25 Legendary Indian Cricket Test Captains – A Storied Legacy

Cricket, often referred to as a religion in India, has a rich and storied history. The Indian cricket team’s journey in Test cricket has been marked by numerous captains who have shouldered the responsibility of leading the side on the international stage. From the very first captain to the modern-day leaders, let’s delve into the history of Indian cricket’s Test captains.

Cottari Nayudu: The Pioneer (1932-1934)

Cottari Nayudu made history by becoming India’s first-ever Test captain. He served from June 25, 1932, to February 10, 1934, leading the team in four matches. Unfortunately, under his leadership, the team didn’t secure a victory, with three losses and one draw, resulting in a win rate of 0.00%.

Maharajah of Vizianagram: A Brief Stint (1936)

The Maharajah of Vizianagram, also known as Vizzy, captained the team for a brief period from June 27, 1936, to August 15, 1936. Despite his short tenure, he managed to lead the team in three matches, achieving a draw rate of 66.67%, with no wins and two losses.

Nawab of Pataudi Sr: Post-Independence Captaincy (1946)

Post-independence, Nawab of Pataudi Sr took on the captaincy for three matches from June 22, 1946, to August 17, 1946. The team couldn’t secure a win during his leadership, resulting in a record of one loss and two draws, with a draw rate of 66.67%.

Lala Amarnath: The Visionary Leader (1947-1952)

Lala Amarnath’s captaincy spanned a significant period, from November 28, 1947, to December 12, 1952. In 15 matches, he secured two wins but also had six losses and seven draws, leading to a draw rate of 46.67%.

Vijay S Hazare: The All-Rounder Captain (1951-1953)

Vijay S Hazare, known for his exceptional all-round skills, captained the Indian team for 14 matches from November 2, 1951, to March 28, 1953. His leadership resulted in one win, five losses, and eight draws, with a draw rate of 57.14%.

Mulvantrai H Mankad: The Draw Specialist (1955-1959)

Mulvantrai H Mankad, a prominent all-rounder, captained for six matches from January 1, 1955, to January 21, 1959. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t secure a single victory during his tenure, resulting in a high draw rate of 83.33%, with one loss and five draws.

Ghulam Ahmed: A Short Stint (1955-1958)

Ghulam Ahmed led the team in three matches from November 19, 1955, to December 31, 1958. With no wins, two losses, and one draw, his captaincy resulted in a draw rate of 33.33%.

Polly Umrigar: A Balanced Record (1955-1958)

Polly Umrigar’s captaincy included eight matches from December 2, 1955, to November 28, 1958. He managed two wins, two losses, and four draws, maintaining a draw rate of 50.00%.

Hemu R Adhikari: A Single Draw (1959)

Hemu R Adhikari had a short-lived captaincy, leading the team in one match on February 6, 1959, which resulted in a draw.

Datta Gaekwad: Struggles as Captain (1959)

Datta Gaekwad’s captaincy saw four matches from June 4, 1959, to August 20, 1959. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t secure a single win during his leadership, resulting in a 100.00% loss rate.

Pankaj Roy: A Lone Loss (1959)

Pankaj Roy captained in one match on June 18, 1959, which resulted in a loss.

Gulabrai Ramchand: A Mixed Bag (1959-1960)

Gulabrai Ramchand’s captaincy included five matches from December 12, 1959, to January 23, 1960. He secured one win, two losses, and two draws, maintaining a draw rate of 40.00%.

Nari Contractor: Leading with Draws (1960-1962)

Nari Contractor took charge for 12 matches from December 2, 1960, to March 7, 1962. He managed two wins, two losses, and eight draws, with a draw rate of 66.67%.

Nawab of Pataudi Jr: A Long Reign (1962-1975)

Nawab of Pataudi Jr had the longest captaincy tenure, leading the team for 40 matches from March 23, 1962, to January 23, 1975. Under his leadership, the team secured nine wins, suffered 19 losses, and achieved 12 draws, resulting in a draw rate of 30.00%.

Chandu Borde: A Single Loss (1967)

Chandu Borde captained in one match on December 23, 1967, which resulted in a loss.

Ajit Wadekar: The Mid-70s Captain (1971-1974)

Ajit Wadekar led the team for 16 matches from February 18, 1971, to July 4, 1974. His captaincy resulted in four wins, four losses, and eight draws, with a draw rate of 50.00%.

Srinivas Venkataraghavan: A Balanced Record (1974-1979)

Srinivas Venkataraghavan captained in five matches from December 11, 1974, to August 30, 1979. Unfortunately, his captaincy saw no wins, two losses, and three draws, with a draw rate of 60.00%.

Sunil Gavaskar: The Wall of Indian Cricket (1976-1985)

Sunil Gavaskar, one of India’s greatest batsmen, served as captain for 47 matches from January 24, 1976, to January 31, 1985. Under his leadership, the team secured nine wins, suffered eight losses, and achieved 30 draws, resulting in a draw rate of 63.83%.

Bishen Bedi: Spin Maestro’s Captaincy (1976-1978)

Bishen Bedi, known for his left-arm spin, captained the team for 22 matches from February 5, 1976, to November 14, 1978. He secured six wins, suffered 11 losses, and achieved five draws, with a draw rate of 22.73%.

Gundappa Viswanath: A Brief Stint (1980)

Gundappa Viswanath led the team for two matches from January 29, 1980, to February 15, 1980. His captaincy resulted in no wins, one loss, and one draw, with a draw rate of 50.00%.

Kapil Dev: The 1983 World Cup Hero (1983-1987)

Kapil Dev, the iconic all-rounder, captained in 34 matches from February 23, 1983, to March 13, 1987. Under his leadership, the team secured four wins, suffered seven losses, and achieved 22 draws, resulting in a draw rate of 64.71%.

Dilip Vengsarkar: A Struggle as Captain (1987-1989)

Dilip Vengsarkar served as captain for 10 matches from November 25, 1987, to April 28, 1989. He secured two wins, suffered five losses, and achieved three draws, with a draw rate of 30.00%.

Ravi Shastri: A Lone Win (1988)

Ravi Shastri captained in one match on January 11, 1988, which resulted in a win.

Kris Srikkanth: Captaincy in 1989

Kris Srikkanth had four matches as captain from November 15, 1989, to December 9, 1989. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t secure a win during his tenure, resulting in a 100.00% draw rate.

Mohammad Azharuddin: The 90s Captain (1990-1999)

Mohammad Azharuddin captained for 47 matches from February 2, 1990, to February 24, 1999. Under his leadership, the team secured 14 wins, suffered 14 losses, and achieved 19 draws, resulting in a draw rate of 40.43%.

Sachin Tendulkar: A Brief Stint (1996-2000)

Sachin Tendulkar, the Little Master, captained for 25 matches from October 10, 1996, to March 2, 2000. He secured four wins, suffered nine losses, and achieved 12 draws, with a draw rate of 48.00%.

Sourav Ganguly: The Bengal Tiger (2000-2005)

Sourav Ganguly, one of India’s most charismatic captains, served as captain for 49 matches from November 10, 2000, to September 20, 2005. Under his leadership, the team secured 21 wins, suffered 13 losses, and achieved 15 draws, resulting in a draw rate of 30.61%.

Rahul Dravid: The Wall’s Leadership (2003-2007)

Rahul Dravid, known as “The Wall,” captained in 25 matches from October 16, 2003, to August 9, 2007. He secured eight wins, suffered six losses, and achieved 11 draws, with a draw rate of 44.00%.

Virender Sehwag: A Short Stint (2005-2012)

Virender Sehwag had four matches as captain from December 18, 2005, to January 24, 2012. He secured two wins, suffered one loss, and achieved one draw, with a draw rate of 25.00%.

Anil Kumble: Leading from the Front (2007-2008)

Anil Kumble, the legendary leg-spinner, served as captain for 14 matches from November 22, 2007, to October 29, 2008. He secured three wins, suffered five losses, and achieved six draws, with a draw rate of 42.86%.

MS Dhoni: Captain Cool’s Era (2008-2014)

MS Dhoni, known for his calm demeanor, captained for 60 matches from April 11, 2008, to December 26, 2014. Under his leadership, the team secured 27 wins, suffered 18 losses, and achieved 15 draws, resulting in a draw rate of 25.00%.

Virat Kohli: The Modern Captain (2014-2022)

Virat Kohli led the team from December 9, 2014, to January 11, 2022, captaining in 68 matches. He secured 40 wins, suffered 17 losses, and achieved 11 draws, with a win rate of 58.82% and a draw rate of 16.18%.

Ajinkya Rahane: Stepping In (2017-2021)

Ajinkya Rahane stepped in as captain from March 25, 2017, to November 25, 2021, overseeing six matches. He secured four wins and two draws, with a win rate of 66.67% and a draw rate of 33.33%.

KL Rahul: A Single Test (2022)

KL Rahul captained in a single test on January 3, 2022, which resulted in a loss.

Rohit Sharma: The New Captain (2022-2023)

Rohit Sharma took charge from March 4, 2022, to July 25, 2023, leading the team in two matches and achieving a perfect record of two wins.

Jasprit Bumrah: A Single Test (2022)

Jasprit Bumrah captained in one test on July 1, 2022, which resulted in a loss.

Conclusion

This comprehensive journey through the history of Indian cricket’s Test captains showcases the evolution of leadership in the sport. From the pioneering days to the modern era, these captains have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket. Each one brought their unique style and vision, contributing to the rich tapestry of Indian cricketing history.

To know more about the Rich history of Indian Cricket team ODI Captains: Charting the Path: 25 Influential Indian ODI Captains and Their Impact

To know more about the Rich history of Indian Cricket team T20 Captains: History of Indian T20 Captains: Charting India’s Men’s Twenty20 International Leadership

To know more about the Indian Cricket team Current Captain: Captain of Indian Cricket Team

---

FAQs

For more cricket related content like this stay tuned with crikzone.

If you are interested in IPO-related news and updates then make sure to check out ipohunts.

If you are interested in Politics, Football, or technology make sure to check out the blogsroom.