Five Youngest Captains in the History of IPL: Virat Kohli to Rishabh Pant

Youngest Captains In History Of IPL: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen a number of young captains over the years, with some players leading their teams to championship titles. While many captains have had decades of experience in the game, there are some who have taken up the mantle at an early age and led their troops to victory.

The following is a list of five of the youngest captains in Indian Premier League history who were given captaincy responsibilities at an early age and were able to display their captaincy skills over various IPL seasons.

List of Youngest Captains of IPL History

Here’s a look at the top five youngest players who have captained an IPL team and displayed exceptional leadership skills:

Youngest captain in IPL: Five youngest leaders

Rank	Player(s)	Age on captaincy debut	IPL Team
1	Virat Kohli	22 years, four months, and six days	Royal Challengers Bangalore
2	Steve Smith	22 years, 11 months, and nine days	Rising Pune Supergiants
3	Suresh Raina	23 years & 112 days	Chennai Super Kings
4	Shreyas Iyer	23 years & 141 Days	Delhi Capitals
5	Rishabh Pant	23 years & 144 days	Delhi Capitals

1. Youngest Captain in IPL History: Virat Kohli – 22 years, four months, and six days

From a young age, it was clear that Virat Kohli wasn’t just a talented batsman—he had the makings of a great leader. His leadership skills first shined in 2008 when he led India’s U19 team to a World Cup victory in Malaysia. His aggressive and fearless approach on the field made people believe that he was destined for even bigger responsibilities in the future.

From the very beginning, Virat Kohli showed signs of becoming a world-class leader. He first made headlines as a captain in 2008 when he led India’s U19 team to victory in the U19 World Cup. His aggressive and fearless approach on the field made him a standout performer.

In IPL 2011, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) faced an unexpected situation when their captain, Daniel Vettori, was ruled out due to injury. At just 22 years and 187 days old, Kohli was handed the captaincy for three games. He made an immediate impact, leading RCB to a dominant nine-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals.

Kohli’s leadership skills were evident, and RCB took notice. Impressed by his strategic thinking and composure, the franchise appointed him as the full-time captain for IPL 2012, marking the beginning of his legendary leadership journey.

2. Steve Smith – 22 years, 11 months, and nine days

Steve Smith’s IPL journey is nothing short of inspiring. Initially known as a spin bowler, he struggled to make a mark in the early years. But after shifting focus to his batting, Smith became one of the most technically sound players in world cricket.

In IPL 2012, while playing for Pune Warriors, Smith was given the responsibility of leading the team when Sourav Ganguly took a break for one match. At just 22 years old, Smith led the side against Royal Challengers Bangalore, captained by Virat Kohli.

It was a tough contest, and RCB won the match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Though Smith’s first outing as a captain wasn’t victorious, it marked the start of his leadership career, which later saw him captain Rajasthan Royals and Australia successfully.

3. Suresh Raina – 23 years & 112 days

Chennai Super Kings Ex. captain Suresh Raina, who has played an integral role in the franchise’s success, is the third youngest captain in the history of the IPL. Raina took over the captaincy of CSK during the 2010 IPL without MS Dhoni.

While Raina has led CSK in five games, he spent most of his time as Gujarat Lions captain. During the first season of the Indian Premier League in 2016, Gujarat Lions reached the playoffs under his captaincy. This will be Raina’s first season in the IPL, after missing the last one for the Chennai Super Kings.

4. Shreyas Iyer – 23 years & 141 Days

Shreyas Iyer made an instant impact when he took over as Delhi Capitals’ captain midway through IPL 2018, replacing Gautam Gambhir. At the time, Delhi was struggling with a three-game losing streak.

In his very first match as captain, Iyer played one of the most memorable innings of his career—an unbeaten 93 off just 40 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This knock not only helped Delhi break their losing streak but also announced Iyer as a captain to watch out for.

His leadership skills caught the attention of KKR’s management, and when he joined KKR in 2022, he was appointed full-time captain, continuing his leadership journey.

5. Rishabh Pant – 23 years & 144 days

Rishabh Pant’s aggressive batting and fearless attitude have made him one of India’s most exciting cricketers. In IPL 2021, he got the opportunity to captain Delhi Capitals after Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to injury.

Leading a team with experienced players like Shikhar Dhawan, R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, and Steve Smith, Pant had a huge responsibility on his shoulders. Despite the challenges, he led the team with confidence, showing maturity beyond his years.

Pant’s leadership journey is still in its early stages, but his performances suggest that he could become one of the most successful captains in IPL history.

FAQs on Youngest Captains in IPL History

The IPL has been a breeding ground for young leaders, allowing them to prove their captaincy skills at an early age. These five captains—Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Suresh Raina, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant—have shown that age is no barrier when it comes to leadership.

With young talents emerging every year, we may soon see another record-breaking youngest captain in IPL history.