Top 11 Indian captains with most test centuries

Two Indian captains have hit more than ten test centuries.

Leading the test team is a huge responsibility for any player. Over the years, the Indian Cricket Team have been led by 37 different captains. In May 2025, Shubman Gill became the latest player to lead the team in tests.

Virat Kohli (68) holds the record for leading India in most test matches. MS Dhoni (60) and Sourav Ganguly (49) are next on the list. Mohammed Azharuddin (47) and Sunil Gavaskar (47) also led the team in a significant number of games during their career.

Kohli is also the most successful test skipper of India, leading the team to 40 victories during his tenure. Dhoni grabs the second spot with 27 victories under his leadership. Over the years, some Indian captains rocked with the bat despite the pressure of captaincy.

If we look at Indian captains with the most test centuries, seven batsmen scored five or more centuries during their careers. Moreover, two batsmen hammered more than ten tons as the Indian test captain. On that note, let’s take a look at Indian captains with most test centuries.

Top 11 Indian captains with most test centuries

11. Kapil Dev – 3

Former India all-rounder Kapil Dev grabs 11th spot on this list. He led India in 34 tests from 1983 to 1987 and scored three centuries. His highest score as captain was 163, which came against Sri Lanka in 1986. Kapil Dev also hit eight fifties in test cricket while captaining India.

10. Rohit Sharma – 4

Rohit Sharma took the leadership of the test team from Virat Kohli in 2022 and led the side in 24 games until his retirement in 2025. The right-handed batsman slammed four centuries across 42 innings. His highest score as India’s test captain was 131, which came against England in February 2024.

9. Rahul Dravid – 4

From 2003 to 2007, Rahul Dravid led India in 25 tests. While batting in 45 innings as India’s test captain, Dravid hammered four tons and ten half-centuries. His highest score as India’s test captain was 146 against the West Indies in June 2006.

8. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi – 5

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was one of the successful captains of India. From 1962 to 1975, he led India in 40 tests. Across 73 innings, he scored five centuries, including an unbeaten double century (203*) against England in 1964. He also slammed 13 fifties during his tenure as skipper.

7. Sourav Ganguly – 5

Sourav Ganguly also scored five test centuries for India as captain. From 2000 to 2005, the left-handed batsman led India in 49 tests and scored 2561 runs in 75 innings. Ganguly’s highest score as captain was 144 runs, which he hit against Australia in December 2003 in Brisbane.

6. MS Dhoni – 5

Former India wicket-keeper batter MS Dhoni scored six test centuries during his career, and five of them came as the Indian captain. The right-handed batsman led India in 60 tests from 2008 to 2014, hitting 24 half-centuries. His highest score as test captain was a double ton of 224 runs, which he hammered against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in 2013.

5. Shubman Gill – 5

Shubman Gill has also slammed five centuries in test cricket as captain. Gill was appointed as India’s test captain in 2025. Gill slammed a century on his captaincy debut against England at Headingley, Leeds. Later, he scored twin centuries in the very next game at Edgbaston, Birmingham. His fourth test hundred as captain also came in his maiden test series as captain against England. His fifth test hundred as captain came against the West Indies at home in October 2025.

Gill also holds the record for highest individual score by an Indian captain in tests, 269, which came against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, in his second test as India’s captain.

4. Sachin Tendulkar – 7

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar played 200 tests for India, out of which he led the team in 25 games. As an Indian captain from 1996 to 2000, Tendulkar scored seven centuries and an equal number of half-centuries across 43 innings. He scored 2054 runs at a stunning average of 51.35 during his term as India’s test captain.

3. Mohammed Azharuddin – 9

Former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin led India in 47 tests from 1990 to 1999. During this period, the right-handed batsman smacked nine centuries and an equal number of fifties across 68 innings. Azharuddin slammed a 192-run knock against New Zealand in 1990 in Auckland, which was his highest score as India’s test captain.

2. Sunil Gavaskar – 11

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar took the leadership of the Indian team in 1976 and led India in 47 games till 1985. During his tenure as test skipper, Gavaskar scored 11 centuries and 14 half-centuries in 74 innings. At a stunning batting average of 50.72, the right-handed batsman mustered 3449 runs.

1. Virat Kohli – 20

Virat Kohli steals the top spot on this list. Kohli led India in 68 tests from 2014 to 2022. During this period, the right-handed batsman scored 20 centuries in 113 innings. Kohli also slammed 18 half-centuries as skipper. His highest score in test cricket, 254* against South Africa in Pune in 2019, came while he was captain of the side. Kohli retired from test cricket in May 2025.

(All stats updated till 11th October, 2025)

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