Most Successful ODI Captains Ever In Cricket History

Cricket is indeed a team’s game and there has to be a perfect balance between the bowling as well as batting attack of a squad. However, nothing comes easy in life as there are many uncertainties that one has to tackle. In the game of cricket, it’s the captain that has to make some bold decisions and come up with a master plan for a glittering victory.

A captain always has the final say and his actions are the benchmark. But with power comes great responsibilities, as well, and while every cricketer once has a dream of donning the skipper’s cap, leading a squad is easier said than done.

The captain is the most important member in the dressing room, with every team’s approach on the field often imitating their captain’s nature.

Moreover, in a sport like cricket, where every team member gets its own share of acknowledgment in case of a victory, it’s the captain who has to be on the receiving end of all the criticism, be it about his own performance or about making some wrong decisions on the field.

That said, there are some who are born to become a great leader and despite their share of failures, one can’t just question their ability to lead a team. On that note, here we take a look at the most successful ODI captains ever in cricket history, who have become the benchmark for any youngster looking to become a great leader.

Most Successful ODI Captains Ever In Cricket History

5. Stephen Fleming, New Zealand 1997-2007

Stephen Fleming led New Zealand in 218 ODIs out of which he emerged victorious in 98. In his tenure as the captain, he led the black caps three World Cups while managing to progress to the two semi-finals before losing to Asian opposition, i.e. Pakistan in 1999 and Sri Lanka in 2007.

Regarded as one of the Most Successful ODI Captains for New Zealand, Fleming’s best knock as skipper was an undefeated 134 (132 balls) against South Africa which helped his side chase a rain-adjusted target of 229 off just 39 overs.

4. Hansie Cronje, South Africa 1994-2000

After making his debut in the 1992 WC, Hansie Cronje emerged as an excellent all-rounder. Despite being the youngest team member, he was appointed as the captain of South Africa for the tour of Australia in 1994-95.

Many compare MS Dhoni to Cronje as both share a composed approach on the field, rarely letting their emotions get the better of them. His record of 99 wins in One Day Internationals has brought him to the 4th position in this list of most successful ODI captains ever in cricket history. He has captained South Africa in a record 138 ODIs and 53 Tests.

3. Allan Border, Australia 1985-1994

Oftenly regarded as Captain Grumpy due to his determination Allan Border was inducted into the squad when Australia was reeling for victories in the cricketing world. Being a reluctant leader, Allan Border turned Australia into a force to reckon in the 90’s and 00’s.

In ODIs, Border led Australia in 178 ODIs which is the second highest number of matches for an Australian skipper after Ricky Ponting. Out of these, he won 107 matches, led Australia in two World Cups (1987 and 1992), winning the former. The legendary cricketer has a fairly decent winning percentage of 58.73% in ODIs on foreign turf and a pretty impressive tally of 4439 runs as captain with an average of 32.16.

2. MS Dhoni, India 2007-2016

Marked as the most successful Indian captain, MS Dhoni is the only skipper to win all three ICC limited-over tournaments. Under his leadership, India won World T20 2007, the 2011 ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy 2013. He also led India to six finals of limited-over tournaments which involved five or more teams with MS Dhoni winning four of them. This is also the joint-most by any captain in limited-overs cricket.

MS Dhoni sits on the second spot on this list of ‘Most Successful ODI Captains Ever In Cricket History’ as he has won 110 ODI matches while scoring 6,633 runs as a skipper in ODIs. He boasts an average of 53.92 in the format which is the second highest for any captain with at least 1,000 runs in ODIs. The 36-year-old has 15 Man of the Match awards under his belt as the Indian captain while enjoying a batting average of 70.83 in ODI wins for the team which is the third highest for any skipper.

1. Ricky Ponting, Australia 2002-2012

After making his debut in 1995 Ricky Ponting took over Australia’s ODI captaincy in 2002. During his record 34 matches winning streak, he has taken the Australian side to three successful World Cup titles. He captained Australia in 9 ICC tournaments which include three World Cups, two World T20s and 4 Champions Trophies.

Overall, he has won a record 165 ODI games as captain.

While some say that it is the longest format of cricket that literally tests a captain’s ability to overcome any hurdles on the field as there are huge chances of a shift in momentum, it’s the ODI format where a skipper has to take some quick decision as once the momentum is lost, coming back at front foot takes a hell lot of effort.

In this list of Most Successful ODI Captains Ever In Cricket History, every single name has done the same and have taken their respective teams to several history defining victories.