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Like any sport, in cricket too the captain is undoubtedly the most important player on the field. Right from the team selection to making instantaneous decisions, the skipper has the final call.
The team's captain has to lead his team from the front, setting the standard for the other players. He has to boost the team's morale, counter with the opponents' mind games and back his mates.
Kane Williamson played a remarkable role in the Kiwis' recently concluded World Cup campaign. He proved how a captain can single-handedly turn matches around. He was prolific, both with his bat as well his tactics.
Over the history of ODI cricket, 306 skippers have led their individual country one more than one occasion. But only a few have been able to leave a lasting impact.
Here is a look at top 10 captains with most runs in ODI cricket.
Note: stats updated till September 2019.
#10 Allan Border- 4439 runs
Allan Border led Australia in 178 ODIs and was the most capped ODI skipper of that era. During his tenure as an Australian skipper, he scored 4439 runs in 168 innings with an average of 32.17.
Border struck 2 centuries and 27 fifties during that period. His highest score as a captain was 127* which came in a winning cause against the Windies at SCG. He also led Australia to their first ever World Cup in 1987.
#9 AB de Villiers - 4796 runs
AB de Villiers was one of the most influential Proteas skippers during his short span of service. He led South Africa in 103 ODIs and scored 4796 runs in them, while also striking 13 centuries and 27 fifties at an average of 64.
De Villiers was the skipper with best batting average until his RCB captain passed him quite comprehensively. His highest score was 162*(66) against the Windies in the 2015 World Cup.
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#8 Virat Kohli - 4800 runs*
Virat Kohli led India in a number of series before MS Dhoni passed the mantle to him in January 2017. He has been phenomenal as a skipper, both with the bat as well as captaincy.
Kohli has so far led India in 80 ODIs and scored a mammoth of 4800 runs. His batting average of 77.39 is highest by any skipper in ODIs.
Kohli has scored 21 centuries and 19 fifties as a captain. He is just a century away from Ricky Ponting's all-time tally of 22.
His highest score as a skipper came against South Africa last year when he scored 160* at Newlands. He led India to victory against the Proteas by a 5-1 margin in 2018. He also led India to the finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy and the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup.
#7 Sourav Ganguly - 5104 runs
Sourav Ganguly was made the Indian skipper during Indian cricket's toughest phase, when it was reeling from the match-fixing saga. Ganguly not only led India out of that but also reinstalled faith in Indian cricket among the fans.
He led India in 147 ODIs, scoring 5104 runs in them. He struck 11 centuries and 30 fifties as the Indian skipper. His highest score leading the team was 144 which came against Zimbabwe in 2000.
Ganguly led India to the finals of the 2003 World Cup and the 2000 Champions Trophy. He also led India to its maiden Champions Trophy in 2002. Ganguly was the skipper when India won their famous Natwest Trophy in 2002.
#6 Mohammed Azharuddin - 5169 runs
Mohammed Azharuddin, the second most successful Indian skipper in ODIs, led India in 174 matches. He was given the ODI captaincy in 1990 and led India until 1999, when he was banned for match-fixing allegations.
Azharuddin scored 5169 runs in 162 innings at an average of 38.8, with 4 centuries and 36 half-centuries. His highest ODI score of 153* came against Zimbabwe in 1998. He led India to the semi-finals of the 1996 World Cup.
#5 Graeme Smith - 5414 runs
Former Proteas skipper Graeme Smith led them in 149 ODIs. He scored 5414 runs in 147 innings as a captain at an average of 37, with 8 centuries and 37 fifties.
Smith's highest score in ODIs came against England in 2009 when he scored 141. He led South Africa for a period of 8 years and is the longest-serving captain of his country.
Under his leadership, Proteas became the number ODI side in the world for the first time.
#4 Arjuna Ranatunga - 5608 runs
Arjuna Ranatunga was one of the most attacking Sri Lankan skippers ever. He was handed the ODI captaincy in 1988 and served 11 years as skipper.
Ranatunga led the Lankans in 193 ODIs and scored 5608 runs. He scored 4 centuries and 37 fifties at an average of 37.64. He also led Sri Lanka to its only World Cup victory in 1996, and is the most successful Sri Lankan skipper.
#3 Stephen Fleming - 6295 runs
Stephen Fleming is the second most capped skipper in ODI history. He led the Kiwis in 218 ODIs.
Fleming scored 6295 runs in 208 innings at an average of 32.79. He led during the period of 1997-2007 and struck 7 centuries and 38 fifties as the Kiwi skipper.
Fleming's highest score of 134* came against South Africa in the 2003 World Cup. He also led the Kiwis to the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup, 2007 World Cup and finals of the 2009 Champions Trophy.
#2 MS Dhoni - 6641 runs
MS Dhoni led India in 200 ODIs during the period of 2007-2018. He has been the most successful Indian ODI skipper and the second most successful skipper overall.
Dhoni scored 6641 runs as skipper at an incredible average of 53.56 - the third best after Virat Kohli and AB de Villers. He struck 6 centuries and 46 half-centuries as a captain and his highest score was 139*.
Dhoni led India to its second ODI World Cup in 2011 and also the Champions Trophy in 2013.
#1 Ricky Ponting - 8497 runs
Ricky Ponting is the most capped and most successful ODI skipper ever. He led Australia in 230 ODIs, scoring 8497 runs in 220 innings at a healthy average of 42. He struck 22 centuries and 51 half-centuries during his tenure.
Ponting's highest ODI score of 164 came under his own leadership. He led Australia to the 2003 and 2007 Cricket World Cup titles and to the 2009 Champions Trophy win.
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