Subtle bowling changes, deceptive field placements and innovative batting orders, a lot depends on captains in the shortest format of cricket.
The Telegraph looks at the men at the helm in IPL 2020.
MS Dhoni (CSK)
Win% 59.77
Under his leadership, CSK have won three titles and have been runners-up five times in 12 years. He will be missing some of his trusted generals this time, but having quit International cricket completely, he will play with a clutter-free mind.
IPL captain: Matches 174, Win 104, Loss 69, N/r 1
IPL career: Matches 190, Runs 4431, Avg. 42.20, S/r 138, Fifties 23 (HS 84*)
Rohit Sharma Twitter/@mipaltan
Rohit Sharma (MI)
Win% 59.62
The “hitman”, and not Dhoni, is IPL’s most successful captain with four titles, including last year’s crown. Rohit believes that the captain is “the least important person” in the team.
IPL captain: Matches 104, Won 62, Loss 42, N/r 0
IPL career: Matches 188, Runs 4898, Avg. 31.60, S/r 131, Hundreds 1 (HS 109*), Fifties 36
Virat Kohli File picture
Virat Kohli (RCB)
Win% 45.45
He leads a team who are notorious underachievers and have never won the title. But Kohli is in the right frame of mind. To quote him: “I (have) never felt so calm going into a season before...”
IPL captain: Matches 110, Win 50, Loss 56, N/r 4
IPL career: Matches 177 , Runs 5412 , Avg. 37.85, S/r 132, Hundreds 5 (HS 113), Fifties 36
Dinesh Karthik File picture
Dinesh Karthik (KKR)
Win% 47.22
While he hasn’t won a title yet, KKR have not exactly played badly under him. But at times, Karthik has lacked innovation and aggression. This time, he sounds desperate for success. “... we promise to give it all,” he said.
IPL captain: Matches 36 , Win 17, Loss 19, N/r 0
IPL career: Matches 182, Runs 3654 , Avg. 27.07, S/r 130, Fifties 18 (HS 97*)
Steve Smith File picture
Steve Smith (RR)
Win% 65.52
A top-class batsman, Smith knows how to succeed and take everyone with him. If he overcomes his injury and leads the Royals, can he emulate Shane Warne and win an IPL title with them?
IPL captain: Matches 29, Win 19, Loss 9, N/r 1
IPL career: Matches 81 , Runs 2022, Avg. 37.44, S/r 129, Hundreds 1 (HS 101), Fifties 8
David Warner File picture
David Warner (SRH)
Win% 55.32
It was under Warner’s captaincy that the Sunrisers won the IPL title in 2016 and the combative Australian is back at helm.
IPL captain: Matches 47, Win 26, Loss 21, N/r 0
IPL career: Matches 126, Runs 4706, Avg. 43.17, S/r 142, Hundreds 4 (HS 126), Fifties 44
Shreyas Iyer File picture
Shreyas Iyer (DC)
Win% 58.33
Shreyas is the youngest among the IPL captains this time. Under him, the Delhi franchise finished No.3 in the 2019 points table. They are one of the title contenders.
IPL captain: Matches 24, Win 14, Loss 10, N/r 0
IPL career: Matches 62, Runs 1681 , Avg. 30.56, S/r 127, Fifties 13 (HS 96)
KL Rahul File picture
KL Rahul (KXIP)
The fresher among the IPL captains this year, Rahul’s biggest advantage as the Kings XI captain this time will be the presence of Anil Kumble as the coach.
IPL captain: Yet to lead.
IPL career: Matches 67, Runs 1977 , Avg. 42.06, S/r 138, Hundreds 1 (HS 100*), Fifties 16
Stats: Mohandas Menon
