IPL 2018: 5 players who captained IPL teams before their national sides

#4 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum unsuccessfully led Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2009

The former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman makes another special list. Brendon McCullum made a name for himself as this reckless, aggressive and entertaining opening batsman who would look to win at all costs. So T20 cricket proved to be his kind of format and Kolkata Knight Riders was the first team to recognize that in the IPL.

After an under-par 2008 season, McCullum replaced Sourav Ganguly for the following one in South Africa in 2009. With this decision announced virtually at the 11th hour, it was likely that the Kiwi wasn’t prepared to step up for the challenge. With their then-coach John Buchanan’s now-infamous multiple captains theory, the Kiwi was definitely not the ideal man to diffuse the evident confusion reigning in the KKR outfit.

Consequently, Kolkata finished at the bottom of the points table, winning just 3 games out of 14. But to McCullum’s credit, that season did not discourage him when it came to pursuing his leadership aspirations for New Zealand. He too changed himself to be a more conscientious cricketer who not only respected opponents more, but also who looked to excel at his own skills to inspire his colleagues to do well themselves.

He was named New Zealand’s captain in all formats in 2012, though he actually led them for the first time as a stand-in skipper in 2009 itself. Perhaps learning his lessons from failure, McCullum changed New Zealand’s image to the rest of the cricketing world, making them competitive and fearless without over-the-top aggression in two years’ time. Under him, the Kiwis reached the World Cup 2015 final and played in drawn Test series against the likes of England and Pakistan in their backyard, while being nearly invincible at home.