Indian Captain in ODI World Cup: An ODI World Cup continues to remain the flagship event in a cricketing calendar. The 2023 ODI World Cup for the first time will be played entirely in India. The tournament was played in the subcontinent in 1987, 1996, and 2011. India was one of the co-hosts with the finals being played in Kolkata and Mumbai in 1987 and 2011 respectively. The home side reached the semis in 1987 and won the tournament in 2011. There have been a total of 12 editions of the World Cup and India have had 8 different captains.
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We look at Best Win Percentage As Indian Captain in ODI World Cup:
#4 Kapil Dev – 73.33%
He is India’s first World Cup-winning captain. Kapil Dev led a bunch of no-hopers to World Cup glory in 1983. He led from the front inspiring his troops to an improbable World Cup win. Kapil’s unbeaten 175 at Tunbridge Wells against Zimbabwe remains one of the greatest knocks in ODI history. India not only won their maiden World Cup in 1983 but also stopped the juggernaut of the West Indies side who had won two successive World Cups (1975 and 1979).
Kapil Dev led India in the home World Cup of 1987 too. India and co-hosts Pakistan were pre-tournament favourites. But India couldn’t quite complete an encore. They lost out to England in the semifinals. Dev led India in a total of 15 World Cup matches winning 11 of them and losing just 4. His win percentage of 73.33 earns him a fourth spot on this list.
#3 Virat Kohli – 77.77%
India once again was one of the favourites heading into the tournament. They had tasted success across the world in white-ball format. India had an enviable top-order, wicket-taking bowlers, and solid finishers. The only chink in their armour was the number 4 spot. It eventually came back to hurt India at the most inappropriate time. Virat Kohli led the side amidst huge expectations.
After a disappointing loss in the Champions Trophy final in 2017, India under Kohli wanted to go one step further. But once again an Indian side lost out in the semi-finals. The fact that they were the team of the tournament in the league stage went unnoticed. India had topped the group stage comfortably. Kohli won 7 out of the 9 games that he led the side in the 2019 World Cup. His win percentage of 77.77 fetches him a third spot on the list.
#2 Sourav Ganguly – 81.81%
He led India in the 2003 World Cup, a tournament that inspired an entire generation of young Indian cricketers. India didn’t have the greatest of runs leading into the World Cup. The fans had their expectations in check. India after a slightly rough start, started turning things around.
They had an 8-game unbeaten streak that lasted right up till the finals. India lost to Australia in the World Cup final. Both their losses in the tournament incidentally came against Australia. India won 9 out of the 11 games in that edition and Sourav Ganguly had a win percentage of 81.81!
#1 MS Dhoni – 82.35%
There is a reason why MS Dhoni is regarded as the greatest white-ball captain. He led India in two consecutive World Cups (2011 and 2015). Dhoni might probably be the last Indian captain who led the side in two World Cups. India lost two games (1 apiece) across both these editions. They tied with England and lost to South Africa in 2011 winning rest of their 7 games.
India was unbeaten until the semis in the 2015 World Cup. They lost their only game of the tournament against Australia and it was the end of the road for them. Dhoni’s win percentage of 82.35 stands tall as he led India to victory in 14 games out of 17. Among captains who have led the side in a World Cup for more than 10 games, his win percentage is the third-best!
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