When India played its first-ever T20 International back in 2006, few people took the format seriously. It was seen as a "hit-and-giggle" exhibition. Fast forward to today, and T20 is the heartbeat of world cricket, and the position of Indian Captain is one of the most scrutinised jobs in sports.
Over the last nearly two decades, the baton has passed from legends to stand-ins to young prodigies. While some led for a decade, others held the reins for just a single series.
Here is the complete chronological history of the men who have walked out for the toss wearing the blue blazer in T20 Internationals.
The First Commander
It is often forgotten, but MS Dhoni wasn’t the first. That honour belongs to Virender Sehwag. In India’s inaugural T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg (2006), Sehwag captained the side. It was a fitting start; India won by six wickets with just one ball to spare. Sehwag’s aggressive DNA set the template for how India would approach the format for years to come.
Captain Cool
The man, the myth, the leader. MS Dhoni took over for the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, and the rest is history. Leading a young, inexperienced side to the title in South Africa changed global cricket forever (and birthed the IPL). Dhoni led India in 72 T20Is, winning 41 of them. His calmness under pressure became the benchmark for T20 leadership.
The Trusted Deputy
One of the finest T20 players India has ever produced, Raina was the natural choice to step in whenever Dhoni was rested or injured. He captained India in 3 matches, winning all 3. His leadership style mirrored his batting: energetic, positive, and selfless.
The Calm Stand-in
Known more for his Test prowess, Rahane led a second-string Indian side during a tour of Zimbabwe in 2015. He captained in two T20Is, splitting the series 1-1. It was a brief stint, but it showcased India's growing bench strength.
The Aggressor
When Dhoni stepped down, the King took over. Virat Kohli brought a different intensity to the T20 side. Under his leadership, India became a bilateral series, winning in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). While he couldn't land an ICC T20 trophy, his win percentage was exceptional. He stepped down after the 2021 World Cup to manage his workload.
The Hitman & World Cup Winner
Rohit had often led (and won) when Kohli was rested, but he took the permanent job in late 2021. His tenure was defined by a specific goal: changing India's conservative batting approach. He succeeded in glorious fashion.
Rohit's crowning glory came in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, ending India's ICC trophy drought. He retired from the format immediately after lifting the trophy, leaving as a champion with 49 wins as captain the most by any Indian.
Gabbar's Turn
In a unique situation in 2021, the main Indian squad was in England for Test matches, so a separate white-ball squad was sent to Sri Lanka. Shikhar Dhawan was named captain. He led with his signature smile and casual flair, captaining the team in 3 matches.
The Maverick
Pant was groomed as a future leader early on. He captained India in a 5-match home series against South Africa in 2022 (which ended 2-2 after the final game was washed out). His captaincy was instinctive and unpredictable, much like his batting.
The New Attitude
After leading the Gujarat Titans to an IPL title, Hardik became the de facto T20 captain whenever Rohit was rested. For a long period between the 2022 and 2024 World Cups, it felt like Hardik was the permanent captain in waiting. He brought a swagger and confidence to the side, leading India in 16 matches with a strong win record.
The Class Act
KL Rahul captained India in just one T20I against Afghanistan during the Asia Cup 2022 when Rohit was rested. India won the match comprehensively, with Virat Kohli scoring his long-awaited 71st century in that very game.
The Bowler-Captain
Fast bowlers rarely captain T20 sides, but Bumrah is a rare talent. Returning from a long injury layoff, he captained a young Indian side against Ireland in 2023. He not only led the team to a 2-0 series win but picked up "Player of the Series" honours, proving that captaincy didn't affect his bowling lethality.
The Asian Games Gold Medalist
While the senior team was preparing for the ODI World Cup, Ruturaj Gaikwad led a young brigade to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Under his calm demeanour (reminiscent of his IPL mentor Dhoni), India won the Gold Medal.
Mr. 360 & The Current Era
Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup triumph, the BCCI handed the reins to the world's best T20 batter, Suryakumar Yadav (SKY). While Hardik was expected to take over, SKY's rapport with the coach and players won him the role. He is the current permanent captain leading India into the next generation.
The Prince
Ideally viewed as the future of Indian batting, Shubman Gill became the 14th captain when he led a young side to Zimbabwe in July 2024 (shortly after the World Cup win). After losing the first game, he showed great character to lead the team to a 4-1 series victory.
15. Yashasvi Jaiswal (2025)
The Fearless Southpaw With the international schedule more packed than ever in 2025, India required yet another leader for a brief away series while senior pros Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill were unavailable. Enter Yashasvi Jaiswal. Already established as a premier opener, Jaiswal became one of the youngest ever to captain India in T20Is. His leadership style mirrored his batting approach bold, aggressive, and unafraid to take risks, further highlighting India's incredible depth of leadership talent.
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