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People always talk about great IPL captains, but some just couldn't bring their A-game. Looking at wins and losses, Kevin Pietersen (Delhi Daredevils, RCB) had the worst record. He only won 3 out of 17 games (17.64%). His time as captain wasn't great because the team lineup kept changing, and he didn't manage things well. Others in the running for worst captain include Kumar Sangakkara (31.91% wins with KXIP, Deccan Chargers, and SRH) and Mahela Jayawardene (33.33% with KXIP, Kochi, and Delhi). Both had a hard time adjusting their strategies to the IPL's quick pace.
| Captain | Matches | Wins | Win % | Teams Led |
| Kevin Pietersen | 17 | 3 | 17.64% | Delhi Daredevils, RCB |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 47 | 15 | 31.91% | KXIP, Deccan Chargers, SRH |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 30 | 10 | 33.33% | KXIP, Kochi Tuskers, Delhi |
| Brendon McCullum | 14 | 3 | 21.43% | KKR, Gujarat Lions |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (2025) | 19 | 8 | 42.10% | CSK |
| Axar Patel (2025) | 13 | 5 | 45.83% | Delhi Capitals |
| RM Patidar (2025) | 13 | 10 | 76.92% | RCB |
| MS Dhoni | 235 | 136 | 57.87% | CSK, RPS |
| Rohit Sharma | 158 | 87 | 55.06% | Mumbai Indians |
| Virat Kohli | 143 | 66 | 46.15% | RCB |
| Yuvraj Singh | 43 | 17 | 39.53% | KXIP, PWI |
It's been a mixed bag for the new guys leading teams this season. Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) is having a tough time stepping into MS Dhoni's role, with only 8 wins out of 19 games (that's 42.10%). Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals) is doing only a bit better, with 5 wins in 13 matches (45.83%). But these stats don't even come close to RM Patidar (RCB), who incredibly won 76.92% of his games in 2025. And though nobody has been as bad as Pietersen, Gaikwad's problems show how much pressure there is when you're leading a well-known team.
To be a winning IPL captain, it really comes down to three things:
Win rate: It's pretty simple – some captains, like Pietersen and Sangakkara, just didn't win enough.
Team Context: It's a lot harder if you take over a team that's not very good, like when David Hussey led KXIP in 2012.
Smart moves: If a captain makes bad calls at the auction, messes up bowling changes, or doesn't handle players well (like Brendon McCullum, who only won about 21% of his games with GL/KKR), it all adds up to losses.
In the IPL, being a captain is tough, and what you're remembered for depends on how well you adjust and whether you win. Legends like Dhoni and Rohit Sharma (with about 56% wins) have killed it, but then you have examples like Pietersen and Sangakkara, who were brilliant players but just couldn't make it work as leaders, so these guys serves as a warning tales.
Who's the best IPL captain ever?
It's probably MS Dhoni (CSK). He's won 136 out of 235 games (that's like 57.87%), took home four championships, and stays cool when things get tough.
Who's had the worst luck in the IPL?
Poor Yuvraj Singh. He scored over 3,000 runs, but never won a championship. And get this: his teams missed the playoffs seven times when he was captain of KXIP and PWI.
Which captain's lost the most IPL games?
That would be Dhoni (97 losses). Thing is, he's played so many games and won all those titles. Virat Kohli (RCB) is next with 70 losses, but he hasn't won a trophy yet.
