The Indian Premier League (IPL), since its inaugural season in 2008, has witnessed nine different captains lifting the trophy, as of June 2025. Shane Warne led Rajasthan Royals (RR) to the IPL 2008 title and became the first captain to win the trophy. Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are the two most successful captains in IPL history, having won the title five times each with Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), respectively.
Who are the captains to win the IPL trophy?
As of June 2025, six Indians and three foreigners have won the IPL trophy as captains. Rohit Sharma (5), MS Dhoni (5), Gautam Gambhir (2), Hardik Pandya (1), Shreyas Iyer (1), and Rajat Patidar (1) are the six Indian players who have led their respective teams to glory. Shane Warne (1), Adam Gilchrist (1), and David Warner (1) are the three international players who have won the IPL trophy as captains.
The first two seasons of the IPL saw Australian cricketers captaining their teams to victory. Shane Warne (RR in 2008) and Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers in 2009) led their respective franchises to glory. In 2010, MS Dhoni became the first Indian skipper to lift the IPL trophy after CSK beat MI in the summit clash. Dhoni added another silverware to his kitty in the following season, as CSK successfully defended their crown against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2011 final.
Dhoni and CSK's reign at the top was ended by the Gambhir-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final of the 2012 season. Gambhir led KKR to another title win in the 2014 season, winning the final against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Sharma led MI to their maiden title win against CSK in the IPL 2013 final. His franchise went on to add four more titles (2015, 2017, 2019 & 2020). CSK, under Dhoni, won three more titles (2018, 2021 & 2023) following their return from a two-year ban in 2018.
The 2016 season saw Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) win the title at the expense of RCB. The IPL 2022 was won by the Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), who beat RR in the final. Rajat Patidar won the IPL title for the first time for RCB in 2025 after helping his team triumph over PBKS.
IPL Winning Captains List
| Captain | Team | Title(s) | Edition |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | 5 | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 5 | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
| Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 2012, 2014 |
| Shane Warne | Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 2008 |
| Adam Gilchrist | Deccan Chargers | 1 | 2009 |
| David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 2016 |
| Hardik Pandya | Gujarat Titans | 1 | 2022 |
| Shreyas Iyer | Kolkata Knight Riders | 1 | 2024 |
| Rajat Patidar | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 1 | 2025 |
FAQs on IPL
A. Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are the captains with the most IPL trophies. They both have won five IPL titles each, as of June 2025.
A. As of June 2025, SRH have won one IPL title, in 2016.
A. Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants are the IPL teams that have yet to win an IPL trophy, as of June 2025.
A. Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural IPL title in 2008.
