A captain’s position in any sport is critical in making rapid choices and keeping the team together in tight situations. Their inherent instincts and experience allow them to win games for the squad.
In cricket, particularly in T20s, a captain must be quick to assess circumstances and position his side for victory. This is owing to the fast-paced nature of the sport, in which each choice can be critical from a team standpoint.
The captaincy role for Chennai Super Kings was passed from MS Dhoni to Ruturaj Gaikwad on Thursday. This decision for IPL 2024 raises curiosity if the right-handed batter can meet fan expectations. It presents an intriguing scenario. The torch has been handed over to newer leadership. All eyes will be on Gaikwad’s performance.
In the IPL, team leaders often change. But players quickly adapt to replacements. Here are 5 smooth captain transitions:
1. Shane Watson – Steve Smith
The teammates Shane Watson and Steve Smith traded roles as captains of Rajasthan Royals (RR) during IPL 2015. Watson captained RR in 2014, steering them to fifth place. However, a hip injury kept him out for the first four matches next season.
Smith took over as skipper and led RR to four straight wins. But when Watson returned, his poor batting form prompted him to hand back the leadership reins.
As a result, Smith returned to the helm and helped the organization secure a playoff place. Furthermore, Watson averaged more than 40 runs per game and hit a century.
2. Shreyas Iyer – Rishabh Pant
After the Delhi Capitals (DC) won only one of their first six IPL matches in 2018, Gautam Gambhir turned over leadership to Shreyas Iyer. Although Delhi ended last, Iyer showed potential as DC picked up four more victories. The following two seasons, the youth led the squad to the playoffs, finishing as runner-up in 2020.
Unfortunately, Iyer will miss the first half of the IPL 2021 season owing to a shoulder injury. This resulted in a new leader, Rishabh Pant, who continued to lead in the second half.
Under the wicketkeeper’s captaincy, the Capitals finished first in the standings with ten victories in 14 games.
3. Virat Kohli – Faf Du Plessis
Virat Kohli, one of the best batsmen of the current age, was named regular captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2013. The 2015 season saw them make the playoffs, and they finished second in 2016.
Then, in 2020, they made a breakthrough by clinching a playoff position after four years. The club replicated the feat the next season, showcasing Kohli’s ability as a skipper.
However, Kohli left prior of the 2022 season, and the squad was captained by Faf du Plessis. The team’s transfer was undoubtedly simple, as Du Plessis used his expertise to guide them back into the playoffs with eight victories in 14 games.
4. Kevin Pietersen – Anil Kumble
RCB signed English hitter Kevin Pietersen for the 2009 season. After the IPL was moved to South Africa, he was named captain of the franchise. However, Bangalore won only two of their first six games before Pietersen went for national duty.
Following his departure, Anil Kumble guided the squad to win six of their last eight league games, securing a playoff position. They came so near to winning the trophy, but the Deccan Chargers triumphed by six runs. Nonetheless, Kumble shown his abilities as a skipper in the shortest format.
5. Ricky Ponting – Rohit Sharma
The groundwork for the Mumbai Indians to win five IPL titles was established in 2013, when Ricky Ponting turned over the reins to Rohit Sharma. The two-time World Cup winner made the choice following a decline in his batting form and an 87-run loss against the Rajasthan Royals.
MI finished second in the points standings after Rohit Sharma’s hiring, with 11 victories in 16 matches. In the final, they defeated the Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs to claim their first title. Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, Mumbai won championships in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Rohit Sharma captaincy ended when all-rounder Hardik Pandya took over for the 2024 season.
Certainly, this captaincy changeover was the easiest in tournament history, since it also produced Rohit Sharma, the current captain of the Indian squad. With Rohit Sharma at the helm, the team has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability. The presence of Rohit Sharma has indeed been a significant influence on the squad’s performance.