MS Dhoni, the first captain with the most wins by the captain who decides to bowl first, is among the players to be doubted . His leadership characterized by shrewdness and strategic moves has made it possible for him to win a number of matches opting for bowling during the toss. Other captains such as Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, who have achieved similar success in the past, have also won matches when they chose to bowl first. In IPL cricket, the decision to bowl first is mostly taken when the pitch is more favorable to the bowler. Furthermore, the batting side can study the pitch and know how to bat in the second inning.
Most wins in IPL by captains after electing to bowl first
1. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is the king of all IPL Captains and holds the record of the oldest player to play in the IPL matches. He has managed to play 235 matches in all with a whopping 136 wins among them. The IPL titles bagged by Chennai Super Kings under his captaincy are five times: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and even 2023.
2. Rohit Sharma
After MS, Rohit Sharma is another of the most successful captains which are also one of the most successful IPL players. Throughout his career, he has participated in 158 games winning 87 times. Mumbai Indians (MI) lifted the IPL trophy under his captaincy five times in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
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3. Gautam Gambhir
India’s current coach Gautam Gambhir is a widely recognized and popular figure who had the honor of leading Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL championships in the years 2012 and 2014. During his captaincy, he played a total of 129 matches winning 71 of them. Gambhir was known for his boldness as a captain and was not hesitant to try new things, including choosing to bowl first in games.
4. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is a near to a player who is referred to as a hero through his association with RCB/ He captained Royal Challengers Bangalore for 143 matches and registered 66 wins giving him a win percentage of 46.15%.
Although he was never able to secure an IPL title as captain, he guided his team to their first ever trophy in the last IPL season.
5. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is a new captain who has gained recognition for his calm and tactical approach to his role. He was the driving force behind the success of Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, leading both of them to the IPL finals. He recently led Punjab Kings where his superb performance won countless fans.
6. David Warner
David Warner, the Australian cricketer, was the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 83 games with 40 wins and a win rate of 48.19%. He is a player who is not afraid to take risks and thus sometimes chooses the toughest way.
Conclusion
When captains opt to bowl first, it is a strategic move that is determined by the behaviour of the pitch. The top captains like Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who have been leading teams, are the ones whose exceptional knowledge and pressure handling skills are simply unmatchable. They both are the most successful captains and have even brought their teams IPL titles.
