Winning an ICC title is no walk in the park and that's for sure. It takes blood, sweat and tears from not just the captain but the entire team. The collective effort is what makes the team a phenomenal force to be reckoned with.

Darren SammyThe pressure is immense, the stakes are sky-high and only one team can emerge victorious in the final. Captaining a team to an ICC title is no small feat at all. It takes leadership, strategy, and a never-give-up attitude.

There have been some amazing captains who not only lifted trophies but also lifted the spirits of millions of fans worldwide. Their legacies will live on as long as cricket is played.

Let us now take a stroll at the incredible captains who have conquered the grandest stages of international cricket and etched their names in history with ICC titles.

1. Ricky Ponting - 4 Titles

Ricky Ponting is regarded as one of the greatest captains in cricket history, without a shadow of a doubt. He is the only captain to have won four ICC titles. Under his leadership, Australia dominated world cricket, securing four ICC titles. His first major triumph came in the 2003 ODI World Cup, where his side outplayed India in a commanding final. Three years later, he led the Aussies to the 2006 Champions Trophy, defeating the Windies at the Brabourne Stadium. The winning streak continued as the mighty Aussies defended their World Cup crown in 2007 by overcoming Sri Lanka in Bridgetown. Punter's final ICC glory came in 2009 when Australia lifted the Champions Trophy by beating New Zealand in Centurion.

2. MS Dhoni - 3 Titles

Known for his calmness and razor-sharp tactical brain, MS Dhoni is the only captain to have won all three major ICC white-ball tournaments for India, an epic record that remains intact. Under his tutelage, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, where India edged out their arch-rivals, Pakistan in a nail-biting final. In 2011, Dhoni played a captain’s knock by scoring an unbeaten 91 in the ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka. The Ranchi-born sealed the victory with an iconic six off Nuwan Kulasekara at long-on at the Wankhede Stadium. His final ICC triumph came in 2013 when India defeated England in a rain-affected Champions Trophy final (20 over game) in Birmingham.

3. Rohit Sharma -2 Titles

Rohit Sharma has established himself as one of India’s most successful leaders as he led the team from the vanguard to win two ICC trophies. His first taste of ICC glory as captain came in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where India triumphed over South Africa in a nail-biting contest. In less than 10 months, he doubled his tally by leading India to victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy, defeating New Zealand in Dubai. With this trophy, Rohit has already established himself among the finest captains in Indian cricket history.

4. Clive Lloyd - 2 Titles

Clive Lloyd was at the helm when the West Indies dominated world cricket in the late 1970s. His leadership was instrumental in establishing the Windies as an unbeatable force. Under his captaincy, the team clinched their first-ever ICC title in the 1975 ODI World Cup, defeating Australia at Lord’s. Four years later, Lloyd once again led his side to glory, guiding them to a second consecutive World Cup glory by beating England on their home turf in 1979.

5. Darren Sammy - 2 Titles

Darren Sammy’s leadership brought West Indies cricket back to its glory days in the T20 format. He etched his name into the record books by becoming the first captain to win two T20 World Cups. The first of his two triumphs came in 2012 when his team outclassed Sri Lanka in Colombo to claim their maiden T20 World Cup. Four years later, he led the Windies to another dramatic victory, this time against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

6. Pat Cummins - 2 Titles

Pat Cummins wasted no time in making an impact as captain, as he won two ICC titles within months of taking over the Australian leadership. His first achievement came in the 2023 World Test Championship final, where Australia got the better of India at The Oval and thus became the first and only team to win all ICC trophies. Later that year, he led his team to another major victory, winning the 2023 ODI World Cup by once again outclassing Team India, this time in India's venue, Ahmedabad.

BDcrictime's Special mention:

Cricket has long been a male-dominated sport, but Meg Lanning has shattered barriers and set new standards in leadership. She is the most successful captain in women’s cricket history, having led Australia to an incredible five ICC titles, the most by a captain in the history of the sport. Her dominance began with the 2014 T20 World Cup, where Australia triumphed over England. She then led her team to victory in the 2018 T20 World Cup, defeating England once again. Lanning’s side continued their reign by winning the 2020 T20 World Cup at home in Australia, overcoming India in a record-breaking final at the MCG. She then captained Australia to the 2022 ODI World Cup, beating England in the final, and capped off her stellar run with another 2023 T20 World Cup win against South Africa.