5 youngest captains in IPL history

3. Shreyas Iyer - 23 years, three months, and 21 days old

IPL 2018: @GautamGambhir steps down as @DelhiDaredevils captain, Shreyas Iyer to replace him#gautamgambhir#delhidaredevilsREAD: https://t.co/eYLzIAy4SA pic.twitter.com/3ltFhKKosQ

— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) April 25, 2018

The Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) signed two-time IPL-winning skipper Gautam Gambhir at the 2018 auction. Soon after, the Delhi-based franchise declared Gambhir the team's new captain.

Unfortunately, Delhi did not perform well under the southpaw's leadership. On top of that, Gambhir himself struggled to get going with the willow. As a result, the Delhi skipper stepped down and Shreyas Iyer was announced as his successor.

A 23-year-old Iyer made his captaincy debut against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 27, 2018.

He played an explosive inning of 93 runs and led Delhi from the front on his first night as captain. His knock brought Delhi back to winning ways.

Know about the KKR coach here.

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2. Steve Smith - 22 years, 11 months, and nine days

#IPLAuction STEVE SMITH😎 @IPL History (Youngest Foreign Captain IPL 22yrs Old)(#RCB 2010 and #KochiTuskers 2011)Injured Out.#PWI 2012-2013 #RPS 2016-2017 #RR 2014-15-19-20 #DC 2021 😎 @DelhiCapitals @stevesmith49 #IPL2021

— AMARKALAM NAVEEN (@naveenkumar_96) February 18, 2021

Australian batsman Steve Smith made his IPL debut in 2012. The Pune Warriors signed him, and the team soon elected him as the skipper.

Veteran Indian all-rounder Sourav Ganguly was the Pune Warriors' captain when the 2012 season began.

However, after the team did not perform well, Ganguly decided to rest himself ahead of the away fixture against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Smith walked out for the toss along with Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli that night. The in-form Royal Challengers crushed their rivals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as a 22-year-old Steve Smith made an uneventful captaincy debut.

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1. Youngest Captain in IPL History: Virat Kohli - 22 years, four months, and six days

Do you know ? Virat kohli is still the youngest captain in history of ipl . 22 yrs 6 months was his age when he was appointed as captain . pic.twitter.com/pdpizmoJKA

— Akshat ॐ (@StanVirat) March 30, 2021

Virat Kohli captained the Indian team in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2008 and guided the side to the championship. Hence, Royal Challengers Bangalore roped him in for the inaugural IPL season.

Since RCB had Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Kevin Pietersen in the team, Kohli was not in the captaincy picture during the first three seasons.

Ahead of IPL 2011, RCB announced Daniel Vettori as their skipper, with Virat being his deputy. Vettori led the Bangalore-based franchise brilliantly, but was not fit for the away match against the Rajasthan Royals.

Thus, a 22-year-old Virat Kohli became the youngest man to lead an IPL team. He marshaled his troops to perfection on captaincy debut, as RCB beat RR by nine wickets in Jaipur that night.

It will be interesting to see if Virat Kohli's record for the youngest IPL captain will ever be broken.