'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The IPL has allowed young Indian cricketers to showcase their talent on a grand stage and strengthen their candidature for a spot in the international squad. Over the last 14 years, many Indian players have used this platform brilliantly to skyrocket their careers to the next level.
Along with giving new players to the Indian cricket team, the IPL has also provided new leaders to the side. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul developed their captaincy skills in the IPL before gaining a place in the national team's leadership group.
However, captaincy in the IPL is a considerable challenge. Not every player can lead the team properly in the league. Sometimes, captaincy negatively impacts a cricketer's game, while a few players take the responsibility to perfection and lead the team by example.
In this article, we will look at those Indian stars whose individual performance improved after taking over their squad's reins.
5. KL Rahul
KL Rahul played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the initial phase of his IPL career. After RCB released him ahead of the 2018 mega-auction, Rahul became a Punjab Kings squad member.
Rahul performed with supreme consistency after joining the Mohali-based franchise. He aggregated over 590 runs each in his first two seasons for Punjab.
The team owners were impressed with his performances, and thus, they appointed KL Rahul as their captain for IPL 2020. Rahul's numbers got even better after becoming the skipper. He amassed 670 runs in 14 innings and broke the record for the highest individual score by an Indian player in IPL history.
Although the Punjab Kings narrowly missed out on a Top 4 spot, KL Rahul seized the Orange Cap award in IPL 2020.
4. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer played his first IPL season for the Delhi Capitals in 2015. The right-handed batsman was in great touch during his debut season. In the 14 innings he played for Delhi, Shreyas amassed 439 runs at an average of 33.77.
However, Iyer had his worst IPL season in 2016. He played only six games, aggregating 30 runs at a strike rate of less than 70. Although Iyer had a decent season in 2017, he could not match his 2015 numbers.
Gautam Gambhir handed over the team's captaincy to Shreyas midway through IPL 2018. That decision had a positive impact on Iyer's game.
The Delhi Capitals star smacked a 40-ball 93*, including three fours and ten sixes on his captaincy debut against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Iyer breached the 450-run landmark in the 2019 and 2020 seasons while playing the role of DC's skipper. His consistency has improved since becoming the skipper.
3. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli became the Royal Challengers Bangalore's full-time captain in IPL 2013. Kohli has been RCB's vice-captain since 2011, and he led the team on a few occasions before replacing Daniel Vettori as skipper.
Ahead of the 2013 season, Kohli's highest aggregate in one IPL tournament was 557. He broke that record in his first season as RCB's full-time skipper, scoring 634 runs at an average of 45.29.
Two seasons later, Virat broke the record for the most runs scored by a single batsman in one IPL season. He amassed 973 runs in 16 innings, slamming four centuries to take RCB to the final.
In the 124 innings he has played as a captain in IPL, Virat Kohli's average has been 43.88. Before leading the side, his average was 26.96. Kohli has been magnificent with the willow ever since he became RCB skipper.
2. Murali Vijay
Murali Vijay was a match-winner for the Chennai Super Kings during the first few seasons. He opened the innings for the team and established himself as a 'big-match player' with his top-quality knocks in high-stakes matches.
While the Tamil Nadu opener never got an opportunity to lead his home franchise, the Punjab Kings entrusted him with leadership responsibilities in 2016. David Miller could not manage the squad well in the first half of the season. As a result, Murali Vijay replaced him as the captain.
Vijay had scored only one half-ton in six outings during IPL 2016 before taking over the reins. After he became the skipper, Vijay recorded four fifties in eight innings. Although his team's results did not change much, Vijay returned to form in the latter phase of IPL 2016.
1. Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly captained the Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural IPL season. However, the team management picked Brendon McCullum as their skipper for the tournament in 2009.
Since KKR's fortunes did not change much in the second season, Ganguly was back as the captain in 2010. The left-handed batsman led his side from the front by aggregating 493 runs in 14 matches. In IPL 2009, Ganguly could score only 189 runs at a strike rate of 91.30.
But he upped his game in 2010 by registering four half-centuries. No other KKR batter could touch the 300-run landmark in the third edition of IPL. While the Knight Riders did not make it to the semifinals, Ganguly had his best IPL season at the age of 37.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
