Caps and gloves: Most matches as a wicketkeeper-captain
Traditionally, wicketkeepers are not the most popular candidates for captaincy. Since they have to concentrate on every ball and be behind the stumps all the time, their captaincy skills are believed to be hampered. However, MS Dhoni proved to be an exception. While he was not the first wicketkeeper to lead a side, he definitely did it on many more occasions than others. Here are the top five.
5) Andy Flower – 62 matches
Even in the strongest Zimbabwean side, Andy Flower was undoubtedly their best batsman. He also kept wickets which helped the side add another batsman/bowler to their crew depending on their requirement. Flower led the nation in 62 matches (16 Tests and 46 ODIs) from 1993 to 2000.
4) Kumar Sangakkara – 67 matches
An exceptional left-handed batsman, Sangakkara also had to shoulder the team responsibility from time to time. While he never led the side in Test matches, he captained Sri Lanka in 45 ODIs and 22 T20Is. Sangakkara was the Lankan captain in the time period from 2009 to 2012.
3) Mushfiqur Rahim – 81 matches
One of the finest batsmen in the Bangladesh side, Mushfiqur Rahim has led his nation in 81 international matches. Out of these, 28 were Test matches. This makes Rahim the second-most experienced wicketkeeper-captain in Test history. His captaincy stints came in the period from 2011 to 2017.
2) Sarfaraz Ahmed – 100 matches
Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-captain has a completed a century of international matches with him as the leader. Handling the Pakistani side in a transition phase, Sarfaraz did well to juggle all the duties. He led Pakistan in 13 Tests, 50 ODIs and 37 T20Is in the time frame of four years between 2015 and 2019.
1) MS Dhoni – 332 matches
Dhoni leads this list by a whopping margin. While the second-most experienced wicketkeeper captain has played 100 matches in international cricket, MSD has done so in 332 matches. Absorbing the pressure of a billion cricket fans, Dhoni did with great success and in his own style. Needless to say that he tops the list in all three formats too. Starting from 2007, he led India till 2017.
