When we talk about the Indian Premier League (IPL), it’s all about big hits, top players and gripping finishes. But another important aspect of IPL history is leadership – the captains who lead their teams from the dugout to the stage. Behind all the titles, takes a captain who made bold decisions under pressure, rallied his troops and delivered when it mattered most.
If you are looking for a full and updated IPL winning captains list, then you on the correct page. Here is a detailed timeline from the first ever 2008 season till the latest in 2025 of all captains to have triumphed with an IPL title.
Why Captains Matter so Much in The IPL
Unlike most T20 leagues, the IPL values captaincy very highly. Team combinations change from season to season, foreign players shuffle off, and new talent emerges all the time. In such a volatile space, the captain has to be the glue.
- A great IPL captain must:
- Read the pitch expertly
- Manage big personalities
- Bowl your bowlers wisely under pressure
- Unlock the untapped potential
- Set the winning mentality
Which is why, in 18 years of IPL, only nine captains have lifted the trophy – a testimony to just how difficult the captain’s role is.
2008 – 2009
IPL started off with a bang in 2008 and the first two seasons saw Australian legends guiding their respective teams to titles.
2008 – Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)
“It’s a fairy-tale that the great Shane Warne has spun with an unfancied Rajasthan Royals team.” There were no big names in the team, and Warne showed strategy, intuition and great man-management. The RRs victory remains one of the biggest underdog stories in cricket.
2009 – Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)
And, in the second season it was another Australian great-Adam Gilchrist who led Deccan Chargers to their one and only championship. It was Shaded’s aggressive batting and fearless captaincy that transformed DC from wooden spooners in 2008 to champions in 2009.
2010–2012
MS Dhoni led the charge as Indian captains began to have an upper hand from 2010 onwards in the league.
(2010 & 2011) – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
Dhoni became the first Indian captain to clinch the IPL title in 2010 by getting past Mumbai Indians in the summit clash. A year later, he achieved again – now CSK were the first side to win back-to-back IPL titles.
2012 – Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Gautam Gambhir had led KKR to their maiden title in 2012. His aggressive field placements, smart bowling changes; and most importantly his intense leadership style turned KKR’s fortunes around.
2013–2020
And this is when IPL captaincy went to another level. The competition had two names that really stood up – Rohit Sharma and M.S. Dhoni, and created a rivalry that defined the course of modern IPL history.
2013 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Rohit Sharma assumed the captaincy of MI on midway and drove them to their maiden title. His cool-headed decisions, and ability to play it balanced in crunch situations – the way he used his bowlers – were one of MI’s biggest strengths.
2014 – Gautam Gambhir (KKR) – Second Victory
KKR, led by Gambhir, won another trophy by beating Punjab Kings. Gambhir became only the fourth captain to win two or more IPL trophies.
2015 – Rohit Sharma (MI)
In 2015, they beat CSK, handing Rohit his second IPL trophy in three seasons.
2016 - David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
There was another overseas captain added to that list-David Warner. He captained SRH sensationally, that aggressive brand of cricket paying off with a victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final.
2017 – Rohit Sharma (MI)
One of the tightest IPL finals in history saw MI pip out Rising Pune Supergiant. Which left Rohit with his third title as captain.
2018 – MS Dhoni (CSK)
After serving a two-year suspension, CSK came back with a bang winning the trophy in 2018 itself. Dhoni’s tactical brilliance was on display again.
2019 – Rohit Sharma (MI)
MI repeated their heroics in 2019 to win the title and Rohit his fourth IPL trophy.
2020 – Rohit Sharma (MI)
Mumbai Indians retained their title in 2020. At this time Rohit made history with five trophies to become the most successful IPL captain, a feat he shares with Dhoni right now.
2021–2025
2021 – MS Dhoni (CSK)
Dhoni led CSK back to another IPL title, proving once again that class is permanent when it comes to absorbing pressure.
2022 – Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans)
Surprising one and all, debutants Gujarat Titans won their maiden season under captain Hardik Pandya. His killer instinct and some seriously genius tactics turned GT into an overnight juggernaut.
2023 – MS Dhoni (CSK)
Dhoni’s most recent IPL title, won in 2023 but his overall score brings him level with Rohit Sharma.
2024: Shreyas Iyer (to Kolkata Knight Riders)
KKR on 2024 won their third title by Shreyas Iyer. His cool character on the pitch and strategic intelligence are 2 important factors for his team’s good game.
2025 – Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
2025 saw one of the most memorable titles in IPL history. For RCB, it was Rajat Patidar who helped end their 17-year wait for a maiden IPL title. And his astute captaincy finally led RCB past the curse to their long-coveted title.
IPL Winning Captains List
| Captain | Team | Titles | Years Won |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians (MI) | 5 | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 5 | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
| Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 2012, 2014 |
| Shane Warne | Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 2008 |
| Adam Gilchrist | Deccan Chargers | 1 | 2009 |
| David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 2016 |
| Hardik Pandya | Gujarat Titans | 1 | 2022 |
| Shreyas Iyer | Kolkata Knight Riders | 1 | 2024 |
| Rajat Patidar | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 1 | 2025 |
Final Thoughts
IPL has always been about a heady mix of strategy, skill, adrenaline and leadership. Through all of the great players to play in the tournament’s history, only a few have successfully led a team to championship glory.
From greats like Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist to more recent phenomenons Dhoni, Rohit et al, every captain has managed to imprint a different memory on the tournament. And then we have young guns like Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar leading the way, the future of IPL captaincy looks absolutely wow.
FAQs
1. Who is the most successful captain in IPL history?
Ans: Both Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians) and MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) are the most successful captains in IPL history, with five IPL titles each. Rohit won in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, while Dhoni won in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
2. How many captains have won the IPL title so far?
Ans: As of 2025, nine captains have lifted the IPL trophy. Six of them are Indians, while three are overseas players.
3. Which foreign captains have won the IPL?
Ans: Three overseas captains have won the IPL:
Shane Warne (RR – 2008)
Adam Gilchrist (DC – 2009)
David Warner (SRH – 2016)
4. Has Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ever won an IPL title?
Ans: Yes. RCB won their first-ever IPL title in 2025, under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, ending a long 17-year wait.
5. Which team has the most IPL titles?
Ans: Both Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) share the record for the most IPL trophies, with five titles each as of the 2025 season.
