cricket team. Fleming is the coach of the New Zealand cricket team and he is hands-down one of the best batsmen in the history of New Zealand cricket ever. Leaving a trail of legacy behind, Stephen is the current head coach of the 4-time IPL winner, Chennai Super Kings. Fleming is extraordinarily famous for his sharp tactical methods on-field. Remarkable personalities have always been in awe of his captaincy skills, and he has been praised as the “best captain in world cricket” by Shane Warne. Stephen has proved to be a blessing for the New Zealand team both as a captain and as a batsman.
Stephen Fleming Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| SP Fleming | 218 | 98 | 106 | 1 | 13 | 48.04 |
Best Performances as Captain
Fleming’s best ODI innings have to be the unbeaten 134 he made against South Africa and led New Zealand to win the 2003 Cricket World Cup. He is the winning captain of the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy, which is New Zealand’s only ICC trophy to date in the ODI format.
Graeme Smith (South Africa)
Graeme Craig Smith was announced as the captain of the national South African cricket team in 2003. Under his captaincy, the South African cricket team attained peak success and was often highlighted as the best travelling team in the world. Apart from his terrific captaincy skills, GC Smith is also praised as one of the best openers of all time. Initially, Smith was not known as a natural leader but he grew in the role and became one of the best ODI skippers of all time.
GC Smith Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| GC Smith | 150 | 92 | 51 | 1 | 6 | 64.23 |
Best Performances as Captain
GC Smith is the best captain in the history of South African cricket and he is their all-time leading scorer in international cricket. His 134 vs India on the Eden Gardens in 2005 is the highest ODI score in his career. His striking performance in this match inspired wonder in the hearts of millions.
Mohammad Azharuddin (India)
Mohammad Azharuddin is a former international cricketer and former captain of Indian national cricket team. Azharuddin was known for his attacking batting performances and wristy strokeplay. He was a great captain, an amazing batsman and superb fielder. His career came to an end when he was banned for life by BCCI because of a match-fixing conviction.
Mohammad Azharuddin Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| M Azharuddin | 174 | 90 | 76 | 2 | 6 | 54.16 |
Best Performances as Captain
153 vs Zimbabwe is his highest ODI score. He was a determined captain and scored runs whenever it was needed. Click here to read more about Azhar’s performances.
Arjun Ranatunga (Sri Lanka)
Deshamanya Arjun Ranatunga was the driving force in Sri Lankan cricket that uplifted the status of Sri Lankan cricket. After succeeding as the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team in 1988, Ranatunga nurtured all aspects of the team for the next 11 years. The Sri Lankan team survived and thrived under his captaincy. His contributions in ODI cricket are astounding – he was the brain behind the strategy of scoring as many runs in the first 15 overs of an ODI match with field restrictions.
Arjun Ranatunga Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| A Ranatunga | 193 | 89 | 95 | 1 | 8 | 48.37 |
Best Performances as Captain
He made 7456 ODI runs for Sri Lanka and he also has 4 ODI hundreds to his name. He was the winning captain in the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He has momentous records and trophies to his name in ODI cricket.
Saurav Ganguly (India)
It is safe to say that Saurav Ganguly is one of the most prominent names in Indian cricket. The prolific personality; Saurav Ganguly was a sensational batsman with over 11,000 ODI runs and a legacy of being one of the most successful cricket captains. His various awards include the Padma Shri he was adorned in 2004. He is the ninth-highest run-scorer in ODI history. He is without a doubt one of the most successful captains in ODI cricket.
Saurav Ganguly Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| SC Ganguly | 147 | 76 | 66 | 0 | 5 | 53.52 |
Best Performances as Captain
Saurav Ganguly is the only cricketer to win four consecutive man of the match awards in One Day Internationals. He is also one of only 10 batsmen to score more than 10,000 runs in ODIs.
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Imran Khan (Pakistan)
Imran Khan served as Pakistan’s team captain between 1982-1992 and won the 1992 Cricket World Cup – the only victory of Pakistan in the competition. Khan has had a glorious career as captain of Pakistan cricket team until he joined ranks in politics and became the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Imran Khan Statistics as Captain in ODI
| Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
| Imran Khan | 139 | 75 | 59 | 1 | 4 | 55.92 |
Best Performances as Captain
Imran Khan was an all-rounder and had mystical bowling abilities. In ODIs, he played 175 matches and scored 3709 runs at an average of 33.41. His best ODI bowling was 6 wickets for 14 runs, a record for the best bowling figures by any bowler in an ODI inning.
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