Top 5 Indian captains with highest individual scores in ODI Cricket

Two Indian captains have scored double centuries in ODIs.

ODI cricket can be considered a blend of the T20 and Test formats, as it requires batsmen to score runs aggressively and play with patience at different stages of the match. Moreover, the captaincy adds extra workload and responsibility for batsmen, as they need to excel in both batting and leadership.

Over the years, a few Indian captains have rocked the field with their performance with the bat. With their batting resilience, they hammered match-winning knocks on many occasions. They silenced the critics with their spectacular show and earned the appreciation of fans and experts alike.

If we look at records, many captains have scored centuries for India in ODIs; however, only two of them have hammered double centuries. In this listicle, let’s take a glance at the top five Indian captains with the highest individual scores in ODI cricket.

Indian captains with highest individual scores in 50-over format

5. Virat Kohli- 160* vs South Africa

Virat Kohli takes the fifth spot on this list with a 160-run knock against South Africa in February 2018. In the first innings of the 3rd ODI in Cape Town, the Indian skipper rocked with his century, taking the team’s total to 303/6. His innings was laced with 12 fours and two sixes.

Bundling out the Proteas for just 179, the Men-in-Blue won the encounter by 124 runs, with Kohli earning the Player of the Match (POTM) award. Kohli captained India in 95 ODIs from 2013 to 2021, scoring 5449 runs at an average of 72.65 with 21 tons and 27 fifties.

4. Kapil Dev- 175* vs Zimbabwe

Kapil Dev was the first Indian captain to lead the team to an ICC title. Under his captaincy in 1983, India defeated West Indies to win the ODI World Cup. In the tournament, the right-handed batsman hammered a century in a crucial must-win game against Zimbabwe.

In the 20th match of the ODI tournament, India piled up 266/8 in the first innings with a spectacular 175 runs by Kapil Dev. After India lost their top five batsmen for single digits, Kapil took the onus of batting with his ton, which was laced with 16 fours and six maximums.

Later, the Men-in-Blue bowled out Zimbabwe for 235, winning the clash by 31 runs. Kapil, who also took one wicket, was adjudged Player of the Match.

3. Sachin Tendulkar- 186* vs New Zealand

Sachin Tendulkar led India in ODIs for just four years from 1996 to 2000. In an encounter against New Zealand in November 1999, he came up with his highest score as a captain.

The encounter took place at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, in which Sachin slammed an unbeaten 186 off 150 deliveries with the help of 20 boundaries and three sixes.

He helped the team to reach a mammoth total of 376/2 in the 1st innings, and India bowled out the Black Caps for just 202. India won the game by a big margin of 174 runs, and Tendulkar was honoured with the Player of the Match award for his batting heroics.

2. Rohit Sharma- 208* vs Sri Lanka

Rohit Sharma is one of the best openers to ever play ODIs for India and has also captained the side in 56 games since 2017. As a captain, he has scored five centuries. His top score as a captain is a double century against Sri Lanka, which he hit in December 2017.

The encounter took place at Mohali, and Rohit scored an unbeaten 208 runs off 153 deliveries in the first innings. Smacking 12 sixes and 13 fours, he took the scoreboard to a gigantic 392/4 and eventually led the team to victory by 141 runs.

Despite smacking a double century, Rohit does not hold the record for the highest individual score as an Indian skipper.

1. Virender Sehwag- 219 vs West Indies

The record for the highest score as a skipper in ODIs is associated with Indian batting legend Virender Sehwag. The former Indian opener captained India in just 12 ODIs but still made a mark with the bat with his aggressive stroke play.

In a clash against West Indies in December 2011 at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Sehwag smacked 219 runs off 149 deliveries with the help of 7 sixes and 25 boundaries.

Batting as an opener, he took India’s total to 418/5 in the 1st innings, and West Indies were far away from victory, finishing with 265 runs in the 2nd innings. With this knock, Sehwag entered the record books by becoming the second Indian batter to score a double ton in the 50-over format after Sachin Tendulkar.

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