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3 Indian ODI Captains Who Never Lost A Match In Their Career

image-llm2bfd0Gautam Gambhir's contribution to India's success in white-ball cricket is immense (Instagram)

Cricket is much more than just a sport to India’s 1.3 billion fans. Every win ignites collective joy, and every loss, despair. At the heart of this emotional maelstrom is the captain, the on-field leader responsible for strategizing, motivating, and often, taking the brunt of public expectations.

Indian captains with 100 percent win record in ODIs

From the era of Kapil Dev to the charismatic leadership of MS Dhoni, India has witnessed captains of all shades. Yet, amidst this ocean of leadership talents, there exists an exclusive league of skippers who have defied all odds to maintain an impeccable record in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Achieving an unbeaten streak as a captain is a Herculean task in the ever-evolving game. Not only does it demand an unmatched understanding of the game's nuances, but it also requires a balance of aggression, patience, and inspiration to guide a team to repeated victories.

Overcoming all these hurdles, three Indian captains have managed to maintain a 100 percent winning record in ODIs.

3. Anil Kumble

Recognized for his leadership in Test cricket prowess, Anil Kumble had a fleeting, yet victorious captaincy experience in ODI cricket. The occasion arose during the 2002 ODI series against a strong English side. It was the third ODI, held at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai, with both teams neck-to-neck at 1-1 in the series. Entrusted with the captaincy for this crucial tie, Kumble led India to a win.

image-llm2cintAnil Kumble (Twitter)

The English batting lineup, despite a fighting 43 by Michael Vaughan, folded at 217, largely due to Ajit Agarkar’s brilliant figures of 4/34. Kumble himself chipped in, scalping two wickets. Chasing the target, the opening duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag put on a show, scoring 68 and 51 respectively and anchored India to a comfortable victory. Tendulkar's exceptional innings earned him the 'Man of the Match'. While Kumble's Test captaincy journey had its highs and lows, this ODI was his singular, yet unbeaten ODI captaincy endeavour.



2. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane's leadership qualities, predominantly celebrated in the Test format, spilled over into the ODI circuit in 2015. This was during India's tour of Zimbabwe in 2015, where a largely experimental team was fielded as MS Dhoni was rested. Under Rahane's composed leadership, the Indian team showed sheer dominance, sweeping the series 3-0.

image-llm2cxl1Ajinkya Rahane (Twitter)

India's winning margins saw a consistent escalation, from a nail-biting 4-run win in the opener to more convincing victories of 62 and 83 runs in the subsequent ODIs. Rahane himself displayed solid performances with the bat, notably a well-made 63 in the second ODI. However, post this series, the reins of captaincy in the ODI format eluded Rahane but his captaincy record in the 50-over format remained spotless.



1. Gautam Gambhir

Celebrated for his aggressive batting and gritty on-field persona, Gautam Gambhir remarkably extended these attributes into his short-lived captaincy stints in ODIs. Entrusted with leading the side during 2010 and 2011, primarily due to Dhoni's absence, Gambhir made the most of this opportunity. The southpaw dismantled the Kiwi challenge, producing a whitewash with a 5-0 series win.

The southpaw wasn’t just the captain of the side; he was in sublime form with the bat, amassing 329 runs in the series, inclusive of two emphatic tons. His batting brilliance during the series reflected in his staggering average of 109.47 along with a brisk strike rate of 110.40. Notably, India batted first only in the first match that they won by 40 runs where Virat Kohli scored a century. The next four matches India won batting second by eight, nine, five, and eight wickets respectively.

image-llm2dhf7Gautam Gambhir (Instagram)

Gambhir’s captaincy tale didn't end there. A subsequent opportunity to lead the side presented itself against West Indies in Chennai in 2015, with both Dhoni and Sehwag unavailable. Gambhir once again showcased his leadership mettle. 

Propelled by Manoj Tiwary's magnificent century and Kohli's vital 80, Team India set a challenging target of 268. West Indies, despite a valiant hundred from Kieron Pollard, fell short by 34 runs, allowing India to seal the series 4-1. This win ensured that Gambhir’s 100 percent win record as captain in ODI cricket remained intact.