Indian Captains With Most Test Defeats At Home

Aakash Saini

Indian captains with most test defeats at home [Source: @ImTanujSingh/x]Indian captains with most test defeats at home [Source: @ImTanujSingh/x]

In Test cricket, a captain’s role is pivotal, particularly on home turf, where most aim to leverage familiar conditions for success. In India’s case, numerous captains have been instrumental in shaping the nation’s illustrious cricketing journey with landmark triumphs. However, even the finest of captains tend to face occasional setbacks.

After Rohit Sharma’s Indian troops fell to successive losses against New Zealand, here we take a look at Indian captains with most home Test defeats to their names.

8. MS Dhoni – 3 losses (30 matches)

MS Dhoni – 3 losses (30 matches) [Source: @ICC/x]MS Dhoni – 3 losses (30 matches) [Source: @ICC/x]

Back in late-2014, MS Dhoni retired from Test cricket as India’s most successful captain in the format. Leading the Indian team in 60 matches from 2008 till 2014, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter helmed the national side 30 times at home. Remarkably, under Dhoni’s leadership, Team India incurred just three defeats, with the first of them being the innings defeat to South Africa in Nagpur back in February 2010. The other two defeats occurred in succession, during India’s home series loss to England in November-December 2012.

7. Sourav Ganguly – 3 losses (21 matches)

Under Sourav Ganguly, Team India suffered three home defeats in 21 Test matches. Two of the three defeats India incurred during Ganguly’s tenure came against Australia, in 2001 and 2004 respectively. India also lost the series-decider against arch-rivals Pakistan in March 2005, i.e., during the final stages of his captaincy career.

6. Sachin Tendulkar – 3 losses (12 matches)

Sachin Tendulkar – 3 losses (12 matches) [Source: @ICC/x]Sachin Tendulkar – 3 losses (12 matches) [Source: @ICC/x]

Sachin Tendulkar led Team India to four wins and three defeats in his 12 matches as captain between the years 1996 and 2000. While Tendulkar led his team to resolute wins over Australia and New Zealand, the legendary Indian cricketer failed to crack the South African code as each of India’s three home losses during his reign occurred against the Proteas. The Indians experienced two of those defeats in a single two-match series of February and March 2000.

5. Bishan Singh Bedi – 3 losses (8 matches)

Late Indian cricketer and legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi captained Team India in just two home series during his three-year overall run as national skipper. While he led Team India to a comfortable 2-0 win over New Zealand, Bishan Singh Bedi and co. suffered three defeats against England during their five-match series in late-1976 and early 1977.

Overall, Bishan’s captaincy profile in Indian conditions features three wins, three defeats and two draws from eight matches.

4. Kapil Dev – 4 losses (20 matches)

Kapil Dev – 4 losses (20 matches) [Source: @ICC/x]Kapil Dev – 4 losses (20 matches) [Source: @ICC/x]

Out of 34 matches as captain, Kapil Dev led Team India in 20 of them at home spanning five different Test series. Unfortunately for the Indian fans at the time, the 1983 World Cup winning skipper held a dismal record in the format, as he navigated his team to just two wins, four defeats, 13 draws and one tied result in those 20 matches.

3. Mohammad Azharuddin – 4 losses (20 matches)

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin led Team India in 20 matches at home out of his 47 overall as Test captain. During his occupancy at the top, the Indian team hauled 13 home victories and three draws, at the expense of four defeats against teams like West Indies (1), Australia (1) and arch-rivals Pakistan (2).

2. Rohit Sharma – 4 losses (15 matches)

Rohit Sharma – 4 losses (15 matches) [Source: @OverMidWicket/x]Rohit Sharma – 4 losses (15 matches) [Source: @OverMidWicket/x]

Rohit Sharma donned the Test leadership hat after Virat Kohli, India’s most successful Test captain of all time, relinquished his all-format duty in early 2022. The dashing Indian opener started off his new responsibility with four straight series wins at home against Sri Lanka, Australia, England and Bangladesh in that order. During this period, Sharma’s troops incurred just two defeats, one each against Australia and England despite claiming the series.

Amidst much success, he also became India’s first captain in nearly 12 years to lose a series at home, doing so with twin defeats against New Zealand in October 2024. To date, Rohit Sharma has led Team India to 10 wins, four defeats and just one draw in 15 home matches.

1. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi – 9 losses (27 matches)

Late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi captained the Indian cricket team in 27 home Tests out of his 40 overall matches as skipper. Unfortunately for Pataudi, he failed to capitalize India’s home advantage on most occasions as his team incurred nine defeats and enjoyed just six wins amidst 12 draws in familiar home conditions between 1963 and 1975.