Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu picked his top five all-time IPL captains and named former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma at the second spot. Notably, the IPL 2026 season has reached its second phase where the top four qualified teams will lock horns in four overall games for the coveted title. On Tuesday, May 26, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were slated to lock horns with the Gujarat Titans at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, in Qualifier 1.
Ahead of the big game, the former batter picked his all time top five captains in the Indian Premier League. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Rayudu picked RCB skipper Rajat Patidar as his fifth most favorite captain. Speaking about him, the cricketer-turned-commentator said, “Simply because he captained an RCB side which was trophyless. He has gotten about a different culture going in the side which is far more positive and selfless.”
On number 4, Rayudu picked PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer for winning the title with the Kolkata Knight Riders but has also been a finalist as captain with DC and Punjab. Not only this, but he also added that Iyer has gotten calmness in his captaincy, and is a great man-manager. Moving ahead, the former CSK star picked former Kolkata Knight Riders captain and mentor, Gautam Gambhir. “My number three spot goes to Gautam Gambhir, because he is a two-time winner, and also because his aggressive captaincy was a standout during his KKR days and we have always enjoyed playing against him,” said the 40-year-old.
Ambati Rayudu picks Rohit Sharma as second-most favorite skipper all-time
The former cricketer-turned-politician picked former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma as his second-most favorite captain of all times. “He has been a serial winner with Mumbai Indians and he has grown into a legend of the game and a legendary captain in Indian cricket,” Rayudu said. “He has been very successful not only because he had great teams but also the way he managed all the stars around him and he’s a great man manager and a great guy to be around in the dressing room.”
“My number one of course is MS Dhoni,” said Rayudu as he picked five-time IPL winning captain MS Dhoni as his top favorite skipper. “Because of the consistency that he has maintained through and the kind of leadership he brings about into the dressing room as well as on the ground, is quite exceptional. And a lot of captains that have been named before except Gautam Gambhir have learned a lot from MS Dhoni.”
