The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the most amazing league of cricket globally. We have witnessed some of the greatest captains in history who have led their teams to numerous victories and championships throughout the years. However, not all captains in IPL history have been successful. Some captains have made mistakes in decision-making, managing teams, and pressure handling.
Here we will talk about the most underperforming captains of IPL betting history, their statistics, and the reason they failed. Stay continue to Indibet for such informative articles.
What Makes a Poor Captain in IPL?
Before mentioning the worst-performing captains, let us identify the traits that make a bad captain in the IPL:
1. Poor Leadership Skills
A captain must motivate and lead the team from the front. A bad captain does not unite the players and has issues with managing the team.
2. Poor Tactical Choice
Great thinking minds are there in good IPL captains. A poor captain makes a poor bowling change, poor field setting, or poor batting order, which results in an unnecessary loss.
3. Lack of Coping with Pressure
IPL is a pressure game, and captains have to play under pressure situations. A bad captain gets anxious under difficult circumstances and makes the wrong choices.
4. Poor Personal Performance
A weak captain loses the confidence of his team. When a captain cannot score runs or take wickets, it disheartens the team.
5. Weak Team Selection
An underperforming captain may not pick the right playing XI or might not back the right players, and this leads to inconsistent performances of the team.
Least Successful Captains in IPL History
1. Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings – 2022)
- Matches played as Captain: 8
- Wins: 2
- Losses: 6
- Win Percentage: 25%
The captaincy of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was offered to Ravindra Jadeja in IPL 2022, but his performance was a disaster.
He didn’t feel quite at ease holding the captain’s position.
6 out of their first 8 matches were lost by CSK.
He wasn’t able to manage field places and bowling rotation properly either.
He was swapped mid-season in poor form for MS Dhoni.
Jadeja’s failure of captaincy made it clear that not all exceptional players are exceptionally good captains too.
2. David Miller (Punjab Kings – 2016)
- Matches as Captain: 6
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 5
- Win Percentage: 16.67%
David Miller was made the captain of Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab) in 2016, but it was a gigantic error.
Punjab lost 5 out of 6 matches when he was in charge.
He appeared totally lost on the field.
He found it difficult to rotate bowlers and set field.
With successive failures, Miller was dropped as captain during mid-season, clearly demonstrating that his forte was not leadership.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (Deccan Chargers – 2011-2012 & Sunrisers Hyderabad – 2013)
- Matches as Captain: 47
- Wins: 15
- Losses: 30
- Win Percentage: 31.91%
Kumar Sangakkara, arguably one of the best batsmen in international cricket, was a failure as an IPL captain.
His team, Deccan Chargers, was last in IPL 2012 under his captaincy.
He was not able to handle team combinations and plans.
Even with a new team (Sunrisers Hyderabad), he was unable to make any difference as a captain.
Though Sangakkara was a fine player, his IPL captaincy was not memorable.
4. Mahela Jayawardene (Delhi Daredevils – 2012-2013)
- Matches as Captain: 30
- Wins: 10
- Losses: 19
- Win Percentage: 33.33%
Mahela Jayawardene was an international-level cricketer, but his experience as an IPL captain was not up to the mark.
He captained Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) but could not get them to the playoffs.
His captaincy was not aggressive, nor did it involve creative thinking.
Delhi Daredevils ended at the bottom rung in the points table of IPL 2013.
Jayawardene’s leadership in IPL failed as against his captaincy in international cricket.
Who is the Worst Captain in IPL History?
If we consider the win percentages, David Miller (16.67%) and Aaron Finch (20%) possess the worst captaincy records in IPL history. But Ravindra Jadeja’s captaincy in IPL 2022 was one of the greatest failures in recent times, as he was replaced mid-season.
Though not all captains are born leaders, IPL history has revealed that even some of the best players can fail as captains.
Who is the worst IPL captain of all time, you ask? Let us know in the comments!
FAQs
Who is the worst captain in IPL history?
Top 10 Worst Captains In History Of IPL (Minimum 10 Games)
Kevin Pietersen (DC/RCB).
JP Duminy (DC).
Mayank Agarwal (PBKS).
Brendon McCullum (GL/KKR).
Glenn Maxwell (KXIP).
Nitish Rana (KKR).
Aiden Markram (SRH).
David Hussey (KXIP)
Who is a good captain in the IPL?
Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma and Chennai Super Kings’s MS Dhoni are the most successful captains with five IPL titles apiece. Dhoni also has the most matches played as a captain (226) and the most wins as a captain (133).
Which is the worst team in the IPL?
Most Unsuccessful Teams In IPL History
Team Period Lost
Delhi Capitals 2008-2024 134
Punjab Kings 2008-2024 135
Royal Challengers Bangalore 2008-2024 128
Rajasthan Royals 2008-2024 106
