A Statistical Dive: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni's Maiden ODI Captaincy Series
The world of cricket is rife with comparisons, especially when it comes to leadership. How do different captains fare when they first take the reins? This analysis delves into the inaugural ODI series as captains for Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni, offering a statistical comparison of their starts in leadership roles.
Shubman Gill: A Rocky Start
Shubman Gill's recent outing as India's ODI captain against Australia has been a talking point. Tasked with leading the team in the three-match series, Gill's performance with the bat was underwhelming, scoring just 10, 9, and 24, resulting in an average of 14.33. This stands as the lowest average for an Indian captain in an ODI series against Australia, placing him below MS Dhoni (17.20 in 2016) and Sourav Ganguly (18.60 in 2001) in this unfavorable statistic. Gill lost his first ODI match as captain, equalling Virat Kohli's unwanted record.
Despite the white-ball struggles, Gill has shown promise in red-ball cricket, scoring 754 runs in the series against England. However, his transition to white-ball leadership has been testing. Overall, Gill has captained 3 ODIs, winning 1, giving him a win percentage of 33.33%.
Virat Kohli: Overcoming an Inauspicious Beginning
Virat Kohli, known for his aggressive captaincy, also faced a tough start in his ODI captaincy debut. Kohli's first ODI as captain came in July 2013 against Sri Lanka in Kingston; India lost by 161 runs. Despite this, Kohli went on to become one of India's most successful captains. He led India in 95 ODIs, winning 65 and losing 27, with a win percentage of 68.42. While he couldn't secure an ICC title, he guided India to the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma: A High Win Percentage
Rohit Sharma's ODI captaincy record is impressive. He captained India in 56 ODIs, winning 42 and losing 12, with one tie and one no-result. This translates to a win percentage of 75%, the highest among Indian captains who have led in 50 or more matches. Sharma's first ODI game as captain was at the end of 2017 in the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka. He has led India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 and two Asia Cup titles.
MS Dhoni: A Transformative Leader
MS Dhoni, who started his captaincy journey in 2007, is celebrated as one of India's most successful captains. Dhoni led India in 200 ODIs, winning 110, losing 74, and 16 ending in no-result. He is the most successful Indian captain in ODI cricket. Dhoni's first match as captain was in the T20 World Championship 2007 against Pakistan. Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Initial Series Performance
It's important to remember that a captain's first series is just the beginning. While Shubman Gill's start has been challenging, the examples of Kohli, Sharma, and Dhoni demonstrate that initial setbacks do not define a captain's legacy. Each of these leaders brought unique strengths to Indian cricket, and their overall records speak volumes about their leadership capabilities.
