Some captaincy decisions made sense… These? Not so much!
Over the years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has showcased some legendary leaders—MS Dhoni’s ice-cool tactics, Virat Kohli’s fiery passion, and Rohit Sharma’s tactical brilliance. However, there have been a few captains that left fans wondering, “Wait… they led a team?”
Yes, some cricketers who were never considered captaincy material before, somehow found themselves leading an IPL side. As for their records? Well, let’s just say they didn’t make it to the ‘Best IPL Captains’ list.
Credit: Sportskeeda
Parthiv Patel—one of the IPL’s ultimate journeymen—played for multiple teams. But did you know he once captained Kochi Tuskers Kerala? In IPL 2011, the diminutive wicketkeeper was given the reins with Mahela Jayawardene unavailable. Unfortunately, it didn’t end well. Kochi lost the game, Parthiv scored only six runs, and that was the first (and last) time he ever led an IPL side.
Credit: Rediff
Dwayne Bravo is known for his dance moves, all-around skills, and death bowling, but captaincy? Not really. However, back in 2010, Mumbai Indians surprisingly made him captain for a solitary game. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a happy ending—MI lost, and Bravo never got another shot at leading an IPL team. Safe to say that some things are best left to others.
Credit: India Times
Murali Vijay was a prolific run-scorer in the IPL, but leadership did not quite suit him. In 2016, he took over Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) after David Miller was dismissed mid-season. The outcome? Three wins in eight matches, with Punjab finishing last and Vijay never captaining the IPL again.
Credit: IPLT20
Ross Taylor was a destructive batter, but what about as a captain? In IPL 2013, he was asked to lead Pune Warriors India in a match against CSK. His team won, but he personally scored only eight runs. Despite the victory, Taylor was never given the captaincy again. Perhaps Pune just wanted to surprise MS Dhoni?
Credit: Indian Express
Kings XI Punjab made a bold move in 2016 by appointing David Miller as their captain. The outcome? Punjab lost five of their first six matches, and Miller’s performance suffered significantly. Murali Vijay soon replaced him, marking the end of ‘Captain Miller’ in the IPL.
