Kohli Yet to Become One of Top Three Indian Captains of All Time

With a long history of success in cricket, the Indian team is one of the finest in the world, with many of its captains becoming national heroes. Current captain Kohli is one of the top cricketers in the game, but he has a while to go to match the achievements of some of his predecessors. Here are the three captains who some stand head and shoulders above the rest.

First among them is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Captain of the team from 2007 to 2016, Dhoni is – fairly – viewed as one of the greatest finishers in limited overs. Holding numerous captaincy records, including the most wins in tests and ODIs, he led the country to its first ever bilateral series wins in Sri Lanka and New Zealand. If this were not impressive enough, he propelled India to its first ever number one position in the ICC Test rankings too, and became the most successful Indian team captain of all time with an astonishing 27 victories.

With that being said, there's another man who trails not so far behind him: the inimitable Sourav Ganguly. Those with an interest in sports betting will know that India offers some of the best sporting action around, and this was never truer than when Ganguly headed the team. Affectionately known as Dada, this supremely talented player was one of the most successful Indian Test captains to date, winning 21 out of 49 matches, and bringing home 11 overseas wins. Taking the team from eighth in the ICC rankings to second under his tutelage, he nurtured the careers of many young talents and transformed the team into a force to be reckoned with.

Also deserving of a mention is Mohammad Azharuddin, former cricketer turned politician. Captaining the national team for much of the 1990s, he helped India to win an astonishing 90 ODIs – an achievement unsurpassed until Dhoni beat his record, logging 91 victories in September 2014. He also, impressively, held the record for the highest number of Test match wins as captain until Sourav Ganguly bettered this score during his tenure.

Talented, brilliant, and iconic, these three Indian cricket captains represent some of the greatest players of all time, their legacies unparalleled. Having cemented their places in the sporting hall of fame forever, it's hard to believe that anyone will ever be able to rival the records they set.