What if all smart brains came together? The Indian Premier League has not only taken care of the traditional captains but also led many young players to bloom. Shubman Gill is one of the products currently leading the Indian team.

 

Apart from the Indian trio—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni—IPL has seen the rise of several young captains on multiple occasions. Shreyas Iyer being one of the respected ones.

 

But what is it? a playing XI is made based on all the captains. While getting a good bunch of fast bowlers leading a team for a full season is tough, we have still managed to make an all-time playing XI in IPL which included only the captains from 2008 to 2026 who have led a team at least for a year.

 

Captains XI: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, David Warner, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (C and WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Pat Cummins

 

1 | Rohit Sharma:

 

The Indian captain had led the Mumbai Indians to five IPL trophies. Sharma has been a part of the Paltan since 2011, and has scored over 6000 runs for them, including two centuries and over 46 half centuries. He was awarded the captaincy of the team in the middle of 2013 after Ricky Ponting stepped down and left behind an unmatched legacy before Hardik Pandya succeeded him.

 

2 | Virat Kohli

 

For Royal Challengers Bangalore, Virat scored a massive 8661 runs, with over 6000 runs coming during his captaincy tenure (2013-2021). Even though he plays as 1-down batter for India, he had his record season in 2016, when he scored 973 runs, primarily as an opener.

 

3 | David Warner

 

Even though Warner is not an usual number 3, the 2016 IPL winning captain, has over 6500 runs in 184 matches, averaging over 40. He has 62 half centuries and 4 centuries to his name. 

 

Though renowned as an opener, David Warner at No.3 balances the All-Time Captains XI perfectly. He can sustain early momentum, dominate spin with a proven IPL record, pace an innings smartly, and add a vital left-hand option, making the top order harder to contain despite limited success in that role internationally.

 

4 | Shane Watson

 

The Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has produced his best IPL batting returns as a top order batter. However, his role at No.4 in the All-Time Captains XI is driven by balance and all-round value.

 

Watson scored at a career strike rate of 137.04 and smashed four IPL centuries, proving his ability to dominate middle overs if required. More importantly, he claimed 92 IPL wickets at an economy of 7.93, offering a genuine third pace option.

 

A two-time IPL Player of the Tournament and former captain, Watson’s experience and adaptability justify his placement, strengthening both batting depth and bowling flexibility.

 

5 | Suresh Raina

 

Suresh Raina, famously called “Mr. IPL”, built his legacy as a middle-order and getting him in the All-Time Captains XI suits his adaptability. Raina scored 5,528 IPL runs, becoming the first to cross 5,000, and produced 400+ runs in seven consecutive seasons (2008–2014).

 

His strength against spin stands out, averaging 33.3 with a 129.4 strike rate.  Not only that, he is a handy off spinner, having 25 wickets to his name. A key contributor to CSK’s title wins, Raina’s left-handed presence, consistency, and finishing ability make him ideal for this role.

 

6 | MS Dhoni (C and WK)

 

Dhoni is the cornerstone of this XI. As captain, he led CSK to 5 titles in 220 matches with a win rate over 52%. His stats as a finisher are unmatched: he has scored over 5,000 runs, many coming in the death overs at a strike rate exceeding 135. His strategic acumen, wicket-keeping skills, and reliable match-finishing ability make him an indispensable leader and number 6.

 

7 | Hardik Pandya

 

A genuine match-winner, Hardik is an essential pace-bowling all-rounder. He scored over 2,000 runs at a devastating strike rate of nearly 145 and has taken over 60 wickets. His success as GT captain (one title) demonstrates his leadership. He provides aggressive lower-middle order batting and a reliable 3-4 overs of fast bowling, perfectly balancing the team and adding batting depth as a finisher too.

 

8 | Ravichandran Ashwin

 

Ashwin is a master tactician and a versatile off-spinner. With nearly 185 wickets at a stellar economy rate of around 7.0, he excels in both the powerplay and middle overs. He captained Punjab Kings for two seasons, adding leadership depth. His ability to adapt to conditions and his handy contributions with the bat make him a vital component of this bowling attack at number 8.

 

9 | Pat Cummins

 

Cummins provides world-class fast bowling and essential lower-order hitting power. He took over 50 IPL wickets and has shown excellent economy at times. While his captaincy is recent (led SRH to 2024 final), his international credentials are top-tier. As a premier fast bowler at number 9, he adds crucial pace and control to the death overs of the innings.

 

10 | Anil Kumble

 

Kumble, the leg-spin legend, was a highly effective IPL captain, leading RCB to the 2009 final. He captured 45 wickets in just 42 IPL matches with an economy under 6.6. His accuracy and ability to contain batsmen were exceptional. At number 10, he offers a wealth of experience, tactical knowledge, and a potent wrist-spinning option to partner with the pacers and off-spinners.

 

11 | Shane Warne

 

Warne was a revolutionary T20 leader, defying odds to win the inaugural 2008 IPL title with Rajasthan Royals. He took 57 wickets in 55 matches. His primary impact was tactical genius and his leg-spin wizardry. His inclusion at number 11 provides an all-time great spinner and another title-winning captain to dictate terms in the field and mentor the squad.