Updated October 2026 | All stats are as of the end of IPL 2026 (final played 31 May 2026).
Quick answer: the most successful IPL captain is MS Dhoni, who has won five titles with Chennai Super Kings and has the best win percentage (57.87 per cent) of the four captains with the longest records. Rohit Sharma also won five titles, all with Mumbai Indians, at 55.06 per cent. Gautam Gambhir won two with Kolkata Knight Riders, and Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore in 143 matches without a title. This page ranks captains by titles and by win percentage, and explains why the two lists do not match.
| Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Win % | Titles | Finals led |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 235 | 136 | 97 | 57.87 | 5 | 10 |
| Rohit Sharma | 158 | 87 | 67 | 55.06 | 5 | 5 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 129 | 71 | 57 | 55.04 | 2 | 2 |
| Virat Kohli | 143 | 66 | 70 | 46.15 | 0 | 1 |
How Captaincy Success Should Be Measured
There are three common ways to judge an IPL captain. Titles are the most visible, but they depend heavily on the team a captain was given. Win percentage measures consistency over many matches, and is calculated here as matches won divided by matches played. Finals led shows how often a captain got a team to the last match.
Win percentages can differ by a few hundredths from one table to another, because ties and no results are handled differently. The figures on this page are wins divided by matches played, and a tied match settled by a Super Over is counted as a tie, not a win or a defeat. That is why wins and defeats do not add up to the matches played: Dhoni had two no results, Rohit four ties, Gambhir one tie, and Kohli three ties and four no results. The four records are complete, because none of these captains led a side in the 2026 season.
Most Successful IPL Captains: The Full Leaderboard
| Captain | Franchise (titles) | Matches | Won | Lost | Win % | Titles | Finals led |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant (titles with Chennai: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) | 235 | 136 | 97 | 57.87 | 5 | 10 |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) | 158 | 87 | 67 | 55.06 | 5 | 5 |
| Gautam Gambhir | Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders (titles with Kolkata: 2012, 2014) | 129 | 71 | 57 | 55.04 | 2 | 2 |
| Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore (none) | 143 | 66 | 70 | 46.15 | 0 | 1 |
Dhoni’s 136 wins are 49 more than Rohit’s 87, and he has led in 77 more matches. Kohli’s record is the only one of the four in which defeats (70) outnumber wins (66). You can read the full stories on the MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli career pages and the Rohit Sharma page.
The finals column comes from the full list of winning and losing captains. Dhoni led in 10 finals, winning five and losing five (2008, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019). Rohit and Gambhir won every final they led.
Every final led by these four captains
| Captain | Season | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Lost |
| MS Dhoni | 2010 | Mumbai Indians | Won |
| MS Dhoni | 2011 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Won |
| MS Dhoni | 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lost |
| MS Dhoni | 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Lost |
| MS Dhoni | 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Lost |
| MS Dhoni | 2018 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Won |
| MS Dhoni | 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Lost |
| MS Dhoni | 2021 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Won |
| MS Dhoni | 2023 | Gujarat Titans | Won |
| Rohit Sharma | 2013 | Chennai Super Kings | Won |
| Rohit Sharma | 2015 | Chennai Super Kings | Won |
| Rohit Sharma | 2017 | Rising Pune Supergiant | Won |
| Rohit Sharma | 2019 | Chennai Super Kings | Won |
| Rohit Sharma | 2020 | Delhi Capitals | Won |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2012 | Chennai Super Kings | Won |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2014 | Kings XI Punjab | Won |
| Virat Kohli | 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lost |
| Captain | Finals led | Won | Share of finals won |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 10 | 5 | 50% |
| Rohit Sharma | 5 | 5 | 100% |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| Virat Kohli | 1 | 0 | 0% |
More ways to compare the four captains
Win percentage is only one way to compare captains. The table below adds four other simple measures, all calculated from the match and result counts above.
| Measure | MS Dhoni | Rohit Sharma | Gautam Gambhir | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins minus defeats | +39 | +20 | +14 | −4 |
| Wins for every defeat | 1.40 | 1.30 | 1.25 | 0.94 |
| Win % counting only wins and defeats | 58.37 | 56.49 | 55.47 | 48.53 |
| Matches per title | 47.0 | 31.6 | 64.5 | No title |
| Wins per title | 27.2 | 17.4 | 35.5 | No title |
On the three measures based on match results the order is the same: Dhoni first, then Rohit, Gambhir and Kohli. The titles measures change the order. Rohit won his five titles in fewer matches (an average of 31.6 matches per title) than Dhoni did (47.0), and Gambhir needed 64.5 matches for each of his two.
A worked example: comparing Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir
The two captains look almost identical on win percentage, so here is how to separate them step by step.
- Start with win percentage. Rohit 55.06 and Gambhir 55.04, a gap of 0.02.
- Look at the size of the sample. Rohit led in 158 matches and Gambhir in 129, so Rohit’s record covers 29 more matches.
- Add wins minus defeats. Rohit is +20 (87 wins and 67 defeats) and Gambhir +14 (71 and 57).
- Look at the finals. Rohit led in five finals and won all five. Gambhir led in two and won both.
- Draw the conclusion. On match results they are level, but Rohit did it over more matches and reached the final more often, which fits with his three extra titles.
Titles Versus Win Percentage: Why They Disagree
Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir have almost identical win percentages, 55.06 and 55.04, but Rohit has won five titles and Gambhir two. The difference is partly the number of matches, 158 against 129, and partly the number of finals: Rohit led in five finals and Gambhir in two, and both won all of theirs.
Dhoni leads on both measures, but his finals record shows why titles alone can mislead. He won five of his ten finals, a rate of 50 per cent, while Rohit and Gambhir won every one of theirs. Dhoni’s edge comes from reaching the final so often. Kohli’s case runs the other way: 143 matches and a win percentage of 46.15, but one final, in 2016, which Royal Challengers Bangalore lost.
Every IPL Title-Winning Captain
| Season | Champion | Winning captain |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Shane Warne |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | Adam Gilchrist |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | David Warner |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | Hardik Pandya |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | MS Dhoni |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Shreyas Iyer |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajat Patidar |
| Captain | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 5 | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
| Rohit Sharma | 5 | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2 | 2012, 2014 |
| Rajat Patidar | 2 | 2025, 2026 |
| Shane Warne | 1 | 2008 |
| Adam Gilchrist | 1 | 2009 |
| David Warner | 1 | 2016 |
| Hardik Pandya | 1 | 2022 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 1 | 2024 |
Together these account for all 19 titles. Dhoni and Rohit alone have won ten of them, more than half.
Titles by five-season block
Splitting the 19 seasons into blocks shows how the title has moved between captains.
| Seasons | Winning captains | Different captains |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 to 2012 | Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, MS Dhoni (twice), Gautam Gambhir | 4 |
| 2013 to 2017 | Rohit Sharma (three times), Gautam Gambhir, David Warner | 3 |
| 2018 to 2022 | MS Dhoni (twice), Rohit Sharma (twice), Hardik Pandya | 3 |
| 2023 to 2026 (four seasons) | MS Dhoni, Shreyas Iyer, Rajat Patidar (twice) | 3 |
Dhoni won two titles in the first block, none in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth. Rohit’s five titles came in just two blocks, three in 2013 to 2017 and two in 2018 to 2022.
Team-by-Team Breakdown
Because each franchise’s success is so closely tied to its captain, the team view tells much the same story.
| Franchise | Titles | Title-winning captain(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 5 | MS Dhoni (all five) |
| Mumbai Indians | 5 | Rohit Sharma (all five) |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 | Gautam Gambhir (2012, 2014), Shreyas Iyer (2024) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2 | Rajat Patidar (2025, 2026) |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | David Warner (2016) |
| Gujarat Titans | 1 | Hardik Pandya (2022) |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1 | Shane Warne (2008) |
| Deccan Chargers | 1 | Adam Gilchrist (2009) |
Three of the franchises with more than one title, Chennai, Mumbai and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, have won all of them under a single captain. Kolkata Knight Riders are the only team to have won the title under two different captains. See their histories in Chennai Super Kings IPL history, Mumbai Indians IPL history and Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL history.
Finals record by franchise
Counting both winners and runners-up across all 19 finals gives a second way to compare franchises, and it links back to their captains.
| Franchise | Finals | Won | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Mumbai Indians | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Gujarat Titans | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Punjab Kings | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Delhi Capitals | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Deccan Chargers | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Rising Pune Supergiant | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Chennai have appeared in 10 of the 19 finals, and the 10 finals Dhoni led are the same ones, so his record and the franchise’s are closely linked. Mumbai’s five wins in six finals match Rohit’s five wins in five finals as captain, with the sixth final, in 2010, lost under a different captain.
Era Adjustments and Context
A captain’s record depends on the team and the era. The league had eight teams in its first season, ten in 2011, nine in 2012 and 2013, eight from 2014 to 2021 and ten since 2022, when two new franchises joined, so a captain’s win percentage is measured against a different field depending on the years. Dhoni and Rohit also led two of the league’s strongest franchises for most of their careers, which helps explain their totals. Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore for 143 matches and reached one final, in 2016.
Who Is Closing In on These Records?
No captain is close to Dhoni’s or Rohit’s five titles. The captains with the strongest recent claims are those who have led teams in finals since 2022.
| Captain | Finals led, 2022 to 2026 | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans) | 2022, 2023 | Won 2022, lost 2023 |
| Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals) | 2022 | Lost |
| Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad) | 2024 | Lost |
| Shreyas Iyer | 2024, 2025 | Won with Kolkata in 2024, lost with Punjab Kings in 2025 |
| Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) | 2025, 2026 | Won both |
| Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans) | 2026 | Lost |
Rajat Patidar has the best start of any recent captain, with two titles from two finals. Shreyas Iyer has led three finals in all, because he also captained Delhi Capitals in the 2020 final, which they lost. See the IPL 2026 season review and the IPL 2025 season review for the latest finals, and the Shreyas Iyer page for his career.
For more on the leaders of each franchise, see the IPL teams guide and the IPL records page.
Related guides: IPL captaincy records, the history of the IPL, all captaincy guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most successful IPL captain?
MS Dhoni is the most successful IPL captain: five titles with Chennai Super Kings, 136 wins from 235 matches and a win percentage of 57.87, the best of the four captains with the longest records. Rohit Sharma is next, with five titles and a win percentage of 55.06.
Which captain has won the most IPL titles?
MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have each won five IPL titles as captain. Dhoni won with Chennai Super Kings in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023, and Rohit won with Mumbai Indians in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
How many IPL finals has MS Dhoni captained?
MS Dhoni captained in 10 IPL finals and won five of them, in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. He lost in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019.
Has Virat Kohli won the IPL as captain?
No. Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore in 143 matches, winning 66 and losing 70, and reached one final, in 2016, which they lost.
Which IPL captains have won every final they led?
Rohit Sharma won all five finals he captained in (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020) and Gautam Gambhir won both of his (2012 and 2014).