Entire India watches, enjoys, and celebrates cricket more as a religion than a sport. The Indian Cricket fraternity had some of the most successful and the biggest names in history. Indian cricket had the greatest like Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and many more. Starting with Test cricket, moving to ODI matches, and then finally shifting to T20 cricket, cricket as a sport has evolved a lot. There are some cricketers and Indian captains who are responsible for being the strongest pillars of Indian cricket today. Though only a few of them had the luck to lead the team in all the formats, let's have a look at the five Indian captains to lead in all formats.

Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag is the first-ever cricketer to lead the team in all three formats. He is undoubtedly one of the most savage and fiery Indian openers who could change the game at any time in any format. He is not only is one of the greatest Indian batters but also had the opportunity to lead the team in Tests, ODIs, and T20s. Sehwag was never appointed as the full-time captain of the team but still had an impact in matches he got to lead. He was the captain in 4 test matches; against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Australia each. He came into the role due to the absence of the former regular captain MS Dhoni. Sehwag won 2 test matches, lost 1, and ended 1 with a draw. He captained the team in 12 ODI matches and won 7 matches. He lost the rest of the 5 matches and hand a good enough win percentage of 58.33. Virender Sehwag is the first-ever Indian captain to lead the team in a T20I match. The match was against South Africa but the team ended up losing it.

MS Dhoni

The next Indian captain to lead the team in all formats is MS Dhoni. He is undoubtedly one of the best captains of India and also the first full-time skipper to lead the team in all formats. Fondly named Captain Cool, he is the one and only Indian captain to lead the team to win all the three ICC limited-overs tournaments; the 2011 ICC World Cup, the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Dhoni captained the test team in 60 matches where he managed to win 27 and lost 18. The rest of the 15 matches ended with a draw. He ended his test captaincy career with a win percentage of 45. As far as ODI is concerned, Dhoni led the team in 200 matches and won 110 out of them with a win percentage of 59.52. Lastly, he captained the team in 72 T20I matches and won 41 of them with a win percentage of 59.28.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli recently stunned everyone as he stepped down as the captain of the Indian Cricket. His captaincy career started in 2014 when India went on a tour to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Though the team lost the test match under Kohli's first match as the skipper, his individual contribution was top-notch. Over the span of about 7 years, Kohli captained the team in 68 test matches and won 40 of them with a winning percentage of 58.82. The former captain led the team in 95 ODI matches and won 65 matches with a winning percentage of 70.43. Talking about T20Is, Kohli led the team in 50 matches and won 30 of them with a win percentage of 64.58.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane might not be the full-time captain of the Indian cricket team but fulfilled his responsibility as the deputy captain spectacularly. He captained the team mostly due to the absence of the former captain Virat Kohli. Rahane captained the men in blue in 5 test matches and the best part is that he has a winning record of 100. In fact, the historical Gabba event in 2021 came under the captaincy of Rahane. Talking about limited-overs, he captained the team in 3 ODI matches and 2 T20I matches. Interestingly, he has a win percentage of 100 in ODIs as well. Talking about T20Is, he has a win percentage of 50 as he won 1 match and lost the other 1.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is now the full-time captain of the Indian cricket team and soon will lead the team in Test as well, making it in all 3 formats. Very recently he has been appointed as the test captain of the team. The team has not played any test matches under his captaincy yet. While discussing on ODIs, Rohit captained the team in 11 matches and has a win percentage of 84.61 with 11 wins and only 2 losses. Talking about T20Is, Rohit led the men in blue in 25 matches and won 21 of them with a win percentage of 84. Very recently, the Indian team whitewashed West Indies in both ODI and T20I series under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. After the huge win against West Indies, Sharma also surpassed Kohli and scripted the unbelievable captaincy record for the first time in 6 years. And the record is that India surpassed England to become the No. 1 rank in T20I with a rating of 269.

Abishek Porel, the Bengal and Delhi Capitals wicket-keeper, had a decent IPL 2025 with the bat in hand. Just like the 2024 season, he was trusted to bat at the top of the order alongside some of the biggest names in world cricket.

But the season did not turn out the way he would have liked. On most occasions, he got out after getting the start. 

Porel averaged only 25.08, a drop from the 2024 season's 32.70. The main reason for that was him getting out on 30-40 after getting a decent start for his team, Delhi Capitals. And, he knows it hurt his own performance and the team as well. 

That is why Sourav Ganguly wanted the youngster to visit Yuvraj Singh and get some valuable learnings ahead of the Bengal Pro T20 League 2025. 

It was Sourav Ganguly who gave the Bengal wicket-keeper a chance to replace Rishabh Pant in IPL 2023. Porel did his part so well as an impact sub that he went on to play all 14 games for Delhi Capitals next season. Not only that, he was also retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction.

Yuvraj Singh, one of the greatest white-ball cricketers of Indian cricket, is known for his performances in the 2011 ICC World Cup, where he emerged as the Player of the tournament, despite going through cancer. Not only that, his six sixes in an over in India's victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup are one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket's history.

Read Also | India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

After retiring from international cricket, Yuvraj Singh chose not to pursue a career in commentary. Instead, he decided to help young batters excel at the international level. He began working personally with Punjab cricketers such as Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and several others.

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All of these Punjab batters did exceedingly well after getting trained by Yuvraj. Shubman Gill's career graph went up as he became Indian's latest test captain. Meantime, Abhishek Sharma went on to debut for India T20I format.

After a decent season where Porel feels he could have been better, a session with Yuvraj Singh is what he needed to get everything sorted. The youngster thus went for a camp held by Yuvraj Singh in Delhi, where players like Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, and Prabhsimran Singh were also there.

"Sourav (Ganguly) sir wanted me to visit Yuvraj Singh to learn from one of the greatest batters of Indian cricket. It was all about getting to know how to be ready for the international stage," Porel told Sportz Point in an exclusive interview. 

"We worked on a few basic things, and you know if you stay around a man like Yuvraj Singh, you will get to learn more. I will visit the camp again and will learn more things from him," Porel added. 

Abishek is leading the Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers in the Bengal Pro T20 League 2025. In his state's own league, Porel now wants to rectify all of those mistakes he made in IPL 2025 and work on some individual things while leading the team to success. 

"I would love to get through that 30-40 runs zone and score more runs to help the team. That is the goal. Even Sourav (Ganguly) sir also told me that 30-40s are not enough, and I need to score more and look for hundreds," Porel shared. 

The cricket world, known for its constant evolution, has seen a drastic shift in a month. Over the past month, six notable players have chosen to conclude their careers on the global stage.

From legendary batsmen to powerful all-rounders, these departures mark a significant moment in the history of cricket. These aren't just names; they are players who have shaped matches and won the hearts of millions.

Explore the list of 6 cricketers who announced their retirements since last month.

1. Rohit Sharma (Test retirement) | May 7, 2025

On May 7, 2025, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of his remarkable journey as a batsman, as well as India's captain in tests. His test career lasted for 12 years since his debut in 2013.

Sharma transformed himself into a brilliant test opener in the latter half of his career. One of his defining moments in Test cricket arrived in 2019 against South Africa, where he hammered a majestic 212 runs as an opener, showcasing his ability to wear down opposition attacks.

He is the fifth-most successful Test captain for India, leading to 12 Test victories.

Rohit Sharma's stats in tests:

2. Virat Kohli (Test retirement) | May 12, 2025

Following Rohit's retirement, India lost the era's most dominant force in test cricket. The announcement of Virat Kohli's test retirement on May 12, 2025, resonated globally, leaving everyone shocked and upset. 

Kohli approached the test format with a fierce competitive spirit and hunger for runs. His dedication and skill set in this format saw him notch 7 double centuries in his test career. He also became the most successful test captain of India during the 8 years (Dec 2014-Jan 2022) of his captaincy tenure, leading to 40 wins.

This decision of Kohli to step away from tests also brought the interests of Indian fans in tests in question. This retirement indeed marked the end of an era.

Virat Kohli's stats in tests:

3. Angelo Mathews (Test retirement) | May 23, 2025

Sri Lanka's enduring test pillar, Angelo Mathews, concluded his test career on May 23, 2025. He left behind a legacy of resilience and crucial performances as an all-rounder. 

Mathews possessed the ability to adapt his game and accelerate when required. His unbeaten 200 runs against Zimbabwe in 2020 stand out as one of his vital contributions. He also took a total of 33 wickets in tests.

He led Sri Lanka in 34 matches as a captain and won 13 among them.

Angelo Mathews' stats in tests:

4. Glenn Maxwell (ODIs Retirement) | June 2, 2025

Australia's one of the most captivating hitters and match-winners, Glenn Maxwell, announced retirement from ODIs on June 2, 2025. Known for his explosive strokeplay and ability to turn the game around, he had an amazing ODI career.

Maxwell's career has many moments to highlight, but nothing can match his astonishing 201* runs against Afghanistan in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Coming back with a back injury, this innings was a masterclass in aggressive and controlled batting.

He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, which goes down in the history of ODI cricket.

Glenn Maxwell's stats in ODIs:

5. Heinrich Klaasen (International retirement) | June 2, 2025

On June 2, 2025, Heinrich Klaasen announced his international retirement, which marked the end of a relatively short yet impactful career as a destructive batsman in white-ball cricket. 

Since his international debut for South Africa in 2018, he has been a hard-hitter of the ball and has become one of the most feared finishers in limited-overs formats. His phenomenal 174 runs off just 83 balls against Australia in an ODI in 2023 stands as a testament to his raw hitting power and ability.

Heinrich Klaasen's international stats (2018-2025)

6. Nicholas Pooran (International retirement) | June 10, 2025

The West Indies batter, Nicholas Pooran, announced his international retirement on June 10, 2025, at the age of just 29. This marked one of the earliest retirements for a high-profile West Indies player.

As a left-hander wicket-keeper batsman, Pooran quickly established himself as an electrifying hitter in white-ball cricket. He brought an aggressive approach to the crease, with the potential to turn the game in his favour.

He has done exceptionally well in his short-lived international career. His 98 runs off 53 balls against Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup perfectly tell the story of his talent.

Nicholas Pooran's international stats (2016-2025):

Till now, 11 Indian cricketers have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Former Indian captain and legend MS Dhoni became the latest Indian to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame list. 

Read Also | India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

Along with MS Dhoni, Aussie great Matthew Hayden, South African legend Hashim Amla, former South African captain Graeme Smith, former Kiwi leader Daniel Vettori, and former Pakistan captain Sana Mir and English legend Sarah Taylor were also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame 2025.

Unorthodox, unconventional and effective 🙌

A cricketer beyond numbers and statistics 👏

MS Dhoni is inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇

More ➡️ https://t.co/oV8mFaBfze pic.twitter.com/AGRzL0aP79

— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025

Here are the Indian cricketers who have been inducted into the prestigious "ICC Hall of Fame". 

Indian Cricketers in the ICC Hall of Fame

It's been 14 years since India lifted the 2011 World Cup, a moment etched in every fan's memory. That legendary squad brought joy to millions on that unforgettable night in Mumbai, but where are they now?

While many retired, some explored new paths in cricket, and others found different callings, one key player continues to represent India in ODIs.

Explore the current status of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad and know their journeys since the victory and where are they now.

The unforgettable 2011 World Cup Winning squad

Here's the overview of squad members:

MS Dhoni (C & WK), Virender Sehwag (VC), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin.

Coach: Gary Kirsten

Find out the updates on each one of them below:

1. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is the winning captain of 2011 World Cup, who finished off in style with a six to seal the victory for India. He also led India to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, becoming the first captain to claim all ICC limited-overs trophies.

He continued to captain India for several years and played a crucial role as a finisher in white-ball cricket. He also led CSK to win four IPL titles from 2011-2023.

• Retirement: Dhoni retired from test cricket in December 2014, and announced his retirement from international cricket (ODIs and T20Is) on August 15, 2020. However, he continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• Currently doing: Continues to captain Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He is involved in various business ventures and endorsements.

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

2. Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag was the vice-captain of India's 2011 WC-winning squad and provided explosive starts at the top of the order, including a stunning knock of 175 runs against Bangladesh in the opening match.

He continued his attacking batting in Test and ODI formats for a few more years.

• Retirement: Sehwag retired from all forms of international cricket in October 2015.
• Currently doing: He is a prominent cricket analyst and commentator, and a member of the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. He also runs the Sehwag International School in Haryana and has ventured into the sports gear and organic farming business.

3. Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir was an integral part of India's success in the 2011 WC, especially with his knock of 97 runs in the final. He continued to play a key role in India's top order for a period. He also led Kolkata Knight Riders to 2 IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.

Later, he served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants and then KKR, guiding them to their third title in 2024.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from all formats in December 2018.
• Currently doing: In July 2024, Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of India for three years until the 2027 ODI World Cup. He got his first major ICC title in a coaching role by leading India to victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as the head coach.

4. Sachin Tendulkar 

Sachin Tendulkar was the leading run-scorer for India and the second overall in the tournament (482 runs in 9 innings), including two centuries.

He scored his record-setting 100th international century in March 2012 and became a member of the Rajya Sabha in the same year. Additionally, he was a part of Mumbai Indians team that won the IPL in 2013.

• Retirement: Retired from ODI cricket in December 2012, and from tests in November 2013. He also retired from the IPL in 2013.
• Currently doing: Sachin continues to be involved in cricketing and social initiatives, and remains a global ambassador for the sport.

Read Also: Pataudi Trophy renamed as Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy ahead of India vs England test series

5. Yuvraj Singh

The "Player of the tournament," Yuvraj Singh, delivered an exceptional all-rounder performance throughout the World Cup. He successfully battled germ-cell cancer in 2011 and returned to cricket the next year (2012).

Yuvraj continued to play white ball cricket for India occasionally and played in various IPL teams, winning twice with SRH in 2016 and MI in 2019.

• Retirement: Formally retired from international cricket in June 2019.
• Currently doing: He is involved in various cricketing leagues and charitable initiatives. He also mentored India's emerging star, Abhishek Sharma, and has a significant role in shaping his career.

6. Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina played an attacking role in the lower middle order, particularly in the quarter-final against Australia (unbeaten 34), and the semi-final against Pakistan (unbeaten 36).

He continued to be a significant part of India's white-ball setup for several years and was a key player for CSK in the IPL.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from all forms on August 15, 2020, on the same day as Dhoni. However, he continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues for a period.
• Currently doing: Raina has been involved in commentary and various cricket-related activities.

7. Virat Kohli

As the youngest batsman in the squad (22 years 95 days), Virat Kohli showed glimpses of his future greatness by performing well in the 2011 World Cup, including a century against Bangladesh.

Kohli rose to be one of the world's premier batsmen and captained India across all formats. He became the most successful test captain in history for India. He led India to numerous victories and broke several batting records.

He is the only player from India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad who is still actively playing international cricket (ODI format).

• Retirement: He retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup in 2024, and also retired from Test Cricket in 2025.
• Currently doing: He won the IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and had a phenomenal season. He is also expected to play in the 2027 World Cup.

Read Also: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

8. Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan was a part of India's World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and played as a batting all-rounder, primarily in the lower middle order. He continued to play in domestic cricket and the IPL, playing for various franchises, including KKR and SRH.

Pathan was also a part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup winning squad.

• Retirement: Retired from all formats in February 2021.
• Currently doing: He became a member of parliament from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency of West Bengal, and has been seen participating in the Legends League Cricket.

9. Zaheer Khan

The shepherd of India's pace attack, Zaheer Khan, was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup with 21 wickets in 9 matches. His contributions to the bowling unit were phenomenal.

He continued to represent India in internationals for a few more years.

• Retirement: Khan retired from international cricket in October 2015.
• Currently doing: He has been involved in commentary and coaching roles. He is also a cricket expert and analyst.

10. Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh proved to be crucial for the team in the WC 2011, with the kind of experience he had in the game. He continued to play for India occasionally after the World Cup, but his international appearances became less frequent.

He continued to play IPL for franchises like MI, CSK and KKR.

• Retirement: Retired from all formats in December 2021.
• Currently doing: He is a cricket commentator and an analyst. He has also ventured into politics, serving as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

11. Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra played three matches in the 2011 World Cup and was particularly effective in the semi-final against Pakistan, where he took 2 wickets for 33 runs.

He faced injuries but made a remarkable comeback to the Indian T20I team and played the T20 World Cup that year.

• Retirement: Nehra retired from all forms of international cricket in November 2017.
• Currently doing: He has been involved in coaching in the IPL (head coach: Gujarat Titans) and won the 2022 season.

12. Munaf Patel

Munaf Patel played a significant role as a consistent medium-pacer in the 2011 WC winning squad, picking 11 wickets in 8 matches. He continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues after the World Cup.

• Retirement: He retired from all formats in December 2018.
• Currently doing: Served as the bowling coach for Delhi Capitals since the 2024 season and has been seen participating in Legends League Cricket.

13. S Sreesanth

S Sreesanth came in as a replacement for Praveen Kumar (ruled out due to injury) in India's 2011 WC squad. He played 2 matches, including the final.

His career was significantly impacted by a spot-fixing scandal in the 2013 IPL, which led to a ban from cricket.

• Retirement: He made a comeback in domestic cricket after the ban was reduced, and retired from all domestic forms in March 2022.
• Currently doing: Sreesanth is the co-owner of the Kollam Aeries team in the Kerala Cricket League. He also participated in reality shows like Big Boss and was involved in acting and other ventures.

14. Piyush Chawla 

The youngest player in India's 2011 World Cup winning squad, Piyush Chawla (22 yrs 46 days), picked 4 wickets in the three matches he played. He continued to play domestic cricket and IPL for various franchises and won.

• Retirement: Chawla announced from all forms of cricket in June 2025. His last international appearance for India was in 2012.
• Currently doing: He has been associated with the sport as an analyst and was seen giving inputs in per-match shows in IPL and other leagues.

Read Also: Most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket by an Indian bowler

15. Ravichandran Ashwin

The spin master, Ravichandran Ashwin, played only 2 matches in the tournament, picking up 4 wickets. He turned out to be one of the most successful Test bowlers for India, with 537 Test wickets.

Ashwin later developed into a useful all-rounder and could bat well. He was also named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2016.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from international cricket in December 2024.
• Currently doing: He is actively involved in playing cricket in IPL and played in the TNPL as well. Ashwin is also an active YouTuber, who analyses and shares cricketing stories on his channel, which currently has 1.71M subscribers. 

One of Test cricket's most esteemed rivalries, the Pataudi Trophy, contested between India and England, has been officially renamed the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. This major decision was taken by ECB and BCCI, announced and confirmed ahead of the upcoming highly anticipated series, set to begin on June 20, 2025.

Explore why was Pataudi Trophy renamed as Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy ahead of India vs England test series below:

Honouring Legends: Why Tendulkar and Anderson?

The renaming of Pataudi Trophy to the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy is a move to honor and celebrate two legendary figures of test cricket of the contemporary era.

The 'God' of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, is widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, holds an unmatched array of records, including most runs and centuries in tests. Similarly, James Anderson stands as most successful fast bowler in the history of Tests. His career was nothing short of extraordinary skills, achivements, and consistent excellence.

The renaming therefore celebrates not just individual brilliance of these legends from India and England, but also earned them a rightful place at the forefront of this historic rivalry's new identity!

End of an Era: The Pataudi Legacy

The Pataudi Trophy, which has represented the Test series between India and England for decades, now passes onto history. Named in the honor of former Indian captains, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, it symbolised a rich connection between Indian and English cricket.

It was first awarded in 2007 and India won it in the English soil.

Read Also: Every Test Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

A joint ceremony to unveil the new legacy:

The newly named Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy is set for its official unveiling by both the legends. Tendulkar and Anderson will unveil the trophy at Lord's, during the WTC (2023-25) Final, which commences on June 11, 2025.

India and England will kick-off the new WTC Cycle by playing a five-Test series starting at Headingley (Leeds) from June 20.