ICC ODI World Cup 2023: A look at the 5 best WC captains

The likes of Stephen Fleming, Eoin Morgan and Ricky Ponting led their countries admirably at ODI World Cups.

Cricket is often defined as a game comprising three departments- batting, bowling and fielding. A fourth aspect, however, that does not get talked about a lot is captaincy and how players take up the responsibility and lead their side at major tournaments.

Here's a look at the five most successful captains, outside of India, at ODI World Cups.

5.Eoin Morgan (2015-2019)

The pioneer who redefined how the white-ball game was played in England and other parts of the world, Morgan led England at two ODI World Cups. The 2015 World Cup saw Morgan and his side bow out in the group stages, which some might say in hindsight was the best thing that could have happened for the country's white-ball cricket.

Soon after the early omission, Morgan, along with Trevor Bayliss, adopted a new style of playing the white-ball game that involved staying on the attack right through the innings and building tall scores while batting first or chasing down big scores quickly, while batting second.

The altered approach may not have been needed on July 14, 2019 when England were chasing 242 runs for a win, but in one of the most dramatic ODI matches ever played he and his side prevailed to help England win their first ever 50-over World Cup.

World Cup captaincy stats: Matches: 17, Won: 9, Lost: 7, Win%: 52.94.

4.Clive Lloyd (1975-1983)

The first great limited-overs captain, Clive Lloyd led the West Indies in three ODI World Cups. He played a central role in the side winning in 1975, scoring an 85-ball 102 in the final against Australia that helped the West Indies reach 291 for 8 in 60 overs, which proved enough in the end.

In the next World Cup, Lloyd had the likes of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Colin Croft, Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall at his disposal, which helped the side go all the way for a second time, beating England in the final which also saw a century from Sir Viv Richards.

The pursuit for a hattrick of wins, however, was stopped in 1983 when India, against all odds, beat Lloyd's men while defending a modest 183 in the final by 43 runs. That would be prove to be the his last World Cup as West Indies captain and he would retire from the game, a year later.

World Cup captaincy stats: Matches: 15, Won: 15, Lost: 2, Win%: 88.23.

3.Imran Khan (1983-1992)

Arguably Pakistan's greatest ever cricketer, Imran Khan led Pakistan at three ODI World Cups. At the 1983 edition, the team reached the semifinals where they lost to the West Indies in a one-sided match by eight wickets.

At the 1987 World Cup, held in the sub-continent, Khan's Pakistan lost narrowly to Australia by 18 runs in the last four stage and he retired from international cricket, soon after.

But persuasion from senior leaders in the country led to him coming out of retirement to lead Pakistan at the 1992 World Cup and even as they stumbled their way in the tournament, Khan had undying belief that they would go all the way and they did so on March 25, beating England by 22 runs in the final.

World Cup captaincy stats: Matches: 22, Won: 14, Lost:8, Win%: 63.63.

2. Stephen Fleming (1999-2007)

One of the best leaders the game has seen and someone who uplifted New Zealand's chances at every major tournament, Fleming led the Kiwis at three World Cups from 1999 to 2007.

Barring 2003, New Zealand reached the semifinals in the other two, surpassing most expectations along the way. Fleming's sides, in each of the editions, had some world class players but it was how they came together as one unit to play under him and ensured their side challenged the best teams in the tournament that stood out during his captaincy reign.

World Cup captaincy stats: Matches: 27, Won: 16, Lost: 10, Win%: 59.25.

1.Ricky Ponting (2003-2011)

The most successful captain in World Cup history, along with Lloyd. Ricky Ponting led Australia at three World Cups and won two of them, in 2003 and in 2007.

Ponting made a telling contribution in the final of the 2003 edition, when his 140 not out off 125 balls knocked the stuffing out of India. Four years later, he led an experienced albeit aging side to the summit by beating Sri Lanka at Barbados.

World Cup captaincy stats: Matches: 29, Won: 26, Lost: 2, Win%: 89.65