Cricketers to play most matches as captain for India in Tests

The Indian cricket team is among the top teams in the world across all formats and have the ability to defeat any team with their excellence in batting, bowling and fielding. Talking about the longest format of the game, the Indian team has come up as the strongest Test team in the last few years and has dominated almost every strong team in the world. Leading a Test team in not an easy task but there are many great captains who excelled with their leadership in the white-ball format and are regarded as some of the most successful Test captains of India. In the following listicle, we will have a look at the top 10 cricketers to play most matches as a captain for India in Test cricket. Most matches as Test captain for India 10. Bishan Singh Bedi - 22 matches Bishan Singh Bedi is regarded as one of the great leg spinners of his time who played for India from 1966 to 1979. He also led the Indian cricket team in 22 Test matches, out of which India ended up winning just six matches and lost 11, while five matches ended in a draw in his captaincy. #PAGE_BREAK# 9. Sachin Tendulkar - 25 matches Sachin Tendulkar has ruled Test cricket with his bat over the years with over 15000 runs and a record 51 centuries in the longest format of the game. However, the same couldn’t be said for his Test captaincy for India. Tendulkar has led India in 25 Test matches, out of which, India ended up winning four and losing nine, while 12 matches have ended in draw in his captaincy. #PAGE_BREAK# 8. Rahul Dravid - 25 matches Former Indian cricketer, Rahul Dravid is famous with the name of 'The Wall' for his solid defense in Test cricket. Dravid has also led the Indian team in the Test format out of which India won eight and lost six while 11 matches ended in a draw. Although Dravid hasn’t enjoyed much success as a Test captain, but he led India to some famous victories overseas including a series win in West Indies and England in 2006 and 2007 respectively. #PAGE_BREAK# 7. Kapil Dev - 34 matches Kapil Dev has enjoyed immense success as the Indian captain in the ODI format including the 1983 World Cup victory. However, talking about Test cricket, Kapil Dev has captained India in 34 Test matches from 1983 to 1987. Out of these 34 matches, India won just four matches and lost seven, while 22 matches ended in draw and one game also ended in a tie. #PAGE_BREAK# 6. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi - 40 matches Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was the greatest Indian captain of his generation. He was also the youngest captain of the Indian team taking charge at the age of just 21 years. In his captaincy, India registered their first-ever overseas Test win in New Zealand in 1967. Out of 46 matches in his career, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi led India in 40 Test matches, leading the team to nine wins. In his captaincy, India also lost 19 matches while 12 ended in a draw. #PAGE_BREAK# 5. Sunil Gavaskar - 47 matches Sunil Gavaskar was the superstar of the Indian cricket team in the decade of 70s and 80s. Popular with the nickname of 'Little Master', Gavaskar is also among the players to play most matches as a captain of the Indian Test team. Gavaskar has led India in 47 Test matches, leading India to nine wins, eight losses and 30 draws. #PAGE_BREAK# 4. Mohammad Azharuddin - 47 matches Mohammad Azharuddin has enjoyed immense success as a captain of the Indian Test team. He was kind of a captain who used to lead from the front with his aggressive batting and made India a strong Test side at home. In his nine years of Test captaincy, Azharuddin led India in 47 Test matches, out of which India won 14 and lost 14 matches while 19 matches ended in a draw. #PAGE_BREAK# 3. Sourav Ganguly - 49 matches Sourav Ganguly was a kind of captain who made India a competitive Test side overseas. He has enjoyed immense success as the Test captain of India and has more wins than losses in Test matches as captain. He led India to 11 overseas Test victories and made India a tough opponent to reckon with at their home ground. Ganguly led India in 49 Test matches, leading India to 21 wins, 13 losses and 15 draws. #PAGE_BREAK# 2. MS Dhoni - 60 matches MS Dhoni is regarded as the most successful captain of the Indian cricket team who led India to many famous victories in his tenure including the three ICC titles. He also enjoyed immense success as the Test captain of India. Under Dhoni’s leadership, India became the number one Test team in 2009. Apart from that, Dhoni also became the first Indian captain to draw a Test series in South Africa and also won the Test series in New Zealand. He is also the first Indian captain to whitewash Australia in Test series by 4-0 margin. Dhoni led India in 60 Test matches out of which India won 27 and ended up losing 18 matches while 15 matches ended in a draw. #PAGE_BREAK# 1. Virat Kohli - 68 matches Virat Kohli is regarded as the most successful Test captains of India and made the Indian team a tough side to reckon with at their home ground and across borders. In his captaincy, India became an inevitable Test side at home, and didn’t lose any home Test series as captain. Under Kohli, the Indian Test team also dominated overseas, and he became the first-ever Indian captain to win a Test series in Australia in 2018-19. He is the most successful Test captain of India in overseas conditions too with 18 wins. Kohli has played most matches as the captain of the Indian Test team leading India in 68 Test matches, out of which, they ended up winning 40 matches and lost 17, while 11 matches ended in a draw.

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Cricketers to play most matches as captain for India in Tests