Top 10 most successful ICC captains: Where does Rohit Sharma rank?

Behind winning an ICC tournament and falling short at the end, leadership often becomes the biggest difference in the game. To hold the responsibility and expectation of not only the 10 other players on the ground but billions of fans around the globe takes its toll. The Indian fans know how dreadful it was when they went unbeaten throughout the 2023 ODI World Cup before losing the final under Rohit Sharma. 

A great captain doesn’t only make smart tactical decisions but also inspire the team to perform under pressure and deliver when the stakes are at their highest. Over the years, very few leaders have guided their teams consistently to ICC glory.

From lifting several World Cups to ending the decades-long drought of winning the titles, these leaders have always created many unforgettable moments in the history of the game. But where does Rohit stand, who led the Indian side to the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025, among the greatest ICC captains of all time?

It's not only about putting the fielders in the right position on the field or using the right bowler against the batters under pressure or making the right game plan against various opposition teams. It’s also about contributing with the bat or ball in crunch situations in these ICC tournaments to change the momentum of the game.

Top 10 most successful ICC captains — Ranked by win percentage

Here are the top 10 most successful ICC captains, based on their achievements, trophy haul, and overall impact on the biggest stage of the game. The rankings may surprise one, and Rohit’s position may become a major talking point to debate among cricket fans.

Here are the top 10 most successful ICC captains-

#10 Temba Bavuma (South Africa)- Winning WTC 2025  final vs Australia-

South Africa missed the chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final after finishing at the third position. But the Temba Bavuma-led side improved their performance in the 2023-25 cycle and finished at the top with eight wins in 12 clashes. They faced Australia in the final at Lord’s.

Kagiso Rabada’s 5/51 blew away the defending champions for just 212 runs in the first innings before a shocking batting performance from the Proteas bundled them out for just 138. But, in the fourth innings, Aiden Markram smashed a dashing knock of 136 runs to earn the five-wicket win and win a memorable ICC trophy.

See Also: ICC plans major WTC expansion to 12 teams from 2027–29 cycle: Report

Bavuma contributed 711 runs in 13 innings of the competition at an average of 59.25, thanks to two centuries and five fifties at the best score of 113 runs.

 #9 Eoin Morgan (England)- Winning ODI WC 2019 final vs New Zealand-

After losing to Bangladesh in Adelaide and failing to qualify for the quarter-finals of the ODI World Cup 2015, England needed to shift their ODI approach during the home ODI WC 2019. And Eoin Morgan, the leader, came as a blessing. They reached the final of the event after beating Australia in the semifinal.

At Lord’s, the Kiwis posted 241 runs in their allotted 50 overs for the loss of eight wickets, with Henry Nicholas celebrating a fifty. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes’ 110-run fifth-wicket stand took the game to the super over, where the hosts drew the fixture before earning the win on boundary count.

#8 Imran Khan (Pakistan)- Winning ODI WC 1991/92 final vs England-

Imran Khan will remain one of the most inspiring leaders of Pakistan cricket, not only due to his all-round performance but also how he guided a young side to several glories of the game. During the Benson & Hedges World Cup 1991/92, they finished the group stage in fourth position before earning the final’s rights by winning the semifinal against New Zealand.

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), during the final, Pakistan posted 249 runs for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs, thanks to the two half-centuries from Javed Miandad and Imran’s 72 runs off 110 balls. England got bundled out for 227, with Pakistan lifting the title with the 22-run victory.

Imran Khan collected 185 runs in the event, including the 72-run knock in the final, besides picking up seven wickets at 35.85.

#7 Kapil Dev (India)- Winning ODI World Cup 1983 final vs West Indies-

No Indian fan would argue that Kapil Dev would always remain a successful captain in winning ICC events. Winning the 1983 Prudential Cup in the final against the West Indies gave birth to a new generation. It was special, more so because they went to the tournament only to enjoy. Beating the West Indies was perhaps in everyone’s daydreams apart from Kapil.

India beat England in the semifinal to meet the West Indies in the final at Lord’s. Even before the first ball was bowled, the money was on the Caribbean side to earn their third successive title. And it grew more once the blue brigade was bundled out for just 183.

See Also: Kapil Dev match-fixing — 1991 India vs Pakistan Sharjah controversy

But Kapil, who smashed 303 runs at 60.60 in the event and bagged 12 wickets at 20.41, grabbed the vital catch of Viv Richards running back. Who can forget that moment as an Indian fan?

#6 Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka)- Winning ODI WC 1996 final vs Sri Lanka-

The Wills World Cup 1996 was about Sri Lanka’s rise under a fiery leader, Arjuna Ranatunga. Before the event, he noted his desire to meet Australia in the final, and his wish turned true after beating India in the semifinal at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

During the final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Australia posted 241 runs for the loss of seven wickets. This was a competitive score, especially against the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, or Damien Fleming. In reply, the Asian side completed the chase by seven wickets, thanks to the unbeaten 107-run knock.

Ranatunga, who made 47* in the final, contributed 241 runs in six innings at 120.50 during the competition.

#5 Pat Cummins (Australia)- Winning WTC 2023 & ODI WC 2023-

The year 2023 was a memorable one not only for Australia but also for their captain, Pat Cummins. Both memorable occasions came against India. At the Kennington Oval, they blew away India during the WTC 2021-23 final by 209 runs, where the pacer picked up four wickets. He finished the cycle with 57 wickets in 27 innings at 22.15 with the help of three fifers.

By the end of the year, Australia reached the final after beating the Proteas in the semifinal at the Eden Gardens. At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Pat Cummins, during the final, showed his incredible game plan to set fields and picked up two crucial wickets of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer before they completed the chase of 241 runs. 

#4 Rohit Sharma (India)- Winning T20 WC 2024 and CT 2025-

Rohit Sharma gave India the rise they needed to end their long drought of winning ICC titles. In 2022, against England, they were timid with their batting approach at the Adelaide Oval. And that was when Rohit decided to bring aggression and a fearless character to the batting.

Two years later, he won the title for the blue brigade by beating South Africa in the final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The opening star batter contributed the second most runs of the competition with 257 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 156.70 with three fifties.

See Also: Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli: The real white-ball GOAT debate

A few months later, he won the Champions Trophy 2025 with the victory in the final against New Zealand in Dubai. Even in the ODI WC 2023, he led the side to the final, where they became the runners-up.

#3 Clive Llyod (West Indies)- Winning ODI World Cups 1975 and 1979-

Under the leadership of Clive Lloyd, West Indies won the Prudential Cup 1975 when they got the better of New Zealand in the semifinal at the Kennington Oval in South London. They continued the impressive run with the final victory over Australia. He smashed 158 runs in just three innings of the event at 52.67, besides bagging three wickets.

In the very next season of the event, he won the title by getting the better of England at Lord’s in the final. In this game, Sir Viv Richards nailed 138* runs to set the game before Joel Garner claimed a fine spell of 5/38 in 11 overs. Under him, they also reached the final of the very first WC in 1983, where they lost to India.

#2 MS Dhoni (India)- Winning T20 WC 2007, ODI WC 2011, and CT 2013-

MS Dhoni, as the leader of the Indian side, brought innovation with crazy decisions. He gave Joginder Sharma the last over, and the pacer stood up to his faith to pick the wicket of Misbah-ul-Haq and win the T20 WC 2007 with a very young captain. 

Four years later, he won the ODI World Cup 2011, where the Indian captain remained unbeaten on 91 runs against Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The pressure was massive on the team, given it was at home.

See Also: MS Dhoni's top 5 most memorable knocks in international cricket

Two years later, he won another ICC trophy in the form of the Champions Trophy 2013, where they got the better of the home team. They defended a very low score, for which Dhoni should have given the credit to the bowlers. He is the only captain to win all three major ICC trophies.

#1 Ricky Ponting (Australia)- Winning CT 2006 & 2009 and ODI WC 2003 and 2007-

Ricky Ponting is the most successful captain of the game with four ICC trophies, as he won the two Champions Trophies in 2006 and 2009, along with the ODI World Cups in 2003 and 2007. In 2003, he was the third leading run-getter with 415 runs at 51.87 before smashing 539 runs at 67.37 during the 2007 season of the title.

The team was a successful one with several glorious performers, but Ponting led them beautifully. Along with these, he also won the two Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009.

There are no other captains as successful as Ponting, who not only won the title but also contributed with the bat.

Top 10 most successful ICC captains-

Top 10 most successful ICC captains- FAQs