For nearly two decades, Indian cricket operated under a unified leadership approach, where MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma each became all-format captains after initially leading in one or two formats. However, since 2024, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has progressively adopted a multi-captain framework tailored to individual formats, signalling a strategic departure from tradition.
The transition gained momentum following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20 Internationals after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. While he continued to lead in Tests and One Day Internationals, Suryakumar Yadav was appointed as the T20 International captain. Under his leadership, India maintained an unbeaten series record and went on to retain the ICC T20 World Cup title earlier this year before his tenure ended.
The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar later evaluated Shubman Gill, who simultaneously captained India in Tests and One Day Internationals and had an impressive Indian Premier League 2026 season with Gujarat Titans. Gill had earlier been elevated to T20 International vice-captain in August 2025, with expectations that he would eventually transition into an all-format leadership role. However, inconsistent performances in the shortest format led to his exclusion from the T20 International squad prior to the 2026 T20 World Cup, and the vice-captaincy role was reassigned to Axar Patel.
Instead of reinstating Gill or consolidating leadership under a single captain, the selectors appointed Shreyas Iyer as the new T20 International captain. This decision reinforces the board’s current preference for format-specific leadership rather than a return to the traditional unified captaincy model.
Over the past twenty years, India has had three major all-format captains. MS Dhoni led India from 2007 to 2017, captaining in 332 matches with 178 wins, 120 losses, 28 draws or no results, and 6 ties, achieving a win rate of 53.61 percent. Virat Kohli led from 2013 to 2022 in 213 matches, securing 135 wins, 60 losses, 13 draws or no results, and 3 ties, with a win percentage of 63.38. Rohit Sharma captained from 2021 to 2025 in 142 matches, winning 103, losing 33, drawing or having no result in 5, and tying 2, with a win rate of 72.53 percent.
In Tests, Dhoni recorded 27 wins, 18 losses, and 15 draws. Kohli achieved 40 wins, 17 losses, and 11 draws. Rohit registered 12 wins, 9 losses, and 3 draws. In One Day Internationals, Dhoni managed 110 wins, 74 losses, 5 ties, and 11 no results. Kohli secured 65 wins, 27 losses, 1 tie, and 2 no results. Rohit achieved 42 wins, 12 losses, 1 tie, and 1 no result. In T20 Internationals, Dhoni recorded 41 wins, 28 losses, 1 tie, and 2 no results. Kohli registered 30 wins, 16 losses, 2 ties, and 2 no results. Rohit achieved 49 wins, 12 losses, 1 tie, and 1 no result.
Under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy in T20 Internationals beginning in 2024, India adopted a highly aggressive batting approach, with players such as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Yadav himself consistently attacking from the outset. India regularly posted totals above 200 runs, and series defeats became rare. He led India in 52 T20 Internationals, winning 42 matches, losing 8, with 2 abandoned, resulting in a win percentage exceeding 80 percent, the highest among India’s T20 International captains.
The split captaincy model also allowed India to manage player workload more effectively across a demanding international calendar. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya were used selectively to maintain fitness and peak performance for major tournaments. Bumrah, in particular, led India’s bowling attack in consecutive T20 World Cup victories while other fast bowlers were rotated during bilateral series. The broader rotation system also ensured a larger pool of match-ready players to cover injuries and squad changes.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have expressed differing perspectives on the long-term viability of split captaincy. Gambhir has previously supported the concept, stating in December 2021 that having two captains was beneficial for Indian cricket and allowed Rohit Sharma sufficient time to develop white-ball teams while ensuring strong leadership across formats. He had earlier suggested that India could consider a split leadership structure with Kohli continuing in Tests and Sharma leading white-ball cricket.
However, Agarkar has taken a more cautious stance regarding long-term fragmentation of leadership, emphasising the need for stability across formats. Selector Devang Gandhi has echoed this sentiment, stating that multiple captains could disrupt consistency in decision-making and that Indian cricket traditionally functions best under a unified leadership structure. Despite this, Agarkar publicly supported Shreyas Iyer’s appointment, highlighting his leadership credentials, including success as captain in franchise cricket and strong performances over multiple seasons.
With India now assigning separate captains for T20 Internationals, Tests, and One Day Internationals, the current structure reflects a clear institutional shift. Whether this model becomes a permanent feature or eventually gives way again to a single all-format captain remains a defining question for Indian cricket’s future leadership strategy.
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