![Most IPL matches before captaining a team [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1778770808110_RavindraJadejaJaspritBumrah.jpg?type=hq)
Most IPL matches before captaining a team [Source: AFP]
On Thursday night at the most scenic venue in India, Jasprit Bumrah stepped out as the Mumbai Indians’ captain for the first time in his IPL career. Having joined the franchise in 2013, it took him just over 13 seasons to get an opportunity to lead the Men in Blue.
With this career milestone, he joined a star-studded list, including Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma, among others, while also becoming the player with the second-most IPL matches before receiving the honour of leading a team in the league. Below is the list of the top 5 players who took the most matches before captaining an IPL team.
5. Kieron Pollard – 137 matches
Kieron Pollard was inarguably MI’s biggest match-winner during their five IPL titles. Having previously led them in the Champions League T20, Pollard captained them for the first time in IPL 2019 against the Kings XI Punjab in Wankhede Stadium. He had already played 136 matches prior to this and went on to lead them in 6 IPL matches from 2019 to 2021.
Pollard won four and lost two matches as MI’s stand-in skipper during this period.
Also Read: Hardik Pandya MI Captaincy: IPL Teams Who Can Target All-Rounder For Captaincy In IPL 2027
4. Axar Patel – 148 matches
The left-arm orthodox bowling all-rounder, Axar Patel, emerged as one of the most promising youngsters in IPL 2014, when he played a huge part in taking PBKS (then KXIP) to the IPL final. After spending 5 seasons with Punjab, he was bought by the Delhi Capitals in 2019, where he led the team for the first time in 2024 after 148 matches played.
When Rishabh Pant left the Delhi Capitals in the subsequent season, he became their full-time captain in IPL 2025, retaining his role in 2026 as well. As of May 14, 2026, he has won 10 and lost 13 matches out of 25 as captain.
3. Manish Pandey – 153 matches
The Player of the Match of IPL 2014 final, Manish Pandey, made his IPL debut back in the inaugural season with the Mumbai Indians. However, he broke onto the scene in the subsequent season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, becoming the first Indian to score a century in the competition.
Having represented MI, RCB, Pune Warriors India and winning the title with the Kolkata Knight Riders, Pandey moved to SRH in 2019 and made his solitary appearance as captain in 2021 against MI, after playing 153 matches and scoring 69* (41) in the match. Nonetheless, SRH lost the match by 42 runs.
2. Jasprit Bumrah – 156 matches
The linchpin of multiple title-winning seasons of the Mumbai Indians since 2013, Jasprit Bumrah remained a one-team man throughout his IPL career till 2026. Bumrah is one of the biggest scouting success stories of the league, who also went on to lead India in Tests and T20Is before getting a go in IPL.
Playing his 14th season with the franchise, MI gave him the onus of leading the team in Hardik Pandya’s and Suryakumar Yadav’s absence against the Punjab Kings in Dharamsala
1. Ravindra Jadeja – 200 matches
Ravindra Jadeja is one of the names that the great Shane Warne highly rated after the IPL 2008 win with the Rajasthan Royals. He went on to play for the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, CSK and the Gujarat Lions in 2016-17 before the opportunity knocked.
In IPL 2022, he was appointed as their full-time captain, but with only two wins in 8 matches, he was replaced by MS Dhoni in the middle of the season.
Also Read: When Jasprit Bumrah Expressed His Desire Of Becoming Mumbai Indians Captain
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