Youngest Captains In History Of IPL

Shubman Gill made his captaincy debut in IPL 2024 with a match against Pandya's MI (BCCI)Shubman Gill made his captaincy debut in IPL 2024 with a match against Pandya's MI (BCCI)

Within the pulsating spectacle of the Indian Premier League (IPL), youthful exuberance has often served as the catalyst for success. As the league evolved, franchises recognized the potential of entrusting leadership responsibilities to young prodigies, defying conventional wisdom. 

Such burgeoning captains have not only symbolized the changing landscape of cricket but have also exemplified how astute leadership, irrespective of age, can propel teams towards glory in the fiercely contested IPL arena.

With Gujarat Titans’ newly-appointed IPL 2024 skipper Shubman Gill marking himself in history, here at OneCricket, we take a look at six youngest cricketers who made their leadership debuts in IPL.


Youngest IPL Captains In History

1. Virat Kohli - 22 years and 187 days

Virat Kohli led RCB for the first time during IPL 2011 (AP)Virat Kohli led RCB for the first time during IPL 2011 (AP)

IPL legend Virat Kohli started out his captaincy journey on an interim basis back in 2011, when regular RCB skipper Daniel Vettori was ruled out of the playing XI against Rajasthan Royals owing to an injury. At the age of 22 years and 187 days at the time, Kohli became the youngest cricketer to helm an IPL franchise, and celebrated the occasion by guiding his team to a nine-wicket victory.

The cricketer had already showed glimpses of his captaincy brilliance back in 2008 by guiding India’s Under-19 team to World Cup glory in Malaysia. Kohli’s aggressive attributes as a leader prompted the RCB management to make him team’s full-time leader for IPL 2012.


2. Steve Smith - 22 years and 344 days

Steve Smith led PWI for a game in IPL 2012 (x.com)Steve Smith led PWI for a game in IPL 2012 (x.com)

Australian stalwart Steve Smith was appointed as Pune Warriors India leader in IPL 2012 for a match against RCB, in place of regular captain Sourav Ganguly. While the Pune Warriors were already knocked out of the competition’s playoffs race at the time, the team sustained another demoralizing defeat under Smith’s maiden captaincy stint.

Regardless, at the age of 22 years and 344 days during the game, Steve Smith almost rivalled Virat Kohli’s preceding year effort, thus becoming the second youngest IPL captain in history.


3. Suresh Raina - 23 years and 112 days

Suresh Raina led CSK's IPL 2010 team in MS Dhoni's absence (IPL)Suresh Raina led CSK's IPL 2010 team in MS Dhoni's absence (IPL)

CSK’s perennial legend Suresh Raina was handed the role of team captaincy in IPL 2010 for a handful of matches after MS Dhoni was ruled out for a week due to an injury. Under Raina’s astute leadership, a strong CSK outfit ravaged Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) by five wickets before the ‘Yellow Brigade’ slumped to successive defeats against Punjab and RCB.

Regardless, the cricketer’s brief captaincy stint came to an end after MS Dhoni’s recovery, who led the CSK group to their first-ever title triumph later that same season. At the time, Suresh Raina held the record of being the youngest IPL captain in history (23 years and 112 days) until he was usurped by Virat Kohli the following season.


4. Shreyas Iyer - 23 years and 142 days

Shreyas Iyer led Delhi in IPL 2018 (BCCI)Shreyas Iyer led Delhi in IPL 2018 (BCCI)

Shreyas Iyer was appointed as Delhi Capitals’ captain halfway into the IPL 2018 season, thus replacing Gautam Gambhir in the process. In his first match as leader, the cricketer blasted an enterprising 40-ball 93* against KKR to snap his team’s three-game losing run.

Aged 23 years and 142 days at the time, Shreyas Iyer became the youngest skipper in Delhi Capitals history and the fourth youngest overall in IPL lore. His success with the Capitals also prompted the KKR management to appoint him as team’s full-time skipper when he joined the group in 2022.


5. Rishabh Pant - 23 years and 288 days

Rishabh Pant walking off with a win for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 (BCCI)Rishabh Pant walking off with a win for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 (BCCI)

After a splendid start to his IPL career for the Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant was entrusted with the role of team’s leadership for the entire 2021 season in place of injured Shreyas Iyer. He eventually made his captaincy debut in the opening match of the tournament against an MS Dhoni-led CSK unit in Mumbai at the age of 23 years and 288 days.

Becoming the second youngest Delhi Capitals skipper and fifth overall in IPL history, Pant led his team to a seven-wicket win in the game and guided them to a top four finish in his first season as leader.


6. Shubman Gill - 24 years and 198 days

Shubman Gill prior to his captaincy debut in IPL 2024 (Gujarat Titans)Shubman Gill prior to his captaincy debut in IPL 2024 (Gujarat Titans)

Off the back of two prolific seasons for Gujarat Titans, dashing opener Shubman Gill was promoted as the captain of the franchise for IPL 2024 season after his predecessor Hardik Pandya abruptly left the group.

Gill ended up making his captaincy debut for the Titans in the opening game of the season, against a Pandya-led Mumbai Indians unit no less. Aged 24 years and 198 days on the day of reckoning, the prodigious batting talent marked himself among the youngest captains in IPL history.