IPL 2024 captains: From Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer to Pat Cummins - what was expected from Indian Premier League captains going into the 2024 season

Samson’s IPL career strike rate of 137 does not tell the full story. Since assuming leadership duties, that number has soared to 145 across three seasons. With Yashasvi Jaiswal going hammer and tongs at the top, most captains would have opted to bat deep into the innings, but Samson prefers leaving that role to Jos Buttler and carry on Jaiswal’s job instead.

It is a role that involves risk, but it has worked for Rajasthan and for him – though an extended run at the national side continues to elude him.

For the last two years, he has struggled with the lack of a genuine all-rounder, a problem that Rajasthan did not address at the 2024 auction either. Optimal use of the Impact Player can address that, but Rajasthan did not impress on that count in 2023. Optimal use of the Impact Player to eliminate the disadvantage caused by the lack of all-rounders is likely to be Samson’s biggest challenge in 2024.

Rajasthan Royals are currently at the top spot on the IPL 2024 Points Table.

IPL playing record: 160 matches, 4,202 runs, strike rate 138.22 | 82 catches, 16 stumpings

IPL captaincy record: 53 matches, 29 wins, 24 defeats, IPL best result so far: playoffs.

2. Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Eyebrows were raised when Delhi Capitals appointed Shreyas Iyer as Zaheer Khan’s successor as their captain in 2018. At 23 years 142 days, he became the second-youngest full-time Indian captain in IPL history, after Virat Kohli. Iyer was not the only major change in team management: as Rahul Dravid parted ways with the franchise, Delhi drafted in Ricky Ponting.
Delhi finished last. It was their sixth consecutive season in the bottom three. Yet, Iyer and Ponting turned things around from their second season, taking Delhi to the playoffs in 2019 and to the final in 2020. At 25 years 340 days, Iyer became the youngest to lead in an IPL final. Delhi lost to a very strong Mumbai Indians, but it remains their best performance till date.

A shoulder injury ruled Iyer out of 2021. Delhi began the season with Steve Smith and ended with Rishabh Pant to make it to the playoffs again. When Delhi retained Pant at the helm for 2022, Iyer left for the Kolkata Knight Riders, whom he led to seventh place that season. Kolkata came in seventh again in 2023, when Nitish Rana stepped in for the injured Iyer.

A fit-again Iyer had an excellent World Cup but was in the news the first quarter of 2024 after the BCCI did not renew his central contract. Having returned to win the Ranji Trophy with Mumbai, he will be raring to have a go this time. There is, after all, a trophy to be won, a place in the national side to be regained, and a central contract to be earned back.

KKR are currently at No. 2 on the IPL 2024 Points Table.

IPL playing record: 108 matches, 2,966 runs, strike rate 125.47

IPL captaincy record: 62 matches, 32 wins, 28 defeats, IPL best result: final

3. Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Since the 2023 IPL, Pat Cummins has led Australia to the World Test Championship and World Cup titles. He has also retained the Ashes in England, swept Pakistan 3-0 at home, and New Zealand 2-0 at their den. As captain, he stands supreme, the finest in the world over this period.

Yet, none of this had been in T20 cricket. That is a format Cummins had largely stayed away from. He had never led in T20 cricket – IPL or otherwise. He did not play a single T20 match in 2023. In 2024, he had played only twice in the format. He is already one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Test cricket, but his IPL credentials do not match that yet – though he once held the record for the fastest IPL fifty.

Aiden Markram had led Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2023. On either side of that, he led the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to SA20 titles in both 2022 and 2023, the only two editions of the league till date. There was little doubt over his role for the Sunrisers franchise. Yet, just before the 2024 IPL, Hyderabad replaced Markram as captain with Cummins.

It raised a few eyebrows, and one can see why. Following an excellent auction, the Hyderabad squad now boasts of Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Marco Jansen, not to speak of Travis Head and Fazalhaq Farooqi. The first four would have been automatic choices, but Cummins’ appointment meant that only three can play at the same time.

As captain, Cummins’ challenges are enormous. Not only would there be criticism awaiting him at every failure, but he is also be expected to turn things around for a side that finished last in two of the last three editions. So far, he seems to be rising to the challenge - SRH have the same number of wins as KKR but the latter have a higher net run rate and therefore are placed one above SRH in the current points table.

SRH are currently at No. 3 on the IPL 2024 Points Table.

IPL playing record: 50 matches, 416 runs, strike rate 152.94 | 55 wickets, economy 8.57

IPL captaincy record: 8 matches, 5 wins, 3 defeats, IPL best result: never led before, not only in the IPL but in any T20 match

4. K.L. Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants)

LSG are currently at No. 4 on the IPL 2024 Points Table.

IPL playing record: 126 matches, 4,465 runs, strike rate 134.85 | 70 catches, 7 stumpings

IPL captaincy record: 59 matches, 30 wins, 27 defeats, IPL best result: playoffs

K.L. Rahul’s record as batter has altered significantly since he became captain – first at Punjab Kings, then at Lucknow Super Giants. Until he assumed responsibility, Rahul used to average 42.06 with the bat and strike at 138. Since he assumed the role, his average rose to 53.40; he won the Orange Cap in 2020; but his strike rate dropped to 132.

In other words, he has sacrificed risk, at least in part, to allow himself to bat deep into the innings. It did not help Punjab, who finished sixth in 2020. But since his move, Rahul led Lucknow to the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023, though Krunal Pandya took over when Rahul was injured halfway through the latter edition.

Amidst all this, Rahul was widely touted to be Rohit Sharma’s successor as captain in the Indian team and was the vice-captain for a while. In Rohit’s absence, he led India in all three formats without remarkable success.

However, a decline in form, combined with a string of injuries, resulted in him relinquishing the deputy’s role to Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.

With the T20 World Cup looming, Rahul will have to find a way back into the side. At the top, he will have to compete with Rohit, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill. Keeping wicket is unlikely to help his cause either, for Jitesh Sharma has made a strong case, while Rishabh Pant is waiting in the wings.

If Rahul has to find a way back, it will be in the middle order. Whether he drop down the order for Lucknow and gives up wicketkeeping at the 2024 IPL remains to be seen.

5. Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)

Chennai Super Kings announced Gaikwad as captain just a day before IPL 2024 began. CSK are currently at No. 5 on the IPL 2024 Points Table.

IPL playing record: 107 matches, 3,180 runs, strike rate 149.30 | 74 catches, 21 stumpings

6. Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)

Throughout 2023 and for most of early 2024, Indian fans keenly awaited the return of Rishabh Pant to cricket. It perhaps hurt more because the horrific accident took place when Pant, having established himself as a generational talent, was approaching even greater heights as a cricketer. Every news, every video, every message of his recovery journey was celebrated by thousands.

The loss came too late for Delhi to recover in 2023 – though you cannot blame them. It was impossible to fill the void left behind a man who was captain, wicketkeeper, and talismanic batter all in one. With Pant back at the helm, they look a more balanced side even with both Harry Brook and Lungi Ngidi ruled out.

Pant took over as Delhi captain for the second half of 2021. It was a steep challenge, for Delhi had finished runners-up the season before. Shreyas Iyer, the full-time captain, had been ruled out with a dislocated shoulder, and Steve Smith led that year. However, after COVID-19 split the season into halves, Smith opted out, and Pant led Delhi in the UAE leg.

Delhi topped the points table that season under 23-year-old Pant before losing close matches in both Qualifiers. They retained Pant as captain in 2022, but Delhi finished fifth this time, failing to reach the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

Pant’s performance will be closely monitored this time, not only by the Delhi camp but also by the Indian team management and selectors. Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, is ageing; Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, the vice-captains for different formats, are injury prone; a fit and firing Pant is arguably the next successor.

DC are currently at No. 6 on the IPL 2024 Points Table.

IPL playing record: 107 matches, 3,180 runs, strike rate 149.30 | 74 catches, 21 stumpings

IPL captaincy record: 39 matches, 20 wins, 18 defeats, IPL best result: playoffs

7. Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)

Following Hardik Pandya’s much-discussed move to Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans appointed Shubman Gill as captain. Only 24, Gill had never led in the IPL, and had led his state side Punjab only twice in the format, back in 2019. This season, he became only the fourth Indian full-time IPL captain before the age of 25, after Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant.

Gill’s job is not easy. Gujarat is without Pandya and Mohammed Shami, while Rashid Khan is returning from an injury. All three played key roles to Gujarat’s success in 2022, when they won the IPL, and 2023, when they lost the final off the last ball.

Gill’s role will be vital. In 2023, he demonstrated that he could switch between roles with seamless ease. He can bat through the innings as well as accelerate at will. As a result, not only did he win the Orange Cap, but he struck at 158 – the only time he crossed the 150-mark in his IPL career. He put that ability to great use for India as well, amassing runs at will in limited-overs formats and finally finding form in Test cricket.

There is little doubt over Gill’s stupendous ability with the bat. At Ahmedabad, his performance goes up a notch higher. But now, he will have to assume a role he is not used to. Whether he can convert that into success for the team will define his legacy.

GT are currently at No. 7 on the IPL 2024 Points Table.

IPL playing record: 100 matches, 3,094 runs, strike rate 135.17

IPL captaincy record: 9 matches, 4 wins, 5 defeats, IPL best: never led before. Captained Punjab twice in domestic T20: won 1, lost 1.

8. Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)

Mumbai Indians had released Hardik Pandya ahead of the mega-auction for the 2022 IPL. League debutants Gujarat Titans signed him up and named him as captain. Pandya responded by leading them to title glory in 2022. He almost replicated that in 2023 as well, only for the Chennai Super Kings to pull off a last-ball heist.

Ahead of the 2024 auction, Mumbai acquired Pandya from Gujarat and subsequently appointed him as captain. They effectively sacked Rohit Sharma, who had led them to all five of their titles. Perhaps just as importantly, this has resulted in a scenario where Rohit will play under Pandya for Mumbai a few days before Pandya plays under Rohit for India at the T20 World Cup.

Rohit will not be the only Indian captain to play under Pandya at Mumbai. Both Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav have led India since IPL 2023. Handling multiple leaders in the side is a key challenge for Pandya in this season.

There is little doubt over Pandya’s credentials. Among captains to have led in at least ten IPL matches, Pandya had a win-loss ratio of 2.444 (no one else had even 1.5) at the start of IPL 2024. He can switch between dropping anchor and hitting out; can bowl inside the powerplay, in the middle overs, and at the death; and is one of India’s finest fielders.

Also important is his familiarity with the Mumbai management. He might have brought Gujarat glory, but that was over a two-year span. Before then, his all-round skills used to be key factors behind Mumbai Indians’ sustained dominance in the late 2010s.

MI are currently at No. 8 on the IPL 2024 Points Table.

IPL playing record: 131 matches, 2,460 runs, strike rate 145.65 | 57 wickets, economy 8.97

IPL captaincy record: 39 matches, 25 wins, 14 defeats, IPL titles: 1

9. Shikhar Dhawan (Punjab Kings)

Of IPL captains to have led in more matches than Shikhar Dhawan, only Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Ajinkya Rahane had a worse win-loss ratio than his 0.571 at the start of IPL 2024 - it has improved this season either.

It does not help that Dhawan leads Punjab, a team that has made it to the top half of the points table only twice across 16 editions. For the 2023 season, Punjab replaced captain Mayank Agarwal and coach Anil Kumble and appointed Dhawan and Trevor Bayliss. It did not help, for they finished eighth out of 10 teams.

It was not the only time Dhawan led at the IPL. In the pre-David Warner era, he had led the Sunrisers Hyderabad 10 times in 2014 as stand-in for Daren Sammy, but with limited success. Back then, he used to be a gifted batter who had just broken into the Indian side.

Now, with an illustrious ODI career behind him, Dhawan is one of the veterans of the 2024 IPL. At 38, he is the oldest member of the side, and four years older than any of his Indian teammates. It is probably a stopgap role. His days in international cricket are almost certainly over, but as the anchor in an explosive top order, he will have a role to play for the Punjab side.
Punjab made it to the final in 2014 but have done little of note since then.

PBKS are No. 9 on the IPL 2024 Points Table currently.

IPL playing record: 222 matches, 6,769 runs, strike rate 127.14

IPL captaincy record: 30 matches, 10 wins, 20 defeats, IPL best result: 8th

10. Faf du Plessis (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Following Virat Kohli’s resignation, Royal Challengers Bangalore appointed Faf du Plessis as captain. They did well to reach the playoffs in 2022 but could only finish sixth in 2023. Nearly 40 now, du Plessis is in the last leg of his illustrious career. He has to contend with the expectations of arguably the IPL’s most passionate fanbase.

Du Plessis had not led in the IPL before that, but he had led 150 times in all T20 cricket – the 12th-most in history – including 37 internationals for South Africa as well as stints in the BPL (Comilla Victorians), CPL (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Saint Lucia Kings), SA20 (Joburg Super Kings), and The Hundred.

There is little doubt over du Plessis’s experience or batting abilities. He is in excellent form too: earlier this year at the SA20, he smashed three fifties while striking at 141 to help Joburg reach the playoffs. Before that, he struck at 144 in 2021, 144 in 2022, and 150 in 2023 – numbers significantly better than his T20 career strike rate of 140. If anything, he has become more dangerous as a batter with age.

Over the years, Bangalore have struggled to strike the optimal combination between bat and ball. They have traditionally been a batting-heavy side that has amassed big totals, but their bowling has hurt them in the past. This time, too, the spin attack looks particularly thin, and du Plessis’ biggest challenge will be to pick the best overseas fast bowlers to support Mohammed Siraj and form a formidable pace attack – they must win every league match now to even make it to playoffs of IPL 2024.

RCB are in the tenth spot on the IPL 2024 Points Table currently

IPL playing record: 130 matches, 4,133 runs, strike rate 134

IPL captaincy record: 36 matches, 16 wins, 20 defeats, IPL best result: playoffs

M.S. Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

Though he didn't end up captaining his side eventually, going into IPL 2024, expectations were really high - even now when he steps out to bat at Chepauk as the No. 7 batter for CSK, the cheers get louder every time.

IPL captaincy record: 226 matches, 133 wins, 91 defeats, W/L ratio 1.461, IPL titles 5

Of the seven Indian captains at the first edition of the IPL, M.S. Dhoni was the only one who did not hail from the domestic side attached to the base cities. Chennai Super Kings acquired him for USD 1.5 million, he became the most expensive cricketer at that year’s auction.

The man and the team were perfect for each other. Despite being renowned for their love for cricket, Chennai had never produced a global icon. There have been big names – from C.P. Johnstone to S. Venkataraghavan to Kris Srikkanth – but no one of Dhoni’s stature.

Chennai was banned for two years, in 2016 and 2017. They also replaced Dhoni with Ravindra Jadeja as captain in 2022, but Dhoni was reinstated after Jadeja resigned halfway through the season. Barring these gaps, he has led Chennai from the first season, and responded to his fans’ requests in 2023 by promising to stay on for another season.

And he delivered. In fourteen editions, Chennai made it to the final ten times and won five of them. There have never been two consecutive IPL finals without Chennai. No captain in IPL history has led in more matches or more wins than Dhoni.

Over the years, Dhoni’s tactical acumen from behind the stumps has played a key role in Chennai’s success. He played the anchor’s role, but there was a visible change in 2023. He faced only 57 balls (fewer than four a match) but smashed 104 runs at a strike rate of 182, the only time he crossed 165 in his IPL career as well as the third-best by anyone in the season.

Expect him to reprise that destructive role as he will almost certainly sign out of cricket this time, at 42.