The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a dazzling display of top-notch Twenty20 cricket that has set the world on fire with its high-octane action and nail-biting finishes. At the heart of this spectacle are the captains, who are the maestros of their teams inspiring their players to give their best performance on the field. In this glamorous and adrenaline-fueled league, the captaincy is a pivotal position that can make or break a team’s chances of winning but some captains turn out to be world worst captain in IPL
Table of Contents
Criteria for Selecting the Worst Captains
- Leadership skills: A captain’s leadership skills are crucial for their team’s success. A poor captain may lack the ability to motivate and inspire their team or fail to communicate effectively.
- Decision-making abilities: A captain needs to make quick and effective decisions during a game or competition. Poor decision-making can lead to lost opportunities, missed chances, and even defeat.
- Performance on the field: A captain should be an exemplary player and lead by example. A captain who consistently underperforms on the field may not fit the role best.
Let’s take a look at the article to see which captain is worst in IPL
Dinesh Karthik
- As a captain for KKR in the 2019 edition of the IPL, he received massive flak from supporters and critics alike and was probably the worst captain in IPL 2019. Despite starting strongly with four wins out of their first five games, the two-time champions were unable to break their losing streak, putting them at risk of missing the playoffs. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last failed to make the final four in 2015 under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir. The captaincy of Dinesh Karthik also came under scrutiny, particularly due to the decision to send in-form Andre Russell too far down the batting order, depriving him of the opportunity to face more deliveries. Karthik’s own performance as a batsman has also been disappointing in that season, as he has only scored 117 runs in 10 matches, with a poor average of 16.71. A lot of critics have taken his name when they have been asked who is the worst captain in IPL history and who is the worst captain in ipl 2020. He had an inconsistent run with the bat, which put pressure on the team. In the 2018 season, he scored 498 runs in 16 matches, but in the 2019 season, he scored only 253 runs in 14 matches.
Karthik made some questionable team selections that did not work out in the team’s favour. For instance, in the 2019 season, KKR persisted with Sunil Narine as an opener despite his poor run of form, which did not yield the desired results. KKR’s batting order was constantly shuffled under Karthik’s captaincy, and the team failed to find a settled combination. Karthik’s captaincy was often criticized for his inability to handle pressure situations. In the 2019 season, KKR lost several close matches, and Karthik’s decisions as a captain were questioned in those situations.
Gautam Gambhir
Under his leadership, KKR won their first IPL title in 2012 by defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final. Gambhir himself was the top scorer for KKR in the tournament with 590 runs.
In 2013, Gambhir led KKR to the playoffs but they were eliminated in the first qualifier by Mumbai Indians. In 2014, KKR won their second IPL title under Gambhir’s captaincy by defeating Kings XI Punjab in the final. Gambhir was once again the top-scorer for KKR in the tournament with 335 runs.
In 2015, KKR failed to make it to the playoffs and Gambhir’s own form was a major concern as he scored just 327 runs in 14 matches. In 2016, KKR finished fourth in the tournament and Gambhir scored 501 runs in 15 matches at an average of 35.78.
In 2017, KKR reached the playoffs but lost to Mumbai Indians in the second qualifier. Gambhir was the top-scorer for KKR in the tournament with 498 runs but his captaincy was criticized for some of the decisions he made.
He was known for his fiery personality on and off the field. There were a few instances where Gambhir had altercations with umpires and players during his time as the captain of KKR in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
One such incident occurred during the IPL 2016 match between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Gambhir got into a heated argument with umpire Nitin Menon after a decision went against his team. He was also known to have bad blood with Virat Kohli
| Total Matches as Captain | Won | Loss |
| 128 | 71 | 57 |
Ravichandran Ashwin
- There were several factors that may have contributed to his lack of success and is probably the worst captain in IPL history. Firstly, Ashwin’s own form with the ball during his tenure as captain was not up to his usual high standards. This put added pressure on him as a player and may have affected his decision-making as a captain. Secondly, the team’s overall performance during Ashwin’s captaincy was not consistent. They finished in sixth place in both seasons under his leadership, failing to make the playoffs. Thirdly, the controversial ‘Mankad’ incident in which Ashwin ran out Jos Buttler at the non-striker’s end during a match against Rajasthan Royals in 2019, attracted a lot of negative attention and criticism. While the dismissal was within the laws of cricket, many felt it was against the spirit of the game and damaged Ashwin’s reputation and some believe him to be the worst cricket captain in IPL. As a captain, Ashwin’s own performances on the field were crucial for the team’s success. However, he had an inconsistent run with both the ball and the bat, which put pressure on the team. He took 15 wickets in 14 matches in 2018 and 10 wickets in 14 matches in 2019, which are below-average performances for an experienced bowler like him.
Another factor that could have contributed to Ashwin’s failure as an IPL captain is poor team selection. There were instances where he made questionable team selections that did not work out in the team’s favour. In the IPL, captains are expected to be innovative and come up with new tactics to outsmart their opponents. However, Ashwin’s captaincy was criticized for being too predictable, and he failed to come up with new strategies to counter the opposition.
Virat Kohli
Despite having a talented squad, RCB has not been able to win an IPL title under Kohli’s captaincy. One of the main reasons for RCB’s failure under Kohli’s captaincy is his own inconsistencies with the bat. Kohli is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the world, but his form has been patchy in the IPL. In some seasons, he has been exceptional, scoring runs at an astonishing rate, while in others, he has struggled to get going. As a captain, Kohli’s poor form puts additional pressure on the team to perform.
Another reason for RCB’s failure as a worst captain in IPL 2020 is Kohli’s emotional outbursts on the field. Kohli is known for his fiery temperament and his aggressive on-field behavior. Kohli has also been criticized for his confrontations with umpires and opposition players, which can create unnecessary distractions and negative energy within the team.
RCB has often struggled to find the right balance in their team, with a tendency to rely heavily on their star players. This has resulted in an over-reliance on Kohli and AB de Villiers, while other players have not been given enough opportunities to shine. Kohli has also been criticized as who is the worst captain in ipl 2021 for his use of bowlers, with some commentators suggesting that he does not use his bowlers effectively.
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is one of the most successful captains in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has won the IPL title four times with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has also led them to the finals on five other occasions. He is known for his calm demeanor, astute tactical decisions, and ability to get the best out of his players.
However, the IPL 2020 season was a disappointing one for MS Dhoni and his team, and if you are wondering who is worst captain in ipl 2020. The CSK struggled to find form and ended up finishing in seventh place, their worst-ever performance in the tournament. Dhoni himself had a poor season with the bat, scoring just 200 runs in 14 matches at an average of 25 and a strike rate of 116.27. His captaincy also came under scrutiny, with some critics questioning his tactics and team selection.
There were several factors that contributed to CSK’s poor performance in IPL 2020. One of the main reasons was the absence of their star player, Suresh Raina, who pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons. Raina’s absence left a huge hole in the middle order, which the team struggled to fill. CSK also had an aging squad, with several players past their prime, which affected their performance on the field.
Conclusion
There are several factors that may have contributed to the lack of success of some IPL captains, such as Dinesh Karthik, Gautam Gambhir, Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni. Some became the worst captain IPL because have thought that they were enough for the team to succeed which goes against the spirit of leadership. Some were stubborn to not realize tell-tale signs of a team needing reinforcement and some were not flexible with their leadership on the field of play. There are several instances where good captaincy could have decided the game. In the IPL 2016 final, Royal Challengers Bangalore needed 8 runs off the last over with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers at the crease. However, Kohli’s captaincy was questionable as he sent Chris Jordan ahead of himself and de Villiers to face the last over, resulting in a loss for RCB. This was a big moment where better captaincy could have made a difference in the result. Similarly In an important match, the Mumbai Indians needed just one run to win off the last ball with Aditya Tare on strike. However, captain Rohit Sharma sent out a struggling number 11 batsman, Pragyan Ojha, to face the last ball, resulting in a run-out and a loss for Mumbai. This was a crucial error in judgment by Rohit Sharma, as sending Ojha in that situation was a risk that didn’t pay off. Despite being some of the most worst captain in IPL these were some of the greatest players to ever grace the franchise sport and will be remembered as fine players in their own right. These are my thoughts on the topic, who do you think deserves to make it to this list?
