Asia Cup 2023: 5 Most unsuccessful Indian captains against Pakistan in ODIs

MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The contest between India and Pakistan is always mouthwatering. Ever since it was first played, it has produced thrilling match finishes. More so, because of the existing similarities and geo-political situation fans across the globe anticipate this rivalry. Furthermore, ICC, broadcasters all wait for this opportunity to generate maximum revenue, such is the hype. 

However, in recent times the cricketing giants do not get to meet with as much frequency as before. The last bilateral series between these two countries was a decade back. Now, they only play each other in multi-nation tournaments like Asia Cup and ICC events. But the excitement level remains the same as both the teams try to one-up each other with incredible performances.

Pakistan always had the upper hand over India in limited-overs matches. Right from the inception of this format, India had lost against Pakistan in more matches than they won. Even the most successful Indian captains have tasted defeat. Let’s have a look at the top 5 unsuccessful Indian captains against Pakistan in ODIs. Surprisingly, all those captains who led India in most matches feature in this list. 

5. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Former Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who won three ICC events with India, lost seven matches against them. But the captain cool has the best win-loss ratio of 1.57. He went to the toss for 200 times in ODIs. And against Pakistan, he had done that job 18 times, third highest after Azhar and Sachin. 

In those seven matches, Dhoni scored 338 runs at an average of 68 and SR 80. His famous 113* in the 2013 Chennai ODI was an incredible revival task. Mostly he came down the order, but couldn’t cross the finish line. Both teams played competitive cricket but Pakistan had the last laugh. 

Those losses came during his early captaincy phase. Pakistan came heavy on India on those days. Dhoni who used to control the game from behind the stumps was clueless in many of these games, such was the pressure. Post 2011 Cricket World Cup semifinal win, he stated, “fans don’t mind losing the cup now”. Such were the expectations from the Men in Blue.

4. Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev. (Photo Source: Twitter)

India’s first Cricket World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev lost against Pakistan 9 times in 13 matches that he captained. The Haryana Hurricane was given the captain’s responsibility at a young age. During that time he was up against Imran Khan’s Pakistan. Even Kapil himself acknowledges playing Pakistan at their home was really tough. 

During those 13 times, Kapil found himself struggling with batting and bowling. Pakistan batters tackled him quite well as Kapil clinched only 9 wickets in those lost matches. And his batting was not up to the mark. Contrary in won matches, he performed much better. It signifies how much difference it made to the team in his non-performing days. 

Kapil’s all-round ability was nullified by Pakistan. They knew if they could stop Kapil’s damage, then India would struggle. And it happened exactly as India lost more matches than they won in that period.

3. Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly 183 vs Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Prince of Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly has captained Team India 17 times against the arch-rival Pakistan. Out of those 17 matches, he tasted victory in 7 matches only. Ganguly was regarded as one of those important figures who ‘revolutionised’ India’s playing style post-2000 as captain. 

Those days, Pakistan really made it hard for the teams to have a go against them. Team India under Sourav was no exception to it. It impacted his individual performance as well. A cricketer who scored over 11K ODI runs, just averaged odd 20s. His remarkable Player of the Series performance just before that period faded away. 

Against the quality bowling attack of Pakistan, fans found India struggling. Sourav played at a 68 strike rate, scoring 48 as his highest score. Though, he went up and down the batting order in those matches. But the 2003 Cricket World Cup win in South Africa was a notable victory during his tenure.

2. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo Source: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

To everyone’s surprise, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar has placed himself in the second position. He got the Indian captaincy post-1996 Cricket World Cup. It was inevitable after what happened to India’s World Cup campaign and with the rise of Sachin the batter. 

In his 5-year long captaincy stint, he faced Pakistan 19 times in this format. Out of those encounters, he ended the matches as losing captain 11 times. He scored 236 runs in those innings; way below his standard. It was seen on his body language that captaincy pressure has affected his game.

He crossed the fifty-run mark twice in those matches, registering 93, his highest score at Hobart. Back then, India’s batting performance used to revolve around Sachin. His poor run with the bat had an immediate effect on the result. Post his captaincy period, he again got back to his old groove to dominate Pakistan bowling.

1. Mohammad Azharuddin

Mohammed Azharuddin. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Former Indian captain Md Azharuddin leads the chart here with 16 losses in 25 matches that he captained. Azhar who belongs to Hyderabad had led the country in a record 174 matches, second highest after MS Dhoni. He was a notable middle-order batter during his time. At one point, he held records for maximum runs, catches, and fastest hundred in ODIs.

He used to add so much value to the team’s success that he averaged 26 in those lost matches. Comparing this with his won matches, he had an average close to 49. During his tenure as captain, Pakistan used to be a strong limited-overs team. Azhar lost four consecutive matches in their tour to Canada in 1998. 

Rated for his wristy stroke play, Azhar used to hold the innings batting at number four. It signified that once he failed to bind the innings, it was all over for Team India. Ironically, his highest score against the neighbour came in a losing cause. Though he has the famous win against Pakistan in the 1996 Cricket World Cup, the overall record would still haunt him.