The Indian Premier League (IPL), since its inaugural season in 2008, has witnessed eight different captains lift the trophy (as of March 2025). The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will take place across the length and breadth of the country from March 22, 2025. Like the previous season, all 10 captains will be vying to lay their hands on the coveted trophy.
Who are the captains to win the IPL trophy?
As of March 2025, the Indian players to have won the IPL trophy as captains are Rohit Sharma (5), MS Dhoni (5), Gautam Gambhir (2), Hardik Pandya (1), and Shreyas Iyer (1). Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, and David Warner are the international players who have won the trophy as captains, with one trophy each.
The first two seasons of the IPL saw Australian players captaining their teams to victory. Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals in 2008) and Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers in 2009) led their respective franchises to title glory.
In 2010, MS Dhoni became the first Indian skipper to lift the IPL trophy after the Chennai Super Kings defeated the Mumbai Indians in the summit clash. Dhoni added another silverware to his kitty in the following season, as CSK successfully defended their crown against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2011 final. Dhoni and CSK's reign at the top was ended by the Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata Knight Riders in the final of the 2012 season. Gambhir led KKR to another title win in the 2014 season, winning against the Punjab Kings (Kings XI Punjab) in the summit clash.
Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma entered the scene in 2013. Sharma, who was handed the captaincy of MI midway through the 2013 season, led the franchise to its maiden title win against CSK in that season's final. This started a trophy-laden period for the Mumbai Indians in the 2010s as the Rohit Sharma-led unit went on to add 4 more titles (2015, 2017, 2019 & 2020).
The Chennai Super Kings added three more titles (2018, 2021 & 2023) to their tally following their return from a two-year ban in 2018.
The 2016 season saw David Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad win the title at the expense of Royal Challengers Bengaluru while the 2022 edition of the IPL was won by the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans, who beat the inaugural winners Rajasthan Royals in the finals.
List of IPL-winning captains
| Captain | Team | Title(s) | Edition |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | 5 | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 5 | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
| Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 2012, 2014 |
| Shane Warne | Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 2008 |
| Adam Gilchrist | Deccan Chargers | 1 | 2009 |
| David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 2016 |
| Hardik Pandya | Gujarat Titans | 1 | 2022 |
| Shreyas Iyer | Kolkata Knight Riders | 1 | 2024 |
FAQs
A. Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are the captains with the most IPL trophies. They have both won five each as of March 2025.
A. As of March 2025, SRH has won one IPL title, in 2016.
A. Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the IPL teams that haven't won an IPL trophy as of March 2025.
A. Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural IPL title in 2008.
