Who Is the Worst Captain in IPL History?

The IPL, with its high-octane action and larger-than-life personalities, has given us many legends not just with the bat and ball, but also in the leadership department.

However, for every Dhoni or Rohit Sharma, there has been a captain who has never shone with his leadership despite being one of the best players in world cricket.

So, who takes the unwanted title of worst IPL captain, considering those who have led their team in at least 10 matches? Let’s take a detailed look at them:

5. Shikhar Dhawan (25 Matches, 9 wins, 16 losses)

Shikhar Dhawan, the swashbuckling opener, hasn’t shone on the captaincy front. Across 25 matches, his win percentage of 36% isn’t the worst, but the lack of a winning momentum puts him at the bottom of this pack.

4. Aiden Markram (13 Matches, 4 Wins, 9 Losses)

The young South African batter’s captaincy stint at Sunrisers Hyderabad was short-lived and forgettable. In the 2023 season of the IPL, he managed a mere 4 wins from a total of 13 games.

3. Aaron Finch (10 Matches, 2 Wins, 8 Losses)

The swashbuckling Aussie opener’s IPL captaincy wasn’t a fairytale either. The World Cup-winning captain led in 10 matches, and only managed 2 wins, leaving his win percentage at a lowly 20%.

2. Kevin Pietersen (17 Matches, 3 Wins, 14 Losses)

The flamboyant Kevin Pietersen‘s IPL captaincy was forgettable as well. Across 17 matches leading Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, he steered his teams to just 3 victories. His win percentage is just 17.64.

1. Kumar Sangakkara (45 Matches, 15 wins, 30 Losses)

The legendary Sri Lankan batter, known for his elegance, couldn’t quite replicate it in his captaincy. Leading three different franchises (Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, and Sunrisers Hyderabad) in 47 matches, Sangakkara has a win percentage of just 31.91.

Worst IPL Captains in IPL History

Player	Matches	Won	Lost	Win %	Loss %
Kumar Sangakkara	47	15	30	31.91	63.82
Kevin Pietersen	17	3	14	17.64	82.35
Aaron Finch	10	2	8	20.00	80.00
Aiden Markram	13	4	9	30.76	30.76
Shikhar Dhawan	25	9	16	36.00	64.00