Former India batter Ambati Rayudu recently ranked Indian cricket captains, placing Rohit Sharma above Virat Kohli in a blind challenge. While Rayudu’s pick of MS Dhoni at the top wasn’t surprising, his decision to rank Kohli fifth grabbed significant attention.
The challenge saw Rayudu assigned to rank India’s cricket captains without knowing which name would come next. Rayudu’s list began with Sourav Ganguly, whom he placed at number three. Next, he placed the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev fourth.
Rohit was the third name to pop up, and Rayudu immediately placed him at number two. The veteran’s decision comes after years of playing alongside Rohit at Mumbai Indians and with the Indian team, along with Rohit’s success as a leader.
When Virat’s name came up, the former ranked him fifth. While he mentioned Kohli’s brilliance as a captain in Test cricket, Rayudu believed that Kohli’s lack of ICC trophies influenced the lower ranking. Kohli’s leadership saw India reach big heights in bilateral series and Tests, with a record 42-month record at the top of the ICC Test rankings.
Mohammad Azharuddin was ranked sixth, with the top spot going to legendary MS Dhoni. Rayudu, who has shared a long-standing bond with Dhoni through their Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and India days.
Under Dhoni’s leadership, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy. He captained India in 332 matches and won 178
Rayudu’s final ranking stood as:
(1) MS Dhoni, (2) Rohit Sharma, (3) Sourav Ganguly, (4) Kapil Dev, (5) Virat Kohli, (6) Mohammad Azharuddin
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