Most Matches as a Captain in ODI Cricket

May 28, 2019 at 2:29 PM

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Most Matches as a Captain in ODI Cricket

Well, over the years, the distinct skippers in gentleman’s game cricket have had marshalled their respective troops—to a road to glory with their astute thinking and adamant approach. And before shouldering the responsibility by contributing with the bat, the cordial and amicable atmosphere has a significant role to play in such a standard format. Indian National Cricket Team’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni is also the most successful skipper with most matches as a captain in ODI cricket.

As the distinct dynamic leadership has had played a vital role in teams’ success, it is equally essential to maintain integrity beyond the playing field.

While exemplifying the stature of a captain, Dhoni has been one of the top-notch leaders to grace the game in contemporary cricket. Having the ability to deliver goods at his will, Dhoni carried youngsters alongside which eventually has been a mantra of his success.

After the 2007 ICC Word Twenty20, Dhoni successfully led India in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup at home.

Over the years, with captains weathering a lot of criticism they have equally earned praise for maintaining the stability in the team while fighting out against all overwhelming odds.

The day-long format has quite often panned out the youngsters doing their best in the domestic circuit—to impress the selectors, and, so did, current Indian National Team skipper Virat Kohli during the early days of his cricketing career.

Overall, having the impact on a game, captains are bound to set the tone like many who have had done an outstanding job in the yesteryears.

So, have a look at the top 10 captains with most matches as a captain in ODI cricket:

  1. Ricky Ponting 165 wins:
Ricky Ponting
Ponting has himself won coveted titles for Australia. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

While leading Australia between 2002 and 2012, Ricky Ponting led the Kangaroos in 230 matches in which he registered a victory in 165 matches. Ponting lost 51 ODI matches as a leader.

Overall, in his leadership, two ended on tie and 12 ended in no result. Ponting leads the chart with most matches as a captain in ODI cricket. His percentage read as 76.14.

  1. Stephen Fleming 98 wins:
Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming led Kiwis in the past. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Stephen Fleming who led New Zealand National Cricket Team in 218 matches had left a significant impact in the 50-over format.

One of the best batsmen from the shores of New Zealand, Fleming had a major chunk of success as a team leader. He won 98 games for the Black Caps which makes him one of the successful captains off all-time in the ODI format.

Fleming maintained his winning percentage of 48.04. He is the second on the list with most matches as a captain in ODI cricket. During his captaincy stint, he saw 13 ended on a no result with a solitary game culminating on a tie.

  1. MS Dhoni 110 wins:
MS Dhoni
Dhoni has won three major ICC titles as a leader. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

MS Dhoni’s example is being set before the distinct captains to take a leaf out of his book. Dhoni has a remarkable record with the willow in the ODI format.

As an astute thinker of the game, Dhoni lead Indian National Cricket Team from the front. Hailing from the state of Jharkhand, Dhoni had led the team of senior members including Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag respectively.

In 200 ODIs in which Dhoni-led Team India, 110 went in India’s favour as the win percentage read as 59.52. He is third on the list with most matches as a captain in ODI cricket

However, during Dhoni’s tenure, India lost 74 matches with 11 ending on a no-result, and five ended on a tie.

  1. Arjuna Ranatunga 89 wins:
Arjuna Ranatunga
Ranatunga has set an example as a leader. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Arjuna Ranatunga, who led Sri Lanka for a quality time, had a decent result while leading the Island nation.

Ranatunga led his national team in 193 ODIs. He eventually won 89 ODIs as he had to face a loss in 95 games. His winning percentage read as 48.37 to make him fourth skipper with most matches as a captain in ODI cricket

Known for his immaculate approach Ranatunga had been an ideal force to reckon with in the Sri Lankan set-up during his international career which further saw him leading the ICC World Cup-winning team in 1996.

  1. Allan Border 107 wins:
Australia
Allan Border-led side wore the green and gold jersey during a series against India in 1986. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Allan Border had a decent winning percentage in the ODI format. Border who led Australia in his best possible way went on to lead his nation in 178 games. However, he achieved the success in 107 ODIs as he had to face the defeat in 67 ODIs.

Moreover, three games ended on no result and one finished owing to a tie. Border’s winning percentage as a captain is 61.42.

  1. Mohammad Azharuddin 90 wins:
Mohammad Azharuddin
Azharuddin at his best. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Mohammad Azharuddin is another Indian in the list who represented India for a reasonable period. Azharuddin played a sensational role equally with the bat and in the field.

Having a great passion for winning games for his country, Azharuddin represented India in 174 ODIs as a skipper which saw him winning 90 games before losing on 76.

Moreover, under his captaincy, six games culminated on a no result and two ended on a tie.

  1. Graeme Smith 92 wins:
Graeme Smith
Smith became a leader at a very young age. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

At the very young ages, South African star batsman Graeme Smith was handed over a captaincy role. In a very sublime way, the former Proteas opener delivered the punch with some decent results in his favour.

Southpaw led the Proteas team in 150 ODIs which eventually saw him winning 92 fixtures. Adding, Smith, as a leader, lost 51 games as six finished with no result.

The only game turned out to be a tie under his tutelage which saw his winning percentage reading as 64.23.

  1. Sourav Ganguly 76 wins:
India, Pakistan, Special Moments
Sourav Ganguly and Waqar Younis shake hand. Credits: AFP

Sourav Ganguly had an aggressive nature, and his flamboyant approach had won him accolades from time-to-time.

Southpaw had played a significant role during his ODI stint which eventually saw him being awarded a captaincy post.

In 147 ODIs Ganguly won 76 and eventually had to face a loss in 66 matches.

However, his winning percentage is 53.52. During his leadership role, five games culminated with five games ending on without any result. Ganguly is among the leaders who led his team in most matches as a captain in ODI cricket.

  1. Imran Khan 75 wins:
Imran Khan
Imran Khan won the 1992 World Cup at the MCG for Pakistan. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

The 1992 World Cup-winning skipper of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been an inspiration for many owing to contemporary cricket.

The celebrated all-rounder from Pakistan is now serving as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Imran was often praised for his courage and commitment on the field which he instilled since being very fresh on the international circuit.

Imran led Pakistan in 139 ODIs in which he registered 75 wins, and on 59 occasions he remained on the losing side. On the list of most matches as a captain in ODI cricket, Imran is listed overall ninth.

During his captaincy stint, four ODIs ended on no result, and at the same time, a single game ended on a tie.

  1. Hansie Cronje 99:
Hansie Cronje
Cronje died in a plane crash in 2002. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Former South African leader Hansie Cronje died in a plane crash on June 1, 2002. Cronje had been a known professional among the cricketing circles who troubled Sachin Tendulkar with the ball.

However, the prominent cricketer falls apart when he was named in a fixing scandal which rocked the cricket world in 1999.

However, late Cronje led the Proteas in 138 ODIs in which he sealed 99 wins before losing out on 35 games. Moreover, he has an impressive winning percentage of 73.37.

Three games ended on a no result and with a single game ending on a tie. Late Cronje is listed tenth among overall skippers with most matches as a captain in ODI cricket.

Most matches as a captain in ODI cricket

Serial No. Player Matches Won Lost Tied NR Percentage
1 RT Ponting (AUS/ICC) 230 165 51 2 12 76.14
2 SP Fleming (NZ) 218 98 106 1 13 48.04
3 MS Dhoni (INDIA) 200 110 74 5 11 59.52
4 A Ranatunga (SL) 193 89 95 1 8 48.37
5 AR Border (AUS) 178 107 67 1 3 61.42
6 M Azharuddin (INDIA) 174 90 76 2 6 54.16
7 GC Smith (Afr/SA) 150 92 51 1 6 64.23
8 SC Ganguly (Asia/INDIA) 147 76 66 0 5 53.52
9 Imran Khan (PAK) 139 75 59 1 4 55.92
10 WJ Cronje (SA) 138 99 35 1 3 73.7
11 DPMD Jayawardene (Asia/SL) 129 71 49 1 8 59.09
12 BC Lara (WI) 125 59 59 0 7 50
13 ST Jayasuriya (SL) 118 66 47 2 3 58.26
14 Wasim Akram (PAK) 109 66 41 2 0 61.46
15 AD Mathews (SL) 106 49 51 1 5 49
16 SR Waugh (AUS) 106 67 35 3 1 65.23
17 IVA Richards (WI) 105 67 36 0 2 65.04
18 AB de Villiers (SA) 103 59 39 1 4 60.1
19 WTS Porterfield (IRE) 99 44 48 2 5 47.87
20 SM Pollock (Afr/ICC/SA) 97 60 33 3 1 64.06
21 Inzamam-ul-Haq (Asia/PAK) 90 52 34 0 4 60.46
22 EJG Morgan (ENG) 90 55 30 1 4 64.53
23 Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK) 87 45 39 2 1 53.48
24 RB Richardson (WI) 87 46 36 3 2 55.88
25 ADR Campbell (ZIM) 86 30 52 2 2 36.9
26 CH Lloyd (WI) 84 64 18 1 1 77.71
27 DL Vettori (NZ) 82 41 33 1 7 55.33
28 R Dravid (INDIA) 79 42 33 0 4 56
29 MJ Clarke (AUS) 74 50 21 0 3 70.42
30 N Kapil Dev (INDIA) 74 39 33 0 2 54.16
31 SR Tendulkar (INDIA) 73 23 43 1 6 35.07
32 SO Tikolo (KENYA) 73 27 44 0 2 38.02
33 Mashrafe Mortaza (BDESH) 70 40 28 0 2 58.82
34 AN Cook (ENG) 69 36 30 1 2 54.47
35 Habibul Bashar (BDESH) 69 29 40 0 0 42.02
36 HH Streak (ZIM) 68 18 47 0 3 27.69
37 P Utseya (ZIM) 68 20 47 1 0 30.14
38 MA Taylor (AUS) 67 36 30 1 0 54.47
39 JO Holder (WI) 64 18 41 2 3 31.14
40 MS Atapattu (SL) 63 35 27 0 1 56.45
41 E Chigumbura (ZIM) 62 18 44 0 0 29.03
42 Javed Miandad (PAK) 62 26 33 1 2 44.16
43 BB McCullum (NZ) 62 36 22 1 3 61.86
44 AJ Strauss (ENG) 62 27 33 1 1 45.08
45 Waqar Younis (PAK) 62 37 23 0 2 61.66
46 LRD Mendis (SL) 61 11 46 0 4 19.29
47 GP Howarth (NZ) 60 31 26 0 3 54.38
48 MP Vaughan (ENG) 60 32 22 2 4 58.92
49 V Kohli (INDIA) 57 42 13 1 1 75.89
50 N Hussain (ENG) 56 28 27 0 1 50.9
51 KS Williamson (NZ) 55 28 25 0 2 52.83
52 CH Gayle (WI) 53 17 30 0 6 36.17
53 A Flower (ZIM) 52 12 35 2 3 26.53
54 KC Wessels (SA) 52 20 30 0 2 40
55 Asghar Afghan (AFG) 51 29 19 1 2 60.2
56 DJG Sammy (WI) 51 19 30 1 1 39
57 SPD Smith (AUS) 51 25 23 0 3 52.08
58 GA Gooch (ENG) 50 24 23 0 3 51.06
59 Shakib Al Hasan (BDESH) 50 23 26 0 1 46.93
60 GS Chappell (AUS) 49 21 25 0 3 45.65
61 CL Hooper (WI) 49 23 24 0 2 48.93
62 KJ Hughes (AUS) 49 21 23 1 4 47.77
63 KC Sangakkara (SL) 45 27 14 0 4 65.85
64 MD Crowe (NZ) 44 21 22 0 1 48.83
65 MA Atherton (ENG) 43 20 21 1 1 48.8
66 CA Walsh (WI) 43 22 20 0 1 52.38
67 AJ Stewart (ENG) 41 15 25 0 1 37.5
68 Mohammad Ashraful (BDESH) 38 8 30 0 0 21.05
69 Shahid Afridi (PAK) 38 19 18 0 1 51.35
70 DJ Bravo (WI) 37 17 18 2 0 48.64
71 MW Gatting (ENG) 37 26 11 0 0 70.27
72 SM Gavaskar (INDIA) 37 14 21 0 2 40
73 Mushfiqur Rahim (BDESH) 37 11 24 0 2 31.42
74 KR Rutherford (NZ) 37 10 24 1 2 30
75 LK Germon (NZ) 36 15 19 2 0 44.44
76 Shoaib Malik (PAK) 36 24 12 0 0 66.66
77 AG Cremer (ZIM) 35 12 20 2 1 38.23
78 Moin Khan (PAK) 34 20 14 0 0 58.82
79 Saleem Malik (PAK) 34 21 11 2 0 64.7
80 BRM Taylor (ZIM) 34 9 25 0 0 26.47
81 DT Johnston (IRE) 32 14 15 1 2 48.33
82 IH Romaine (BMUDA) 32 6 26 0 0 18.75
83 Sarfraz Ahmed (PAK) 32 20 11 0 1 64.51
84 Azhar Ali (PAK) 31 12 18 0 1 40
85 PW Borren (NL) 31 10 19 1 1 35
86 JG Wright (NZ) 31 16 15 0 0 51.61
87 Khaled Mashud (BDESH) 30 4 24 0 2 14.28

*The stats (most matches as a captain in ODI cricket) were updated on December 16, 2018.

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