Ambati Rayudu – Former Indian cricketer Ambati RayuduΒ sparked debate among fans after placing Rohit Sharma above Virat Kohli in a blind captaincy ranking challenge. While Rayuduβs top pick, MS Dhoni, raised no eyebrows, it was his decision to place Kohli at number five that caught major attention.
The format of the challenge required Rayudu to assign ranks to Indian captains without knowing which name would appear next. He began by putting Sourav Ganguly in third place. The next name was Kapil Dev, the man who led India to its first World Cup in 1983, and Rayudu slotted him into the fourth position.
Rohit Sharma Earns Second Spot from Rayudu
When Rohit Sharma appeared as the third name, Rayudu quickly ranked him second, ahead of other modern-era skippers. His choice reflects their years of camaraderie in the Mumbai Indians and Indian national side, along with Rohitβs growing leadership reputation.
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Next up was Virat Kohli, and Rayudu placed him fifth, just above Mohammad Azharuddin, who was ranked sixth. While Rayudu acknowledged Kohliβs excellence in red-ball cricket and bilateral dominance, he pointed out the absence of ICC trophies as a factor in his lower ranking.
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MS Dhoni Still on Top of Indian Captaincy Rankings
Unsurprisingly, MS Dhoni claimed the top spot in Rayuduβs list. The two shared a strong bond through years at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Team India. Under Dhoni, India secured all three ICC white-ball titles β 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He remains the only captain in history to win all three major ICC tournaments.
Rayuduβs final list was:
- MS Dhoni
- Rohit Sharma
- Sourav Ganguly
- Kapil Dev
- Virat Kohli
- Mohammad Azharuddin
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