India have had several iconic captains in One-Day International (ODI) cricket, with the leadership passing through different generations of players since the team's debut in the format in 1974.
From Ajit Wadekar, who became India's first ODI captain, to the likes of Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, several players have led the national side over the years.
Shreyas Iyer Leads In 4th ODI Vs New Zealand; Becomes 29th ODI Captain For India
The latest addition to this list is Shreyas Iyer, who has become India's 29th ODI captain.
The right-handed batter is leading the Men in Blue for the first time in the fourth ODI against New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on November 13, 2026. He will also captain the side in the fifth and final match of the series.
Iyer was initially named Shubman Gill's deputy for the five-match series. However, Gill's absence from the final two matches, as he prepares for the upcoming Test series, has opened the door for Iyer to take charge. Ishan Kishan has been appointed vice-captain for the remaining matches.
While Iyer has already captained India in T20I cricket, this marks his first opportunity to lead the national team in the 50-over format. He has previously captained Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, gaining valuable leadership experience in franchise cricket.
India's ODI captaincy history features several memorable names, including World Cup-winning skippers Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni. Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also played significant roles in leading India during different periods.
Here is the complete list of India's ODI captains.
List Of All Indian ODI Captains
No.
Indian ODI Captain
Years
1
Ajit Wadekar
1974
2
Srinivas Venkataraghavan
1975-1979
3
Bishan Singh Bedi
1975-1978
4
Sunil Gavaskar
1980-1986
5
Gundappa Viswanath
1980
6
Kapil Dev
1982-1992
7
Syed Kirmani
1983
8
Mohinder Amarnath
1984
9
Ravi Shastri
1986-1991
10
Dilip Vengsarkar
1987-1988
11
Krishnamachari Srikkanth
1989-1990
12
Mohammad Azharuddin
1989-1999
13
Sachin Tendulkar
1996-2000
14
Ajay Jadeja
1998-1999
15
Sourav Ganguly
1999-2005
16
Rahul Dravid
2000-2007
17
Anil Kumble
2002
18
Virender Sehwag
2003-2011
19
MS Dhoni
2007-2018
20
Suresh Raina
2010-2014
21
Gautam Gambhir
2010-2011
22
Virat Kohli
2013-2021
23
Ajinkya Rahane
2015
24
Rohit Sharma
2017-2025
25
Shikhar Dhawan
2021-2022
26
KL Rahul
2022-2025
27
Hardik Pandya
2023
28
Shubman Gill
2025-Present
29
Shreyas Iyer
2026-Present
Who Is India's Most Successful ODI Captain?
MS Dhoni remains India's most successful ODI captain in terms of victories. He led the national team in 200 matches, registering 110 wins during his captaincy tenure between 2007 and 2018. Under his leadership, India won the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Sourav Ganguly is another prominent name in India's ODI captaincy history. He captained India in 146 matches, recording 76 victories. Ganguly played an important role in building a competitive Indian side that reached the 2003 ODI World Cup final.
Virat Kohli also enjoyed an impressive record as India's ODI captain, winning 65 of the 95 matches he led. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma registered 42 victories in 56 matches, including the 2025 Champions Trophy triumph.
Kapil Dev, who led India to its maiden ODI World Cup title in 1983, also remains an important figure in the country's ODI captaincy history.
List Of All Indian ODI Captains (Source: AFP)
