Credit: Fox Sports
As we head into the Adelaide day-night Test, with Rohit Sharma returning to lead and Jasprit Bumrah having set the tone in Perth, the captaincy debate will only heat up. But one thing’s clear—every skipper who’s held the mantle in this high-octane rivalry has added their flavour to the BGT legacy.
On November 25, India began its Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign with an emphatic 295-run victory in Perth. Despite a poor start on Day 1 with only 150 runs, India pushed ahead with stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah's eight-wicket haul, hundreds from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul's excellent half-century. As skipper Rohit Sharma prepares to return for the day-night Test in Adelaide on December 6, India wants to keep their momentum while Australia looks to regroup.
Certain captains have stood out throughout the series' history for their frequent appearances. Let's look at the five captains with the most appearances in BGT history and what made them memorable.
Few can match MS Dhoni's composure under pressure. Dhoni led India from 2008 to 2014, bringing a calm demeanour to the heated BGT battles. He could make complex judgements appear simple with a fantastic victory percentage of over 61. Remember the 2013 series? India's 4-0 thrashing of Australia was Dhoni's creation, a masterpiece in spin-friendly tactics. His ability to play the long game, trust his spinners, and allow his hitters to score freely defined his period.
Ricky Ponting led Australia in 11 BGT matches, but his record could have been more impressive. Between 2004 and 2010, Ponting won only two games. However, his harsh leadership style provided the series a competitive advantage. Consider the 2008 Sydney Test, recognised for its brilliance and controversy. While his win-loss record was not particularly impressive, the two-time ODI World Cup-winning skipper's enthusiasm and unwavering determination guaranteed that Australia never gave up.
Virat Kohli took up the captaincy in 2014, putting unprecedented zeal into India's campaigns. In his ten games as captain of the BGT, Kohli's gutsy style revolutionised how India dealt with their fiercest opponents. Kohli's three victories may not tell the whole picture, but his effect is rooted in the attitude adjustment he brought to the squad. The 2018-19 series victory in Australia, in which Kohli's aggressiveness reflected India's growing confidence, will go down in history.
Steve Waugh wasn't merely a skipper; he planned like a commander. From 1999 to 2004, he led Australia to five wins in ten matches. Waugh, known for his steely resolve and poker-faced composure, set the tone for Australia's domination in the early 2000s. The 2001 Eden Gardens Test may have been a defeat, but Waugh's emphasis on attacking fields and psychological warfare kept every match interesting.
Sourav Ganguly, the guy who taught India to dream big, captained the team in nine BGT matches between 2001 and 2004. Under Dada, India not only stood tall but battled with style. His leadership in the historic 2001 series is still admired. Who can forget the Kolkata Test, in which VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid orchestrated a stunning turnaround? Ganguly's fearlessness and faith in his players laid the groundwork for India's BGT domination in the future.
