Most wins as Indian T20I captain: Rohit Sharma leads, Suryakumar closes in on MS Dhoni

Most wins as Indian men's T20I captain. [Source - @bcci/@icc/x]

India’s rise as a T20I powerhouse has been shaped by strong leadership from the front. Over the years, several captains have guided the team through high-pressure games, balancing aggression and consistency, while racking up impressive win records in the shortest format.

From building dominant home records to conquering overseas challenges, Indian captains have left a clear imprint on T20Is. This listicle looks at the captains with the most T20I wins for India, highlighting how their captaincy helped define different eras of success.

5. Hardik Pandya - 10 wins

Hardik Pandya first captained India in T20Is in Dublin against Ireland, signaling a new leadership chapter. He went on to lead the side in 16 matches overall, winning 10 and bringing a fearless, modern approach to India’s T20 setup.

Pandya last captained India against West Indies in 2023 at Lauderhill, Florida. His 10 wins from 16 games translate to a strong 65.62 win percentage, highlighting his impact and success as India’s T20I captain.

4. Virat Kohli - 30 wins

Fourth on the list is Indian veteran Virat Kohli, who began his T20I captaincy journey in early 2017 after taking over the white-ball leadership from MS Dhoni. His first assignment came in a home T20I series against England.

Kohli led India in 50 T20Is over nearly five years, winning 30 matches, with two tied games and a win percentage of 64.58. His tenure featured several historic overseas T20I series victories, strengthening India’s global dominance in the format.

3. Suryakumar Yadav - 31 wins

Suryakumar Yadav, India’s current T20I skipper, sits third on the list with 31 wins from 41 matches. He first captained India in November 2023 against Australia and later took over full-time after the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement.

With two tied games and a superb 82.05 win percentage, the best among Indian captains, India are yet to lose a series under him. With a T20 World Cup on the horizon, his win tally is only set to rise and set a new benchmark for the future T20I skippers.

2. MS Dhoni - 42 wins

MS Dhoni, India’s ultimate white-ball leader, began his legendary T20I captaincy by winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. That historic triumph set the tone for a once-in-a-generation leadership journey in white-ball cricket.

The keeper-batter remained India’s T20I captain until the 2016 series against West Indies in Lauderhill, Florida. The longest-serving skipper in the format, he led India in 73 matches, winning 42 with a 59.85 win percentage, placing him second on this list.

1. Rohit Sharma - 49 wins

At the top of the throne sits Rohit Sharma, India’s modern-day white-ball giant and the most successful T20I captain in the country’s history. He leads the list with 49 wins from 62 matches, boasting an outstanding 79.83 win percentage.

Rohit first captained India in T20Is in 2017 in Virat Kohli’s absence before taking over full-time in 2021. He capped his tenure by lifting the T20 World Cup in his final assignment, ending India’s 11-year ICC trophy drought.