5 star players who lost their first match as captain in all three formats ft. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill joins a rare list of players who began their captaincy careers with defeats in all formats. Here’s a look at five star cricketers, including Virat Kohli and Brendon McCullum, who lost their first match as captain in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Team India’s new ODI skipper Shubman Gill had a disappointing start to his 50-over captaincy tenure as his side fell to a seven-wicket defeat against Australia in the opening match of the ODI series at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday, October 19. With this result, the 26-year-old joined a rare list of prominent cricketers who began their captaincy careers in all three formats with losses.
Captaining a national side is never an easy task, the pressure, expectations, and tactical responsibilities can often be overwhelming at the start. While many skippers endure initial hiccups, only a handful have experienced defeats in their first game across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Here’s a look at five star players who lost their first match as captain in all formats.
1. Shubman Gill
Gill’s ODI captaincy debut against Australia did not go as planned, as India stumbled to a modest 136/9 in a rain-affected encounter before the hosts chased the target comfortably under DLS conditions.
Earlier this year, Gill’s first Test as captain came in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 opener at Headingley, where England chased down 371 to clinch victory. Before that, he had led a young Indian T20I side in Zimbabwe in 2024. Despite India being firm favorites after reducing the hosts to 115/9, the team collapsed to 102 all out, with Gill’s 31 off 29 being the top score.
2. Virat Kohli
One of the most accomplished modern-day captains, Virat Kohli also endured defeats in his first games as skipper in every format. His Test captaincy debut came in the 2014-15 Adelaide Test against Australia, where he scored centuries in both innings but couldn’t prevent a narrow loss. In ODIs, his first outing as captain was during a 2013 tri-series match against Sri Lanka in the West Indies, where India suffered a 161-run defeat.
In T20Is, Kohli’s first match as skipper came against England in Kanpur, where India managed 147/7. England chased down the total with ease to win by seven wickets.
3. Shaun Pollock
The South African legend became the first captain to experience this unfortunate streak. Pollock’s ODI captaincy debut came against Pakistan during the 2000 Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah, where South Africa were bundled out for 101 in pursuit of 169. His Test leadership began in Sri Lanka, where the hosts won by an innings and 15 runs thanks to Muttiah Muralitharan’s 13-wicket haul.
In T20Is, Pollock led just once, a rain-shortened match against West Indies in Port Elizabeth, where South Africa were restricted to 58/8 in 13 overs and eventually lost by five wickets.
4. Stephen Fleming
Regarded as one of New Zealand’s finest captains, Stephen Fleming too began his leadership career with defeats across all formats. His first Test as captain in 1997 against England at Christchurch ended in a four-wicket loss after the visitors chased down 307. His first ODI as skipper, also at the same venue against Sri Lanka, saw the Blackcaps post 201/9 before the visitors chased it down comfortably.
Fleming also captained in the first-ever T20I in history, played against Australia in 2005 at Eden Park. New Zealand lost that game by 44 runs following a blistering performance from Ricky Ponting.
5. Brendon McCullum
Another Kiwi great, Brendon McCullum, who later revolutionized New Zealand’s approach to cricket, also endured a poor start in all three formats. His first T20I as captain came against England at Eden Park, where New Zealand fell short by 32 runs while chasing 185. In ODIs, McCullum’s captaincy debut in 2009 against India ended in a heavy defeat, as Sachin Tendulkar’s 163 powered the visitors to 392/4. Despite McCullum’s brisk 71, the Kiwis were bowled out for 334.
In Tests, McCullum led for the first time during the 2013 South Africa tour, where New Zealand suffered a crushing innings defeat after being dismissed for just 45 in the first innings.
While these initial setbacks might have been forgettable, each of these cricketers went on to leave a strong legacy in their own right. Leadership in international cricket often begins with tough lessons, and for players like Shubman Gill, these early challenges could serve as the foundation for future success.
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