The captain’s position is rather significant in almost all the sports. However, in a team sport like cricket, it is even more vital.
Captains are the ones who make the most important decisions and keep their team in the race for victory in almost all the games. Thus, naturally, they carry the burden of leading a successful campaign.
However, only the most intrepid individuals can take their team to the summit. Some have even achieved this during their first season as captains in the IPL.
List of Players to win IPL in Debut Season As Captain
1. Shane Warne: Rajasthan Royals (2008)
What is the hallmark of a great captain? Probably the ability to extract the best from every player. And that was the case with Shane Warne during IPL 2008.
To add to the charm, he used his talents with an underdog team. Only a handful of people believed that Rajasthan Royals (RR) had what it takes to upend the champions in the season’s tournament.
However, Warne’s commanding presence helped them raise their heads high and get to the final. There, RR defeated Chennai to take the crown.
2. Rohit Sharma: Mumbai Indians (2013)
What would your mental state be like if the captaincy burden suddenly fell on you in the middle of the season? Probably, you would feel a bit tense.
Rohit Sharma must have had similar feelings in 2013. Ricky Ponting handed over the team leadership at the season’s halfway point. And who could have imagined how highly the decision would be rated afterwards?
With his witty captaincy, Sharma took the Mumbai Indians fortunes from bad to good. He diverted the Chennai train to the last stop—the first IPL triumph for Mumbai and then another four titles for himself.
3. Hardik Pandya: Gujarat Titans (2022)
New franchise. New players. No anticipation. Hardik Pandya’s first-ever captaincy assignment with the Gujarat Titans was not given much weightage in terms of expectation.
He partnered with the coach Ashish Nehra. And boom. Hardik was the one who made many teams’ struggles over years seem like nothing.
Pandya made the Titans winners of the very first title they played for through a magnificent all-round display. It was even more significant that it happened on their home ground.
4. Rajat Patidar: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2025)
Rajat Patidar’s ascent to the RCB team is nothing short of a film roller coaster. He got in as an injury substitute. Secure his position with remarkable displays. And within a few years, he was the reason RCB ended their trophy drought.
Patidar achieved what was impossible for the previous RCB captains in 17 seasons. Obviously, the pressure was there. However, with a perfect team at his command, Patidar went all the way.
Bengaluru beat Punjab, who had been as competitive as them during the whole season. So, defeating Punjab was not an easy job, but RCB stayed calm and cool to their victory.
