Who is Bad Captain in IPL History 2008 to 2025

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is more than a game of cricket; it’s a fiesta of thrill, technique, and fun. Every season throws up thrilling performances, last-ball thrillers and moments that get etched in fans’ memories. But great performances don’t occur just by chance and a captain is guiding the ship behind every exceptional show. Though there are some names like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who are celebrated as legends, there also exists the other side of the coin. i.e., captains who failed to fulfil their potential. So, who is bad captain in IPL? Fans are debating about this often.

Table of Contents

To do them justice, we’ll need to examine the stats, decisions, leadership styles and how captains have figured in their teams’ performances over the years.

How Do We Define a “Bad Captain” in IPL?

Bad results don’t all equal bad captaincy, but there are ways we can at least tell if the leadership in the league has been failing. Here are the main factors:

Winning Percentage

The most obvious metric. Multiple losers become “loser captains.”

Tactical Decisions

If experience has taught us anything, it is that wrong field positions or poorly-rotated bowlers or even askew batting orders can easily reveal a captain’s weaknesses.

Team Motivation & Dynamics

There is more to a captain between the white lines. When players lack motivation or appear directionless, the captain gets the blame.

Ability to Adapt Under Pressure

IPL is fast and unpredictable. One who doesn’t adjust typically flounders in the crunch.

If we consider these pointers, we can form a clearer picture of who is the bad captain in IPL history.

Captains Who Struggled in IPL

Here are the names that have often been panned for their IPL leadership.

1. Kumar Sangakkara –

The Left-handed Sri Lankan batsman, Kumar Sangakkara, had one of the ugliest numbers at the time of his playing days, although he has a pretty good score behind him.

Kumar Sangakkara will be judged primarily for his achievements as a Test batsman, one of cricket’s greats, but his captaincy in the IPL will always shadow his abilities.

Led Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Win percentage: 31.91% (one of the worst in IPL history).
However, his teams were never able to escape mediocrity.

For these numbers, most of the fans and experts believe that Sangakkara is the worst captain in the history of IPL.

2. Mahela Jayawardene – A Silent Battle

Another SL great, Mahela Jayawardene, also did not shine as a captain.

Captain Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings).
His team never achieved much in his tenure at the helm.
A smart cricketer but his plans didn’t work in the fast-paced IPL.

3. Sourav Ganguly – A legend with an indifferent IPL record

India’s “Dada,” Sourav Ganguly, transformed Indian cricket forever. Yet in IPL, his leadership did not replicate the same magic.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) only captained, later Pune Warriors as well.
His teams often underperformed.
Critics called into question team selections and tactical mistakes.

For fans, it was difficult to swallow that one of India’s best leaders in recent times failed in franchise cricket.

4. Virat Kohli – The Trophyless Giant

One of the best batsmen in world cricket, Virat Kohli, is always involved in the debate over who is the bad captain in IPL.

Other than that, he has been at the helm of RCB from 2013 to 2021.
Despite boasting of superstars like AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle in their ranks, RCB never won a title under him.
Critics highlight:

Emotional outbursts on the field.
Over-reliance on star players.
Ineffective bowling strategies.

While Kohli himself was in superb form, the lack of consistency from RCB had some questioning his captaincy.

5. Dinesh Karthik – Tactical Errors in 2019

In 2019, Dinesh Karthik was heavily criticised for his captaincy of KKR.

Turned Andre Russell, their most explosive batsman, into a lower order hitter.
Some unrest due to frequent rotation in lineups.
His own bad batting (he scored just 117 runs in 10 matches) also fuelled the tirades.

For many fans, one of the case studies of bad IPL captaincy is Karthik’s 2019 season.

6. Ravichandran Ashwin – Controversial Leadership

Ashwin did not have a successful tenure as the captain of Punjab Kings.

His teams came in sixth both seasons he managed.
His in-game decisions were lamented for being too easy to anticipate.
But he was heavily criticised for “Mankading” Jos Buttler in 2019 and it ruined his reputation.

Although a keen cricketing brain, Ashwin did not have any overwhelming impact as captain in the IPL on fans or critics.

7. Virender Sehwag – Aggression Didn’t Translate to Leadership

Sehwag was a bold batsman, but his captaincy with Delhi Daredevils (presently known as Delhi Capitals) hardly made an impact.

Known for taking bold and erratic decisions.
Critics contend he captained with the same aggression as his batting, and that backfired in key matches.

8. Sanju Samson – Still Learning the Trade

Sanju Samson, captain, Rajasthan Royals: Sparks have been there, but consistency has not been much with Sanju Samson as skipper of Rajasthan Royals.

Failed to inspire the team in difficult periods.
Much maligned for the immaturity of decision-making.
But as a young leader, he has time to mature and evolve.

9. MS Dhoni (2020 Season) – A Rare Failure

It might come as an eye-opener for many, but even MS Dhoni who is perhaps the most successful IPL captain has faced flak in 2020.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Must-read: CSK ended with the 7th spot – their lowest ever.
Dhoni’s batting form dipped badly.
Questions were also asked about team selection and relying too heavily on ageing players.

Nothing to take away from Dhoni’s all time record, but 2020 is the season that one often refers to when talking of failure in IPL captaincy.

Why Do Great Players Struggle as Captains?

Interestingly, legends like Kohli, Ganguly and Sehwag are included in the “bad captain” conversation. Why does this happen?

Team Composition: A leader is nothing without the team. The lack of experience costs, or depth, undermines the leadership.
Over-Dependence on Personal Game Skills: Some great players get too absorbed in their own performance.
Expectation Pressure: With millions of fans watching and the media on their toes, an IPL pressure cooker means even small errors take on mammoth proportions.
Inadaptability: T20 cricket is a game that evolves quickly. Coaches and captains lose games if they are not adaptable.

So, Who is the Bad Captain in IPL?

Statistically, though, Kumar Sangakkara is the worst captain in IPL’s history (in terms of win percentage).

But when we talk about leadership struggles, there are many names: Jayawardene, Ganguly, Kohli, Karthik, Ashwin, Sehwag and Samson.

The thing is: being an IPL captain is the hardest job in franchise cricket. Even the most elite players can falter with responsibility of this magnitude.

Final Thoughts

But the question is not that easy when fans ask “who is bad captain in IPL”. Kumar Sangakkara is the worst, statistically, yes. But beyond numbers, there have been a string of big names like Kohli, Ganguly, Karthik, Ashwin and Sehwag himself who faltered with captaincy at some stage.

The bigger lesson? IPL captaincy is brutally tough. Even legends fail. “That’s what makes the league exciting – there is something every season, and leadership keeps being put to the test in one of the world’s toughest T20 leagues.

FAQs on Who is Bad Captain in IPL

Q1: Who is statistically the worst captain in IPL history?

Kumar Sangakkara is considered the worst, with a winning percentage of just 31.91%.

Q2: Has Virat Kohli been a bad IPL captain?

Kohli is a great batsman, but RCB never won a title under his captaincy, leading many to question his leadership.

Q3: Was MS Dhoni ever considered a bad captain in IPL?

Dhoni is one of the best, but in the 2020 season, his team CSK finished 7th, leading to temporary criticism.

Q4: Why do some great players fail as IPL captains?

Reasons include weak teams, poor tactical choices, inability to handle pressure, and sometimes over-reliance on personal brilliance.

Q5: Is it fair to call someone the worst captain in IPL?

Not entirely. Cricket is a team game, and captains often depend on squad strength and support staff. Still, fans and experts use stats and results to form opinions.