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Home  » Cricket » Why Dhoni is India's best ODI captain. Figure it out

Why Dhoni is India's best ODI captain. Figure it out

By Rajneesh Gupta
March 07, 2015 10:31 IST
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Mahendra Singh Dhoni

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Following the hard-earned four-wicket victory against West Indies on Friday, Mahendra Singh Dhoni became India's most successful captain in One-Day Internationals played away from home.

This was Dhoni’s 59th win as captain in away ODIs, going past Sourav Ganguly, who held the previous Indian record with 58 wins in away One-Day matches.

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Rajneesh Gupta presents detailed statistical analysis of Dhoni's captaincy record in ODIs.

Dhoni as captain in ODIs:

  Mts Won Lost NR Tied Win%
in India 63 38 21 3 1 60.32
abroad 111 59 41 8 3 53.15
Overall 174 97 62 11 4 55.74

The following table gives details of Dhoni's performance against each opponent at home. Australia is the only opponent against which Dhoni has registered more losses than wins at home.

Dhoni as captain in ODIs at home:

Opponent Mts Won Lost NR Tied Win%
Australia 21 9 10 2 0 42.86
England 16 13 2 0 1 81.25
Ireland 1 1 0 0 0 100.00
Netherlands 1 1 0 0 0 100.00
Pakistan 9 5 4 0 0 55.55
South Africa 4 2 2 0 0 50.00
Sri Lanka 4 2 1 1 0 50.00
West Indies 7 5 2 0 0 71.43
TOTAL 63 38 21 3 1 60.32

Dhoni as captain in ODIs away from home:

Opponent Mts Won Lost NR Tied Win%
Australia 13 4 6 3 0 30.77
Bangladesh 7 6 1 0 0 85.71
England 12 4 6 1 1 33.33
Hong Kong 1 1 0 0 0 100.00
New Zealand 13 5 6 1 1 38.46
Pakistan 9 6 3 0 0 66.66
South Africa 10 4 5 1 0 40.00
Sri Lanka 37 23 12 1 1 62.16
United Arab Emirates 1 1 0 0 0 100.00
West Indies 8 5 2 1 0 57.14
TOTAL 111 59 41 8 3 53.15

The following table gives details of India's most successful captains at home. Dhoni is just two short of equalling Mohammad Azharuddin’s tally of 40 wins at home.

Most successful Indian captains in ODIs at home:

  Mts Won Lost NR Tied Win%
Mohammad Azharuddin 58 40 17 0 1 68.97
MS Dhoni 63 38 21 3 1 60.32
Rahul Dravid 36 21 13 2 0 58.33
Sourav Ganguly 36 18 18 0 0 50.00
Kapil Dev 32 18 13 1 0 56.25
Sachin Tendulkar 18 9 8 1 0 50.00

Most successful Indian captains in ODIs away from home:

  Mts Won Lost NR Tied Win%
MS Dhoni 111 59 41 8 3 53.15
Sourav Ganguly 110 58 47 5 0 52.73
Mohammad Azharuddin 116 50 59 6 1 43.10
Kapil Dev 42 21 20 1 0 50.00
Rahul Dravid 43 21 20 2 0 48.84
Sachin Tendulkar 55 14 35 5 1 25.45
Sunil Gavaskar 24 11 13 0 0 45.83
Virat Kohli 12 9 3 0 0 75.00

Dhoni has now allowed his duties as captain to affect his batting capabilities. He averages more than 50 both at home and abroad with the bat while leading the side, which is no mean achievement. And Dhoni has to don the wicket-keeping gloves all the time as well while on the field!

Dhoni's batting record as captain in ODIs:

  Mts Runs Hs Avg SR 100s 50s
in India 63 2271 139* 61.37 92.35 4 15
abroad 111 3595 109* 53.65 82.70 2 27
TOTAL 174 5866 139* 56.40 86.18 6 42

Most prolific captains with the bat at home (Minimum 50 matches):

  Mts Runs Hs Avg SR 100 50
MS Dhoni (Ind) 63 2271 139* 61.37 92.35 4 15
Hansie Cronje (SA) 51 1652 87* 42.35 77.96 0 14
Mohammad Azharuddin (Ind) 58 1746 153* 40.60 86.00 1 12
Graeme Smith (SA) 63 2376 141 40.27 87.38 5 18
Ricky Ponting (Aus) 89 3093 134* 39.65 81.03 10 15
Stephen Fleming (NZ) 81 2249 115* 34.60 71.46 3 14
Allan Border (Aus) 114 2647 127* 29.74 71.54 2 15

Most prolific captains with the bat away from home (Minimum 50 matches):

  Mts Runs Hs Avg SR 100 50
MS Dhoni (India) 111 3595 109* 53.65 82.70 2 27
Ricky Ponting (Aus) 141 5404 164 45.03 84.83 12 36
Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak) 83 2804 96* 43.81 71.00 0 25
Clive Lloyd (WI) 77 1802 102 40.04 81.64 1 11
Viv Richards (WI) 79 2523 181 38.81 92.11 3 17
Mohammad Azharuddin (Ind) 116 3493 108 38.81 75.16 3 25
Graeme Smith (SA) 87 3040 134* 38.00 79.97 3 19

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Rajneesh Gupta

India In Australia 2024-2025