Shikhar Dhawan vs KL Rahul as IPL captains: Records, strengths, leadership style

Artwork showing Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan landing in Lucknow ahead of the IPL 2024 Match 11 against Lucknow Super Giants on March 30, 2024. (Cropped; Image credit: Lucknow Super Giants, via X/@LucknowIPL)

Punjab Kings (PBKS) will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 11th match of the 2024 Indian Premier League today (March 30), from 7.30 pm. Both PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan and LSG skipper KL Rahul are long-time India players (Dhawan started playing for India 14 years ago, and KL Rahul completes 10 years as a capped Indian cricketer in December). They have each also been on the IPL circuit for over 10 years. Dhawan's IPL debut was in 2008 with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). PBKS acquired him in the 2022 IPL auction for Rs 8.25 crore. And Lokesh Rahul made his IPL debut in 2013 with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru) - LSG acquired him in 2022 for Rs 17 crore. In IPL 2024 so far, KL Rahul's LSG has played one game and lost one. Shikhar Dhawan's PBKS has played two matches with one victory and one loss. Here's a look at their IPL records as players and as captains:

Shikhar Dhawan IPL playing record: 219 matches, 6,684 runs, strike rate 127.17, highest score: 106 not-out 

Shikhar Dhawan IPL captaincy record: 24 matches, 9 wins, 15 defeats, IPL best result: 8th

Of all the IPL captains to have led in more matches than Shikhar Dhawan, only Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Ajinkya Rahane have a worse win-loss ratio. The first two never led since 2013, while Rahane’s career as IPL captain got over before the lockdown.

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 removed 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. A decade later, they may bring the elusive IPL silverware the fans have been waiting for since the inception of the league. For that to happen, Dhawan will have to play a major role.

K.L. Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants) IPL playing record: 119 matches, 4,221 runs, strike rate 134.38 | 63 catches, 5 stumpings

K.L. Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants) IPL captaincy record: 52 matches, 25 wins, 25 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 52.18; he won the Orange Cap in 2020; but his strike rate dropped to 131.

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. Rahul opened for LSG alongside Quinton de Kock in Match 4 of IPL 2024 on March 24, when he made 58 runs off 44 balls in a losing cause against Rajasthan Royals. Whether he drops down the order for Lucknow now and gives up wicketkeeping at the 2024 IPL remains to be seen.