India is one of the most successful teams in ODI cricket history. They have achieved enormous success in the 50-over format, winning many bilateral series and also a couple of ICC events in this format over the last 15 years.
One of the main reasons behind the Men in Blue’s success is that they have had some great players leading the side in the 50-over format. The captains know to how to utilize the available resources to perfection and get the best performance from the team.
Not all Indian captains in ODI cricket have had experience of leading a before though. Here’s a list of four such players who captained the Men in Blue in ODI cricket but never led their domestic team or any other team in List-A Cricket.
1. Newest ODI captain of India – Hardik Pandya
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made one of the best comebacks in international cricket. Around this time one year ago, Pandya was not even playing international cricket, and now he has captained the team in two formats. Yesterday in Mumbai, Pandya made his ODI captaincy against Australia and led the team to a five-wicket win.
2. Former vice-captain of India – KL Rahul
KL Rahul was the vice-captain of the team last year. He captained the Men in Blue in a three-match series against South Africa in January and also led the side in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series against Zimbabwe away from home.
3. Virender Sehwag
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag also made his ODI captaincy debut without any leadership experience in List-A cricket. He made his ODI captaincy debut in the year 2003.
4. Syed Kirmani
Indians whose List-A captaincy debut came in ODI match:
Syed Kirmani in 1983
Virender Sehwag in 2003
KL Rahul in 2022
Hardik Pandya in 2023#INDvAUS— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 17, 2023
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The first player to achieve this feat was Syed Kirmani. He was a member of the squad that won the 1983 World Cup, and in the same year, Kirmani made ODI captaincy debut without any leadership experience in List-A cricket.
