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Most matches played as captain

MS Dhoni has played the most international matches (332) as captain, while Ricky Ponting has the most wins as captain (220). Here’s the list of players with the most matches played as captain.

Aug 15, 2024, 12:42 PM5 min read

Most matches played as captain

Leadership plays an important role in the success of a team in any sport, including cricket, and getting to lead their country is arguably the most important achievement in a cricketer’s career. Ever since the first game of cricket back in the 19th century, we have witnessed some of the finest masterminds of the game, who, through their class and genius, captained their national teams to great heights. Even though the position is filled with pressure and responsibility, some players have fulfilled these duties with flying colors and have taken their teams to the next level. From MS Dhoni to Allan Border, here’s the list of players with the most matches played as captain.

Also Read: Most Test wickets as captain

Most matches played as captain

5# Allan Border | 271 Matches

Most matches played as captain - Sportzpoint.com

Allan Border is regarded as one of the greatest Australian captains and batters of all time. He too scored more than 15,000 runs in an illustrious career spanning over 15 years. Border Played 271 matches while leading the Australian team. 

Coming in at a time when Australian cricket was enduring a tough phase after Kim Hughes' resignation as skipper in 1984/85, Border led his team to glory in the 1987 World Cup, followed by Ashes success. Allan Border also holds the record for leading a side in the most consecutive Test matches (93) between December 1984 and March 1994. 

Border also holds a record of being the only player in the history of the game to score 150 runs in each innings of a Test match, when he achieved the feat in the drawn third Test of the Australia tour of Pakistan 1979/80.

4# Graeme Smith | 286 Matches

Most matches played as captain - Sportzpoint.com

Former South African opener Graeme Smith became the Proteas’ youngest-ever captain when he was given the role at the age of 22, with an experience of just eight Test matches. Smith played 289 matches as a captain and won 163 out of them.

Under his leadership, South Africa was recognized as one of the best touring teams. Smith holds the record of being the only captain to play over 100 Test matches and register the highest number of wins in Test matches as a captain with 53 victories.

The major highlights of Smith's glittering career are the two double centuries that he smashed in back-to-back Tests against England at Edgbaston and Lord’s during the South Africa Tour of England in 2003. His glory as captain came when he led the South Africa cricket team in 2008-2009 in Australia and added glitter to his name when they again won in the 2012-20 tour.

Also Read: Indian Head Coach Record since 2000

3# Stephen Fleming | 303 Matches

Most matches played as captain - Sportzpoint.com

Stephen Fleming, the successful New Zealand captain, predominantly played his cricket in the pre-T20 era, especially when it comes to the international stage. Fleming led his team to their only ICC trophy at the Knockout Trophy in 2000. He also captained New Zealand to victory in their first-ever T20 international against Australia. 

Fleming played 303 matches when he captained New Zealand including 80 Test matches, 218 ODIs, and 5 T20Is, a New Zealand record and the third highest ever. Out of 303 matches, he managed to win 128 matches, which is a whopping 42.24 percent.

Fleming also led from the front during his captaincy stint and scored over 5196 runs as captain in Test cricket while as ODI skipper, Fleming scored 6295 runs. 

2# Ricky Ponting | 324 Matches

Most matches played as captain - Sportzpoint.com

Former Australian cricket team captain Ricky Ponting is one of the most uncompromising cricket players in the world. He played 324 matches as a captain, winning 220 matches, which is a whopping 67.9 percent. Ponting led Australia to two consecutive 50-over World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007, in addition to twin Champions Trophy wins in 2006 and 2009. 

Known for his aggression on the field, Ponting is the leading scorer in ODIs and Tests for Australia, scoring 10,000+ runs in each discipline. Moreover, he is the only player to win more than 100 Test matches.

After Steve Waugh, Ponting was clear on working and taking forward Steve's legacy, which was evident in his success rate and dominance. His wittiness and leadership skills were visible in both Test and ODI cricket.

Also Read: Fav four in cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith overall stats

1# MS Dhoni | 332 Matches

Most matches played as captain - Sportzpoint.com

MS Dhoni who is fondly called as captain cool by his fans and followers had a stellar record of most matches played as captain. Dhoni had a long span of career around 9 years to captain the team in all 3 formats. Even now Dhoni remains to be the only captain to win 3 different ICC events as captain. From showing his skill in pressure situations and Indian team domination in 2007/8 - 2011 WC would always be considered as great period for the Indian team. 

MS Dhoni has captained Team India in 332 international games which is the most for any player. MS Dhoni is one of the best captains in the world, with an overall win percentage of 53.61 across formats, winning 178 of the 332 matches while leading his team.

Including the 3 ICC trophies, Dhoni also has won 5 other multi-tours as captain of Team India. Interestingly, under his leadership in 2009, Team India attained the best Test cricket ranking of No. 1 for the first time in their history.

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Cricket facts: Every ODI captain of India and their records (men’s)

As Shubman Gill is all set to become the 28th ODI captain of India, here are all the ODI captain of India and their records as the leader in the 50-over format.

Oct 4, 2025, 2:56 PM6 min read

Cricket facts: Every ODI captain of India and their records (men’s)

A total of 27 players have captained the Indian ODI Cricket team. The very first ODI captain of the Indian cricket team was Ajit Wadekar. He captained the ODI team in 1974 and played just 2 matches as captain. Unfortunately, India lost both of them. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma are among the most successful Indian captains.

In any sport, including cricket, captaincy is perhaps the most important role that influences the overall performance of the entire team. Here is the cricket facts of every ODI captain of Indian Men's Cricket team and their records.

Also Read: Team India’s Record in Knockout Games – ODI vs T20 vs Test

Cricket facts: Every ODI captain of India and their records (men’s)

First ODI captain

It all started in the year 1974 when India played their first ODI match against England. Ajit Wadekar, who had earlier been a successful captain for India in Tests, was named captain of India's first ODI team.

Wadekar played an amazing knock of 67 runs, only to end up on the losing side. He couldn't do well in the next match and eventually retired right after the series. 

Wadekar was followed by Srinivasraghavan Venkataraghavan, who holds the remarkable record of captaining India in their first-ever ODI World Cup. He captained India in 7 matches and managed to win only one of those, against East Africa. His spin-bowling partner, Bishen Singh Bedi, then captained India in 4 matches, of which India lost 3. Gundappa Vishwanath also captained India in a solitary ODI match in 1980, which didn't go their way. 

India's ODI skipper in the 1980s

The earliest glory to India's ODI set-up came during the captaincy of Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. Gavaskar took up the captaincy in 1980, 9 years after making his debut for the Indian team.

Of all the cricketers who had captained India in ODIs till then, Gavaskar had the highest win percentage (40%), which he had notched up after winning 14 out of 37 matches. That was also the highest number of matches ever captained by any single cricketer for India in ODIs, till then. 

Then came Kapil Dev, who took the reins of captaincy from Gavaskar in 1982. Within just one year of Dev's captaincy, India managed to pull off the unthinkable by defeating all the big guns of world cricket and claiming India's first-ever World Cup in 1983.

Before the World Cup, he had also led India to their first-ever ODI win against two-time World Champions, the West Indies. Dev continued to captain India for a decade, the most by any player till then, and notched up a then-highest win percentage of 54.16. He captained India in 74 ODIs, out of which India won 39.

Azharuddin-Tendulkar era

Following Kapil Dev, wicketkeeper-batter Syed Kirmani and all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath captained India in 1 match each. Ravi Shastri, Dilip Vengsarkar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth then went on to captain India in 11, 18 and 13 ODIs respectively, but India attained a stable phase in 1989 with Mohammad Azharuddin holding the reins of the team. He continued to lead India for 10 years, captaining the team in 174 matches, of which India won 90.

Sachin Tendulkar's era coincided with that of Azharuddin, as he took up the leadership role in the year 1996 and led India in 73 matches throughout a period of 3 years. Under Sachin, India managed to win 23 matches.

Ganguly-Dhoni era

Saurav Ganguly took charge of the team at a time when it was going through a tough phase following the allegations of match-fixing. He revived India's fortunes by introducing the growth of future greats of Indian cricket, Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and one of India's most successful captains, MS Dhoni.

He developed one of India's finest teams that played fearless cricket. Ganguly led India to the final of the 2002 Champions Trophy.

Rahul Dravid captained India irregularly for a few years before taking it up full-time from Saurav Ganguly in 2005. Dravid finished with a decent win percentage of 56 before meeting a disastrous end in the form of the 2007 ICC World Cup debacle. He captained India in 79 matches, of which the team won 42.

MS Dhoni then led India through one of their greatest phases, as under him, India won one ICC World Cup and one Champions Trophy. He captained India in a record 200 ODIs, the highest by anyone to date. Of those, India managed to win 110 matches, with a win percentage of 59.52 under Dhoni's captaincy.

Kohli-Rohit era

Two of the greatest captains of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have put up exceptional shows as skippers of the Indian team. Although unable to win an ICC Trophy, Virat Kohli boasts of the highest win percentage among Indian ODI captains with more than 50 matches under their belt. Captaining India in 95 matches, Kohli has a win tally of 65, thus making for an effective win percentage of 70.43.

Rohit Sharma first captained India in Kohli's absence in the year 2017 and managed to win 42 out of the total 56 ODIs that the team has played in his captaincy. Rohit Sharma failed to lift the coveted World Cup for the third time in 2023.

Also Read: Most Runs for India as a Captain

Every ODI captain of India and their records

Name Year Match Played Matches Won Success Rate (%)
Ajit Wadekar 1974 2 0 0
Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan 1975–1979 7 1 14.28
Bishen Singh Bedi 1975-1978 4 1 25
Sunil Gavaskar 1980-1985 37 14 40
Gundappa Viswanath 1980 1 0 0
Kapil Dev 1982-1992 74 39 54.16
Syed Kirmani 1983 1 0 0
Mohinder Amarnath 1984 1 0 0
Ravi Shastri 1986-1991 11 4 36.36
Dilip Vengsarkar 1987-1988 18 8 44.44
Krishnamachari Srikkanth 1989 13 4 33.33
Mohammad Azharuddin 1989-1999 174 90 53.57
Sachin Tendulkar 1996-1999 73 23 35.07
Ajay Jadeja 1998-1999 13 8 61.53
Sourav Ganguly 1999–2005 146 76 53.9
Rahul Dravid 2000-2007 79 42 56
Anil Kumble 2001 1 1 100
Virender Sehwag 2003-2011 12 7 58.33
Mahendra Singh Dhoni 2007–2018 200 110 59.52
Suresh Raina 2010 12 6 54.54
Gautam Gambhir 2010-11 6 6 100
Virat Kohli 2013-2021 95 65 68.42
Ajinkya Rahane 2015 3 3 100
Rohit Sharma 2017-2025 56 42 75.00
Shikhar Dhawan 2021-2022 12 7 58.33
KL Rahul 2022-2023 12 8 66.66
Hardik Pandya 2023-2023 3 2 66.66

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ICC Rankings: Players who achieved No.1 rankings in all format

Only a few players who have achieved the No.1 position in the ICC rankings in all three formats. Let's have a look at those players who achieved No.1 ICC rankings in all formats.

Sep 24, 2025, 6:59 PM4 min read

ICC Rankings: Players who achieved No.1 rankings in all

In the long history of cricket, there have been only a few players who have achieved the No.1 position in the ICC rankings in all three formats - Test, ODI, and T20I. Looking at their stats and numbers it won’t be a difficult task to rank these players based on their performances and their abilities to turn the match around with their match-winning performance.

Let's have a look at those players who achieved No.1 ICC rankings in all formats.

Also Read: Indian Men's cricketers to win ICC player of the month award

Players who achieved No.1 ICC rankings in all

1. Ricky Ponting

ICC Rankings: Players who achieved No.1 rankings in all

Ricky Ponting became the first player to achieve number one ranking in each format. He scored 98 runs in the first ever T20I match played between Australia and New Zealand in Auckland in February 2005 and achieved the number one ranking in the format. Although he couldn't remain at the top for long.

Apart from that, Ponting has been crowned as number one batter in the ODI format for three consecutive years from 2005 to 2007, Ponting also achieved the number ranking in Tests for the first time in 2003. 

2. Matthew Hayden

ICC Rankings: Players who achieved No.1 rankings in all

Matthew Hayden is ranked among the most explosive opening batters in the world. He is also one of the few players to rank number one in all three formats of the game although not at the same time. The southpaw was the leading run-scorer of both the ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup in 2007 with 659 runs and 265 runs to his name respectively.

Hayden has 30 Test centuries to his name along with ten ODI hundreds. Apart from that, in his short T20I career, Hayden has good numbers with 308 runs to his name from nine innings at an average of 51.33 with four half-centuries.

3. Virat Kohli

ICC Rankings: Players who achieved No.1 rankings in all

Star cricketer Virat Kohli was first player from India to get the highest ICC ranking in every format of the game. Kohli had his best years as an international cricketer in the decade of 2010s. He first achieved the number one ranking in the ODI format in November 2013. After that, he went on to rule the 50-over format and remained as number 1 ODI batter in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively.

Apart from the ODIs, Virat Kohli won player of the tournament in the 2014 T20 World Cup and the 2016 T20 World Cup respectively and also finished as number one batter in the shorter format in both the years. Talking about the Test format, Kohli was crowned as number one batter in the longest format in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

4. Jasprit Bumrah

ICC Rankings: Players who achieved No.1 rankings in all

Jasprit Bumrah is considered as once in a generation player and has achieved several milestones in his nine-year international career so far. Making his international debut in January 2016, Bumrah achieved the number spot in ICC T20I bowlers’ ranking in January 2018 for a short period of time.

After the T20Is, Bumrah also became the nightmare for the batters in the ODI format and was crowned as number one ODI bowler by the ICC rankings in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Bumrah was also crowned as number 1 Test bowler by the ICC ranking in 2023 and 2024 respectively and is still holding the spot in the format as of 2025.

Also Read: Top 10 most watched cricket matches in history

5. Shakib al Hasan

ICC Rankings: Players who achieved No.1 rankings in all

The former Bangladesh ODI captain is one of the greatest cricketers to emerge from his nation. Shakib al Hasan is the leading run scorer for his side in T20Is with 2382 runs from 116 innings. The left-arm spinner is also the leading wicket-taker for Bangladesh in all three formats having 233 wickets in Tests, 317 wickets in ODIs and 140 scalps in T20Is.

He further has the third most runs for his nation in both ODIs (7570) and Tests (4454) stamping his authority as a true all-rounder. Notably, the southpaw is the second player to rank number one in all three formats at the same time as he took the top spot in the all-rounder rankings across formats in June 2015.

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Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

There have been a few who have made their nation proud with record appearances in all three formats for the Indian cricket side. In this article, we will be discussing about most matches by an Indian in international cricket.

Aug 25, 2025, 12:11 PM4 min read

Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

The Indian team has given the country and the world many great batsmen, whose batting is admired by the whole world. Whether these players are playing at home or abroad, they have shown their batting prowess everywhere.

There have been a few who have made their nation proud with record appearances in all three formats for the Indian cricket side. While some have been able to represent India in a record number of matches, others have done a significant job in all three formats, time and time again. 

In this article, we will be discussing about most matches by an Indian in international cricket.

Also Read: Can You Guess the Indian with Most ICC Appearances?

Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

1. Sachin Tendulkar | 664

Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

Sachin Tendulkar is the player who has played the most matches for the Indian team in international cricket. From 1989 to 2013, the Master Blaster has played a total of 664 matches in international cricket, in which he has scored 34537 runs at an impressive average of 48.52. He is the only batsman to score 100 centuries in international cricket.

Tendulkar featured in 200 Test matches, where he scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, while he had 51 centuries in the format. On the other hand, he made his ODI appearances in 463 games to score 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, where he struck runs at a strike rate of 86.23. Also, he was also the first player in the format to score a double-century. Meanwhile, he also made a lone T20I appearance against South Africa in 2006.

2. Virat Kohli | 550

Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

Virat Kohli is second in terms of playing the most number of international matches for India. Kohli, who began his international career in 2008, scored a total of 27599 runs at an average of 52.36 in 550 matches, in which 82 centuries have come from his bat. Kohli's highest score in international cricket has been 254* runs. 

Kohli has represented India in 123 Test matches, while he has made 302 and 125 appearances in ODI and T20Is. Kohli has dominated in all three formats, where ODI has been his forte with 14,180 runs at an average of 57.88, with his 51 centuries. On the other hand, he has 9,230 runs in Test cricket, while having 4,188 runs in the duration of his T20I career.

3. MS Dhoni | 535

Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has retired after the 2019 World Cup from international cricket. Debuting in the year 2004, MS Dhoni went on to play 535 matches for India where he amassed a total of 17,092 runs while averaging 44.74 across formats. During this, 15 centuries have come from his bat. Under Dhoni's captaincy, the Indian team won the T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and ODI World Cup titles.

The Indian wicketkeeper batter was the most reliable player in ODI cricket with 10,773 runs in 350 matches. While he made 90 Test appearances to score 4,876 runs, whereas he played 98 matches in the shortest format with 1,617 runs during his career.

4. Rahul Dravid | 504

Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

Rahul Dravid has played cricket for the Indian team from 1996 to 2012. During this time, he featured in a total of 504 matches for the Men in Blue, while scoring a total of 24,064 runs at an average of 45.57. He scored 48 centuries in international cricket.

Dravid, also called as The Wall, was one of the most celebrated players of his time with 164 Test appearances powered by 344 ODI games, while he played a lone T20I match. In Test cricket, Dravid was a beast with 13,288 runs, whereas in one-day cricket, he was at his best with 10,889 runs. Dravid has also been the coach of Team India and under his coaching the Indian team won the T20 World Cup 2024 title.

Also Read: Most Test Centuries in Cricket History

5. Rohit Sharma | 499*

Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

Rohit Sharma played his first international cricket match for the Indian team in 2007. He is just one game away from the record figure of 500 after featuring in 499 matches so far in his overall international career.

Now, Rohit has retired from T20I and Test cricket. He is currently playing in ODIs. In his combined career, Sharma has amassed 19,700 runs at an average of 42.18, while he has scored a total of 49 centuries in all forms of the game for India.

Additionally, Rohit led India to back-to-back two ICC trophies, the 2024 T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy 2025. He has five centuries in the T20I format for India. Moreover, with 11,168 runs in 273 ODIs, he is also one of the top-notch run-scorers.

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Most Test Centuries in Cricket History

With his latest century against India at the Oval during the fifth test of the series, Joe Root has now climbed up to no. 4 position in the list of most test centuries in cricket history.

Aug 3, 2025, 7:23 PM5 min read

Most Test Centuries in Cricket History - Joe Root - 39 | sportzpoint.com
Image | ICC on X

The battle of supremacy in Test centuries has come a long way in cricket history. Some early established test records, defined by batting greatness, are nearly impossible to imagine being surpassed. The record for most test centuries in cricket history is one of them.

This prestigious list consists of legendary batters around the globe who have shaped the golden era of test cricket with their run-scoring consistency and centuries.

Discover the complete list of players with the most test centuries in cricket history and embrace their legacies.

Most Test Centuries in Cricket History

1. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 51 centuries

Sachin Tendulkar holds the Most Test centuries in cricket history | sportzpoint.com
Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his 30th Test century in 2002. Image | ESPNcricinfo

The 'Little Master' Sachin Tendulkar stands right at the top with 51 test centuries in his career, spanning from 1989 to 2013. His career was a saga of brilliance against every bowling attack in every condition.

From being the youngest Indian to score a Test century at the age of 17 years and 109 days in 1990, to ending up having the most test centuries in cricket history, Tendulkar has achieved it all!

He has consistently scored tons, becoming the first and only player to ever cross the fifty-mark in test centuries. These numbers let us believe that maybe some records can never be broken.

Read Also: Youngest Indian cricketers to score an international century

2. Jacques Kallis (SA) | 45 centuries

Jacques Kallis is 2nd in the list of Most Test centuries in cricket history | sportzpoint.com
Jacques Kallis celebrates his 40th test century in 2011. Image | Mint

The legendary all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, graced the longest format from 1995 to 2013, amassing 45 test centuries. He is the only South African to feature at the top of this list and to have scored more than 30 test centuries.

Apart from personal milestones, his hundreds were often foundational blocks for South Africa's innings in the game. He provided the key balance the team needed, contributing to secure a win or draw.

3. Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 41 centuries

Ricky Ponting is 3rd in the list of Most Test centuries in cricket history | sportzpoint.com
Ricky Ponting celebrates his 40th test century against India in 2012. Image | Pinterest

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, led Australia through a golden era, scoring 41 centuries between 1995 to 2012. Known for his aggressive yet classy style, he thrived especially in big matches, putting the opposition under pressure.

One of the memorable moments in his century collection is the twin centuries during his 100th test match against South Africa in Sydney. This came in 2006, where Ponting scored back-to-back 120 and 142* in two innings.

He is the 3rd batter to go 40+ in the list of most test centuries in cricket history.

Read Also: Most Test Runs in Cricket History (Men's)

4. Joe Root (ENG) | 39 centuries

Most Test Centuries in Cricket History - Joe Root - 39 | sportzpoint.com
Joe Root dedicated his 39th test ton to late Graham Thrope. Image | ICC on X

England's highest scorer in tests, Joe Root, has scored 39 test centuries so far in his career. He has scored the most hundreds for his nation and is also the batter with the most test tons in WTC history.

He reached his 39th test century against India at the Oval, during the 5th test of their Anderson-Tendulkar series. Root is currently the World's No. 1 in the ICC Test batter rankings, and the only player in the top 5 of this list who has not yet retired.

Root's fiery form is a clear indication of him soaring higher in all charts of test cricket records, setting the standards for generations to come.

Read Also: Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar – Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record

5. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 38 centuries

Kumar Sangakkara is 4th in the list of Most Test centuries in cricket history | sportzpoint.com
Kumar Sangakkara celebrates his first century at the Lord's Cricket Ground in 2014. Image | Sky Sports

The Sri Lankan batting maestro, Kumar Sangakkara, is a perfect example of elegance and power blended together. His ability to score big placed him in the top 5 of most test centuries in cricket history.

Sangakkara scored 38 test centuries from 2000 to 2015. One of his defining moments in his career was his 287 runs against South Africa in 2006. This knock was a part of the record-breaking partnership of 624 runs with his teammate, Mahela Jayawardene.

Most Test Centuries in Cricket History (TOP 20)

Here's the tabular breakdown of the Top 20 players having the most test centuries in cricket history, featuring 6 players from Australia, 4 from India, and several other cricketing nations.

Rank Player Country Test centuries
1 Sachin Tendulkar India 51
2 Jacques Kallis

South Africa

45
3 Ricky Ponting Australia 41
4 Joe Root England 39
5 Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka 38
6 Steve Smith Australia 36
7 Rahul Dravid India 36
8 Younis Khan Pakistan 34
9 Sunil Gavaskar India 34
10 Brian Lara West Indies 34
11 Mahela Jayawardene Sri Lanka 34
12 Kane Williamson New Zealand 33
13 Alastair Cook England 33
14 Steve Waugh Australia 32
15 Matthew Hayden Australia 30
16 Virat Kohli India 30
17 Shivnarine Chanderpaul West Indies 30
18 Dom Bradman Australia 29
19 Michael Clarke Australia 28
20

Hashim Amla

South Africa 28

Note: Article was first written by Snighda Halder on 26th July, 2025 and later got updated by the editorial team.

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Most Test wickets as captain

Pat Cummins surpassed Richie Benaud to become the second captain to pick most Test wickets. This also makes him the leading wicket-taker among Australian captains.

Jul 25, 2025, 1:01 PM6 min read

Most Test wickets as captain

In the realm of cricket, leadership is not only about guiding the team but also about leading by example. Captaining a team in Test matches adds an extra layer of responsibility, requiring the ability to inspire and strategize while maintaining individual performance. Captains who can inspire their team through their own performances hold a special place in the annals of cricket history. One of the most significant measures of a captain's impact is their ability to take wickets in Test matches, the pinnacle of the sport.

Let's explore the elite group of bowlers who have not only captained their sides but also have most Test wickets as captain.

Also Read: Most 5 wicket hauls in Test Cricket

Most Test wickets as captain

1. Imran Khan | 187 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

Imran Khan, a charismatic leader and an exceptional all-rounder has the most Test wickets as captain. He captained Pakistan from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. Imran was a renowned sportsman who not only led Pakistan to a World Cup victory but also set an example of ideals for all youngsters to aspire to. He was one of the finest captains of his time.

Imran Khan has got 187 wickets in 48 Test matches in his 21 years of Test career (1971-1992) as captain. He has a total of 362 Test wickets on his name for Pakistan. Imran Khan has the second-best Test figure in this list of best Test captains. 

2. Pat Cummins | 145 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

Pat Cummins joined the elite list of most Test wickets as captain. He has also surpassed Richie Benaud to become the second captain to pick most Test wickets. This also makes him the leading wicket-taker among Australian captains.

Cummins has now taken 145 wickets so far in 37 Test matches as captain at an impressive average of 22.66 with nine five-wicket hauls. The World Cup-winning captain also became the first-ever cricketer to take 100 Test wickets as a captain in the ICC World Test Championship history. Cummins has taken 309 Test wickets at an average of 22.10 so far and is Australia's highest-ranked bowler in the ICC Test bowling standings.

3. Richie Benaud | 138 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

Richie Benaud, who is best remembered as one of Australia's most-imaginative captains, occupies the 2nd spot in terms of taking the most Test wickets as captain, with 138 Test wickets in 28 games. He served as captain of the Australian national team from 1958 to 1963, during which time Australia never lost a Test (international) series.

Benaud first appeared in Test matches in 1951. He developed a reputation as a fine leg-spin bowler as well as an excellent batsman and fielder. He also became known for his intelligent and energetic play.

4. Garfield Sobers | 117 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

Garfield Sobers aka Sir Garry Sobers is considered to be one of the greatest batsmen after Sir Don Bradman and the greatest All Rounder of all time. Garry took 117 wickets of his 39 Test matches as captain. They are the 3rd most behind Imran Khan's 187 and Richie Benaud's 138. 

Garry Sobers holds the record for bowling most number of balls as a captain in Tests. He bowled 10860 balls as a captain. Only other captain to bowl 10000 or more balls is Richie Benaud who bowled 10720 balls.

Also Read: Most sixes in a Test innings

5. Daniel Vettori | 116 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

Former New Zealand left-arm spinner, Daniel Vettori has the fourth most Test wickets as captain. Vettori made his first appearance in Test cricket in 1997 against England. As captain, Vettori took 116 Test wickets at an average of 33.38, and hit four centuries and nine fifties to aggregate 1917 runs.

Under the left-arm spinner, New Zealand have won just six Tests, with four of them coming against Bangladesh, and one each against England and Pakistan, apart from 18 defeats and 13 draws. In the 13 series that Vettori led, New Zealand lost on nine occasions.

6. Kapil Dev | 111 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

Kapil Dev occupies the 5th spot in terms of taking the most Test wickets as captain. He was the first Indian Captain who won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1983. Kapil is one of the legendary cricketers India have ever produced. Before Kapil Dev's era, cricket was a low-profile game in India with a limited audience. He brought a revolution in Indian cricket through his captaincy.

Kapil Dev led the Indian Test team in 34 matches where he picked 111 Test wickets. He also has overall 434 Test wickets to his name in just 131 Test Matches for India. Every Indian cricket fan was impressed with the one-man show skill that Kapil presented through his bowling, batting, and captaincy. His services as one of the best all-rounders in cricket would be remembered forever.

7. Wasim Akram | 107 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

We all know how good of a player Wasim Akram was during his cricketing days. One of the greatest bowlers of his generation and some say he was the greatest left-arm fast bowler in the history of cricket. The Sultan of swing, the king of reverse swing, and the hero of the 1992 world cup final, Wasim Akram was a trademark fast bowler throughout his career.

Wasim Akram took over the Test captaincy from Javed Miandad in 1993. He captained Pakistan in 25 Tests and took 107 wickets at an average of 23.36. Wasim was also known as a very aggressive and confrontational captain on the field.

8. Bishan Singh Bedi | 106 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

Known for his outspokenness, late cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi occupies the 7th spot in terms of taking the most Test wickets as captain. Bedi was widely known as one of the greatest spinners produced by India who played international cricket.

Bedi, famous for his outstanding accuracy and spin bowling, picked up 266 wickets in Test cricket at an average of 28.71 with 14 five-wicket hauls. The left-arm spinner also claimed seven wickets in the 50-over format. Out of the 266 Test wickets, Bedi bagged 106 of those as captain, having led the Indian team in 22 Tests.

Also Read: Fastest to 500 Test Wickets

9. Shaun Pollock | 103 Wickets

Most Test wickets as captain

South Africa has produced some magnificent talents in world cricket's history. Among those superb talents, there was another such diamond that waited for its turn to shine, Shaun Pollock. Pollock is the first South African to take 400 wickets. Even the greatest of all time Sachin Tendulkar went cautious while facing him.

Pollock was the captain when South Africa suffered an ignominious exit from the 2003 World Cup, which was held in their country. Pollock played 82 Tests as a player, taking 318 wickets at an average of 23.68, with 12 five-wicket hauls and a best of 7/87. While Pollock played 26 Tests as captain, taking 103 wickets at an average of 21.36, with 4 five-wicket hauls and a best of 6/30.

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