15 Most Successful Captains in T20 Cricket History
Most successful T20 Captains
Here's a list of the most successful T20 Captains across both league cricket and international cricket.
Asghar Afghan
Despite his relatively short international career, former Afghanistan skipper Asghar Afghan holds the record for the most consecutive T20I wins as captain (12). His captaincy was instrumental in securing their first major trophy, the 2018 ICC World Cup Qualifier, marking the beginning of the golden age for Afghan cricket.
Mashrafe Mortaza
Though Mashrafe Mortaza's T20I captaincy did not result in trophy wins, he transformed the Bangladeshi national team, achieving a respectable 50 percent win rate. His legacy is defined by leading Bangladesh from being underdogs to a consistently competitive force in the shortest format, setting the stage for future success.
James Vince
One of the best franchise cricket players of all time, James Vince remains a highly successful leader, having led Hampshire and Southern Brave to titles. He clinched several domestic T20 trophies, including the T20 Blast, in 2018 and 2022, and the inaugural Hundred title in 2021, showcasing his prowess in building winning teams.
Jos Buttler
Veteran English wicket-keeper batter Jos Buttler is firmly established in the T20 captaincy elite, having successfully led England to the 2022 T20 World Cup title. His legacy is defined by his fearless, aggressive brand of cricket and the seamless transition of power following Eoin Morgan, solidifying the Three Lions' status as a white-ball force.
Babar Azam
Babar Azam's captaincy tenure with the Pakistani national team ended without the T20 World Cup trophy, despite him having guided the team to the final during the 2022 edition. He set a record for the fastest captain to 40 T20I wins, maintaining a commendable 60 percent win rate and securing a PSL title in 2020 for Karachi Kings.
Virat Kohli
While he finished his T20I as well as IPL captaincy without a single trophy, Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli remains one of the most successful skippers in the shortest format, with a stellar T20I win rate of nearly 65 percent. Kohli is best known for having transformed the Indian team through high intensity and fitness standards.
Eoin Morgan
Often considered as a revolutionary T20 captain, Eoin Morgan was the skipper of the Three Lions' 2019 ODI World Cup-winning side, having also guided England to the 2016 T20 World Cup final. Morgan's legacy as a captain is defined by his fearless, innovative, and data-driven approach that transformed England's white-ball teams.
Faf du Plessis
South African icon Faf du Plessis' captaincy legacy is built on exceptional domestic success, having notably been a part of Chennai Super Kings' multiple IPL triumphs. He also led an under-performing St. Louis Kings to its very-first ever Caribbean Premier League title in 2024, with his calm demeanor and tactical intelligence.
Aaron Finch
Australian legend Aaron Finch led his team to a historic, maiden T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, which was notably achieved with one of the team's best win rates. His captaincy was defined by a calm, pragmatic approach, skillfully integrating Australia's top players and delivering the one major ICC trophy that had long eluded the nation.
Dwayne Bravo
A T20 champion across the world, Dwayne Bravo is an unparalleled leader in franchise cricket, having won multiple IPL titles with CSK. Bravo also led Trinbago Knight Riders to the CPL title, building on his exceptional death-bowling tactics, energy, and ability to win high-pressure knockout matches, to cement his legacy as a versatile player.
Shoaib Malik
Despite an early international captaincy that ended before time, Pakistan all-round legend Shoaib Malik led franchises across global T20 leagues like the CPL and PSL. His legacy is defined by his longevity, tactical acumen, and a remarkable ability to anchor teams, having amassed over 13,000 T20 runs while leading team to title triumphs.
Sam Billings
Sam Billings is considered a successful T20 captain, as he is the joint-third spot for the most T20 titles won as captain with five trophies. His silverware includes the 2021 T20 Blast with Kent Spitfires, the ILT20 title with Dubai Capitals, and a historic three-peat in The Hundred with Oval Invincibles in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Darren Sammy
West Indies' national team head coach Daren Sammy is the only captain to win the ICC T20 World Cup twice, in 2012 and 2016. His inspirational leadership is credited with guiding the team to its first major trophies in years, while he also captained Peshawar Zalmi to a PSL victory in 2017 to showcase his prowess in franchise cricket.
Rohit Sharma
Second on this list is Rohit Sharma, who is one of T20's most successful captains, winning a record-equaling five IPL titles for Mumbai Indians and leading India to the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup triumph. His remarkable T20I captaincy record includes 50 wins in 62 matches, with a record 80 percent win rate with the Indian T20 team.
MS Dhoni
The most successful T20 captain of all time, cricketing great 'Captain Cool' MS Dhoni led a young Indian team to the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup trophy. He followed this with immense success in the IPL, captaining Chennai Super Kings to a joint-record five titles, amassing the most matches and wins as a captain in the league.
