Have you ever led a group of people for a professional assignment? If yes, you must know how demanding a task leadership is. The stakes get much bigger when it is about leading a nation, a movement, or a national team! A coach, strategist, star performer, and assistor- a captain dons many hats when it comes to leading a team in international sports.

Vision, among other things, is what separates a good captain from the ordinary ones. The legendary MAK Pataudi once said “Captaincy is either pulling from the front or pushing from behind”. He meant that there are some exceptional players who lead by example and pull their team from the front, while some are not the best players, but dexterous tacticians and push their team from behind.

The form of a player is like seasons, it keeps changing. And not everyone is <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/virat-kohli-has-the-opportunity-to-become-the-greatest-after-sir-don-bradman-kumar-sangakkara/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bradman or Kohli</a>, who have the same season throughout the year. When a player enters a lean patch, the captain’s role increases manifold. It is time to pull from the front, push from behind and say “I’ve got your back mate!”

Life is cruel and the life of a sportsman is crueler. You could rise to glory in a blink and could vanish in oblivion in another. Over the years, many talented players came in and were wasted, because to have talent is one thing, to nurture it is quite another.

There have been many occasions in the past when a captain backed a player through his poor run. Let’s take a look at such captains and the players backed by them:

1. Sourav Ganguly- Yuvraj Singh

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427447" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Yuvraj-Singh-and-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg" alt="Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427447" class="wp-caption-text">Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Undoubtedly one of the most successful captains, Dada’s leadership qualities were second to none. He took over the captaincy when the nation was recovering from a shocking series of match-fixing revelations and the image of Indian cricket was tarnished like never before. In walked a man who was a constructor. From repairing the dents to building a team, Ganguly steered India out of an abyss.

As a captain, he identified match-winners and backed them incessantly. No wonder, so many blossomed in his reign. One such match-winner was Yuvraj Singh, who debuted in 2000 under Ganguly.

A free-flowing left-hander, Yuvraj smashed 84 off 80 against a formidable Australian-attack in what was only his second ODI. He showed everyone that he belonged, but soon his form dipped and fitness-issues arose. Yuvraj could have found himself lost in the darkness of oblivion had his captain not showed belief in his abilities.

Ganguly knew that Yuvraj belonged but required time to flourish, so instead of writing him off, he kept giving him chances until he proved the world his mettle. With his fearless batting and electric fielding, Yuvraj metamorphosed into a complete limited-over package. In 110 ODIs under Ganguly’s captaincy, he scored 2640 at an average of 30.69

In his 17-year-long career, Yuvraj had many highs, but none bigger than playing a pivotal role in bringing India’s 28-year-long wait of winning the World Cup to an end and being adjudged as the Player of the Tournament in the ICC World Cup in 2011.

2. MS Dhoni- Suresh Raina

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427451" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-and-MS-Dhoni.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427451" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

ICC T20 World Cup? Check. ICC World Cup? Check. ICC Champions Trophy? Check. IPL? Check. Champions League Twenty20? Check. There are no unchecked boxes in the to-win list of this captain. If Ganguly pulled Indian cricket out of an abyss, Dhoni took it to the zenith. From becoming the No. 1 Test side to winning the World Cup after almost three decades, Indian cricket achieved immensely under him.

Having the skill to look beyond what is manifest is the hallmark of a great leader. A player Dhoni backed tirelessly was Suresh Raina, who made his ODI debut in 2005. Coming between the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, and Laxman must’ve been intimidating for a lighthearted youngster like Raina, but Dhoni ensured that he exploited the presence of seniors to his benefit.

With some exciting left-handed batting and swift athleticism, Raina was like a breath of fresh air in an Indian team that had some aged legs. Just when Raina looked like a promising contender fixing his spot in the team, a disastrous knee injury thwarted his run.

No matter the era, making a comeback after an injury can never be easy in the Indian team. But much to Raina’s good fortune, his resumption coincided with the start of the IPL. Under the aegis of Dhoni, Raina proved his worth by performing to the fullest of his caliber.

Raina’s unstoppable run for his IPL franchise paid off and Dhoni was quick to lend support to a deserving candidate. Raina made a comeback and solidified his position as an integral cog of the Indian middle-order. He scored 4362 runs at an average of 38.94 in 153 ODIs under Dhoni’s captaincy.

3. Ricky Ponting- Shane Watson

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427450" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ricky-Ponting-and-Shane-Watson.jpg" alt="Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427450" class="wp-caption-text">Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

Think of captaincy and ‘Ponting’ flashes almost inevitably in mind. An all-time great captain, this Tasmanian knows the taste of success better than most. ‘Punter’ was a visionary. A fierce leader with a voracious appetite for success, but his leadership was not limited to the hunger of winning. When he assumed the captaincy, Australia was like one of those all-time XIs we make for fun, and this team, unlike all-time XIs, was meant to play.

Imagine walking between Gilchrist, Hayden, Warne, and the likes as a 21-year old. That’s what Shane Watson did in 2002. A fine middle-order batsman who could bowl right-arm fast-medium, ‘Watto’ grabbed the spotlight and secured a spot in a star-studded Aussie camp.

In his entire career, Watson missed more matches due to issues related to fitness than lack of form, but never mind the situation, he always had Ponting’s arm around his shoulder. Had it not been for Ponting’s support, Shane Watson might have turned into a lost wonder. Praising his skipper, Watson once stated, “The support I got from Ricky Ponting was immense. He believed in me more than I believed in myself”.

That’s what defines a leader. He makes others believe, instills faith, and shows them the light at the end of the tunnel. Watson played 26 Tests and 101 ODIs under Ponting with 1870 and 2566 runs respectively.

4. Imran Khan- Waqar Younis

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427449" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Imran-Khan-and-Waqar-Younis.jpg" alt="Imran Khan and Waqar Younis" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427449" class="wp-caption-text">Imran Khan and Waqar Younis. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

A martinet, inspirational, and polished cricketer, Imran Khan is one fine produce of Pakistan from the days of yore. A leader as charismatic as any, Imran Khan led a victorious campaign to bring the biggest sporting laurel to his nation- the 1992 ICC World Cup.

In his career, Imran resigned twice from the captaincy as he couldn’t get a team he wanted. He was a person who wore his heart on his sleeve and was courageous enough to lock horns with his cricketing Board to get what he wanted.

Such was the genius of Imran that he spotted Waqar Younis while watching a domestic ODI game on Television as he was resting due to illness. Enquiring about Waqar, he called him to nets the next day and no one needs to be told what happened thereafter.

Waqar debuted in 1989 under Imran. The skipper’s untiring support and Waqar’s talent led to the making of a marvelous cricketing legend. His incredible ability with the ball made him a lethal force and along with Wasim Akram, he made a fearsome duo. Waqar played 11 Tests and 40 ODIs under Imran scalping 42 and 66 wickets respectively.

5. Arjuna Ranatunga- Marvan Atapattu

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427448" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Arjuna-Ranatunga-and-Marvan-Atapattu.jpg" alt="Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427448" class="wp-caption-text">Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

In 1988, a 24-year-old Ranatunga took the captaincy of Sri Lanka to become the then youngest captain in ODIs. It was under Ranatunga’s stint that Sri Lanka scaled its biggest cricketing triumph by winning the 1996 ICC World Cup.

Come to back the players, Ranatunga was the one who would back his men to the hilt. 0 and 0, 0 and 1, 0 and 0, can a batsman start his Test career any worse? After a start as disastrous as that, a player not getting a chance to wear whites for his country again should be no wonder. Atapattu hit rock-bottom and his game could have been over, had it not been for Ranatunga’s support for him.

After a vulnerable start and a flurry of low scores, Atapattu came back with a bang as he scored 108 against India in 1997. Over time, he stamped himself as a valuable player not just in Tests, but in the shorter format of the game as well.

Atapattu played 21 Tests and 70 ODIs under Ranatunga and aggregated 1011 and 2136 runs respectively.

Have you ever led a group of people for a professional assignment? If yes, you must know how demanding a task leadership is. The stakes get much bigger when it is about leading a nation, a movement, or a national team! A coach, strategist, star performer, and assistor- a captain dons many hats when it comes to leading a team in international sports.
Vision, among other things, is what separates a good captain from the ordinary ones. The legendary MAK Pataudi once said “Captaincy is either pulling from the front or pushing from behind”. He meant that there are some exceptional players who lead by example and pull their team from the front, while some are not the best players, but dexterous tacticians and push their team from behind.
The form of a player is like seasons, it keeps changing. And not everyone is <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/virat-kohli-has-the-opportunity-to-become-the-greatest-after-sir-don-bradman-kumar-sangakkara/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bradman or Kohli</a>, who have the same season throughout the year. When a player enters a lean patch, the captain’s role increases manifold. It is time to pull from the front, push from behind and say “I’ve got your back mate!”
Life is cruel and the life of a sportsman is crueler. You could rise to glory in a blink and could vanish in oblivion in another. Over the years, many talented players came in and were wasted, because to have talent is one thing, to nurture it is quite another.
There have been many occasions in the past when a captain backed a player through his poor run. Let’s take a look at such captains and the players backed by them:
<h3>1. Sourav Ganguly- Yuvraj Singh</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427447" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427447" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-427447" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Yuvraj-Singh-and-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg" alt="Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427447" class="wp-caption-text">Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Undoubtedly one of the most successful captains, Dada’s leadership qualities were second to none. He took over the captaincy when the nation was recovering from a shocking series of match-fixing revelations and the image of Indian cricket was tarnished like never before. In walked a man who was a constructor. From repairing the dents to building a team, Ganguly steered India out of an abyss.
As a captain, he identified match-winners and backed them incessantly. No wonder, so many blossomed in his reign. One such match-winner was Yuvraj Singh, who debuted in 2000 under Ganguly.
A free-flowing left-hander, Yuvraj smashed 84 off 80 against a formidable Australian-attack in what was only his second ODI. He showed everyone that he belonged, but soon his form dipped and fitness-issues arose. Yuvraj could have found himself lost in the darkness of oblivion had his captain not showed belief in his abilities.
Ganguly knew that Yuvraj belonged but required time to flourish, so instead of writing him off, he kept giving him chances until he proved the world his mettle. With his fearless batting and electric fielding, Yuvraj metamorphosed into a complete limited-over package. In 110 ODIs under Ganguly’s captaincy, he scored 2640 at an average of 30.69
In his 17-year-long career, Yuvraj had many highs, but none bigger than playing a pivotal role in bringing India’s 28-year-long wait of winning the World Cup to an end and being adjudged as the Player of the Tournament in the ICC World Cup in 2011.

<h3>2. MS Dhoni- Suresh Raina</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427451" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427451" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-427451" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-and-MS-Dhoni.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427451" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
ICC T20 World Cup? Check. ICC World Cup? Check. ICC Champions Trophy? Check. IPL? Check. Champions League Twenty20? Check. There are no unchecked boxes in the to-win list of this captain. If Ganguly pulled Indian cricket out of an abyss, Dhoni took it to the zenith. From becoming the No. 1 Test side to winning the World Cup after almost three decades, Indian cricket achieved immensely under him.
Having the skill to look beyond what is manifest is the hallmark of a great leader. A player Dhoni backed tirelessly was Suresh Raina, who made his ODI debut in 2005. Coming between the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, and Laxman must’ve been intimidating for a lighthearted youngster like Raina, but Dhoni ensured that he exploited the presence of seniors to his benefit.
With some exciting left-handed batting and swift athleticism, Raina was like a breath of fresh air in an Indian team that had some aged legs. Just when Raina looked like a promising contender fixing his spot in the team, a disastrous knee injury thwarted his run.
No matter the era, making a comeback after an injury can never be easy in the Indian team. But much to Raina’s good fortune, his resumption coincided with the start of the IPL. Under the aegis of Dhoni, Raina proved his worth by performing to the fullest of his caliber.
Raina’s unstoppable run for his IPL franchise paid off and Dhoni was quick to lend support to a deserving candidate. Raina made a comeback and solidified his position as an integral cog of the Indian middle-order. He scored 4362 runs at an average of 38.94 in 153 ODIs under Dhoni’s captaincy.

<h3>3. Ricky Ponting- Shane Watson</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427450" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427450" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-427450" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ricky-Ponting-and-Shane-Watson.jpg" alt="Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427450" class="wp-caption-text">Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Think of captaincy and ‘Ponting’ flashes almost inevitably in mind. An all-time great captain, this Tasmanian knows the taste of success better than most. ‘Punter’ was a visionary. A fierce leader with a voracious appetite for success, but his leadership was not limited to the hunger of winning. When he assumed the captaincy, Australia was like one of those all-time XIs we make for fun, and this team, unlike all-time XIs, was meant to play.
Imagine walking between Gilchrist, Hayden, Warne, and the likes as a 21-year old. That’s what Shane Watson did in 2002. A fine middle-order batsman who could bowl right-arm fast-medium, ‘Watto’ grabbed the spotlight and secured a spot in a star-studded Aussie camp.
In his entire career, Watson missed more matches due to issues related to fitness than lack of form, but never mind the situation, he always had Ponting’s arm around his shoulder. Had it not been for Ponting’s support, Shane Watson might have turned into a lost wonder. Praising his skipper, Watson once stated, “The support I got from Ricky Ponting was immense. He believed in me more than I believed in myself”.
That’s what defines a leader. He makes others believe, instills faith, and shows them the light at the end of the tunnel. Watson played 26 Tests and 101 ODIs under Ponting with 1870 and 2566 runs respectively.

<h3>4. Imran Khan- Waqar Younis</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427449" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427449" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-427449" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Imran-Khan-and-Waqar-Younis.jpg" alt="Imran Khan and Waqar Younis" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427449" class="wp-caption-text">Imran Khan and Waqar Younis. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
A martinet, inspirational, and polished cricketer, Imran Khan is one fine produce of Pakistan from the days of yore. A leader as charismatic as any, Imran Khan led a victorious campaign to bring the biggest sporting laurel to his nation- the 1992 ICC World Cup.
In his career, Imran resigned twice from the captaincy as he couldn’t get a team he wanted. He was a person who wore his heart on his sleeve and was courageous enough to lock horns with his cricketing Board to get what he wanted.
Such was the genius of Imran that he spotted Waqar Younis while watching a domestic ODI game on Television as he was resting due to illness. Enquiring about Waqar, he called him to nets the next day and no one needs to be told what happened thereafter.
Waqar debuted in 1989 under Imran. The skipper’s untiring support and Waqar’s talent led to the making of a marvelous cricketing legend. His incredible ability with the ball made him a lethal force and along with Wasim Akram, he made a fearsome duo. Waqar played 11 Tests and 40 ODIs under Imran scalping 42 and 66 wickets respectively.

<h3>5. Arjuna Ranatunga- Marvan Atapattu</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427448" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427448" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-427448" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Arjuna-Ranatunga-and-Marvan-Atapattu.jpg" alt="Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427448" class="wp-caption-text">Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
In 1988, a 24-year-old Ranatunga took the captaincy of Sri Lanka to become the then youngest captain in ODIs. It was under Ranatunga’s stint that Sri Lanka scaled its biggest cricketing triumph by winning the 1996 ICC World Cup.
Come to back the players, Ranatunga was the one who would back his men to the hilt. 0 and 0, 0 and 1, 0 and 0, can a batsman start his Test career any worse? After a start as disastrous as that, a player not getting a chance to wear whites for his country again should be no wonder. Atapattu hit rock-bottom and his game could have been over, had it not been for Ranatunga’s support for him.
After a vulnerable start and a flurry of low scores, Atapattu came back with a bang as he scored 108 against India in 1997. Over time, he stamped himself as a valuable player not just in Tests, but in the shorter format of the game as well.
Atapattu played 21 Tests and 70 ODIs under Ranatunga and aggregated 1011 and 2136 runs respectively.

Have you ever led a group of people for a professional assignment? If yes, you must know how demanding a task leadership is. The stakes get much bigger when it is about leading a nation, a movement, or a national team! A coach, strategist, star performer, and assistor- a captain dons many hats when it comes to leading a team in international sports.
Vision, among other things, is what separates a good captain from the ordinary ones. The legendary MAK Pataudi once said “Captaincy is either pulling from the front or pushing from behind”. He meant that there are some exceptional players who lead by example and pull their team from the front, while some are not the best players, but dexterous tacticians and push their team from behind.
The form of a player is like seasons, it keeps changing. And not everyone is <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/virat-kohli-has-the-opportunity-to-become-the-greatest-after-sir-don-bradman-kumar-sangakkara/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bradman or Kohli</a>, who have the same season throughout the year. When a player enters a lean patch, the captain’s role increases manifold. It is time to pull from the front, push from behind and say “I’ve got your back mate!”
Life is cruel and the life of a sportsman is crueler. You could rise to glory in a blink and could vanish in oblivion in another. Over the years, many talented players came in and were wasted, because to have talent is one thing, to nurture it is quite another.
There have been many occasions in the past when a captain backed a player through his poor run. Let’s take a look at such captains and the players backed by them:
<h3>1. Sourav Ganguly- Yuvraj Singh</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427447" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427447" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427447" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Yuvraj-Singh-and-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg" alt="Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427447" class="wp-caption-text">Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
Undoubtedly one of the most successful captains, Dada’s leadership qualities were second to none. He took over the captaincy when the nation was recovering from a shocking series of match-fixing revelations and the image of Indian cricket was tarnished like never before. In walked a man who was a constructor. From repairing the dents to building a team, Ganguly steered India out of an abyss.
As a captain, he identified match-winners and backed them incessantly. No wonder, so many blossomed in his reign. One such match-winner was Yuvraj Singh, who debuted in 2000 under Ganguly.
A free-flowing left-hander, Yuvraj smashed 84 off 80 against a formidable Australian-attack in what was only his second ODI. He showed everyone that he belonged, but soon his form dipped and fitness-issues arose. Yuvraj could have found himself lost in the darkness of oblivion had his captain not showed belief in his abilities.
Ganguly knew that Yuvraj belonged but required time to flourish, so instead of writing him off, he kept giving him chances until he proved the world his mettle. With his fearless batting and electric fielding, Yuvraj metamorphosed into a complete limited-over package. In 110 ODIs under Ganguly’s captaincy, he scored 2640 at an average of 30.69
In his 17-year-long career, Yuvraj had many highs, but none bigger than playing a pivotal role in bringing India’s 28-year-long wait of winning the World Cup to an end and being adjudged as the Player of the Tournament in the ICC World Cup in 2011.

<h3>2. MS Dhoni- Suresh Raina</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427451" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427451" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427451" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-and-MS-Dhoni.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427451" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
ICC T20 World Cup? Check. ICC World Cup? Check. ICC Champions Trophy? Check. IPL? Check. Champions League Twenty20? Check. There are no unchecked boxes in the to-win list of this captain. If Ganguly pulled Indian cricket out of an abyss, Dhoni took it to the zenith. From becoming the No. 1 Test side to winning the World Cup after almost three decades, Indian cricket achieved immensely under him.
Having the skill to look beyond what is manifest is the hallmark of a great leader. A player Dhoni backed tirelessly was Suresh Raina, who made his ODI debut in 2005. Coming between the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, and Laxman must’ve been intimidating for a lighthearted youngster like Raina, but Dhoni ensured that he exploited the presence of seniors to his benefit.
With some exciting left-handed batting and swift athleticism, Raina was like a breath of fresh air in an Indian team that had some aged legs. Just when Raina looked like a promising contender fixing his spot in the team, a disastrous knee injury thwarted his run.
No matter the era, making a comeback after an injury can never be easy in the Indian team. But much to Raina’s good fortune, his resumption coincided with the start of the IPL. Under the aegis of Dhoni, Raina proved his worth by performing to the fullest of his caliber.
Raina’s unstoppable run for his IPL franchise paid off and Dhoni was quick to lend support to a deserving candidate. Raina made a comeback and solidified his position as an integral cog of the Indian middle-order. He scored 4362 runs at an average of 38.94 in 153 ODIs under Dhoni’s captaincy.

<h3>3. Ricky Ponting- Shane Watson</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427450" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427450" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427450" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ricky-Ponting-and-Shane-Watson.jpg" alt="Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427450" class="wp-caption-text">Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Think of captaincy and ‘Ponting’ flashes almost inevitably in mind. An all-time great captain, this Tasmanian knows the taste of success better than most. ‘Punter’ was a visionary. A fierce leader with a voracious appetite for success, but his leadership was not limited to the hunger of winning. When he assumed the captaincy, Australia was like one of those all-time XIs we make for fun, and this team, unlike all-time XIs, was meant to play.
Imagine walking between Gilchrist, Hayden, Warne, and the likes as a 21-year old. That’s what Shane Watson did in 2002. A fine middle-order batsman who could bowl right-arm fast-medium, ‘Watto’ grabbed the spotlight and secured a spot in a star-studded Aussie camp.
In his entire career, Watson missed more matches due to issues related to fitness than lack of form, but never mind the situation, he always had Ponting’s arm around his shoulder. Had it not been for Ponting’s support, Shane Watson might have turned into a lost wonder. Praising his skipper, Watson once stated, “The support I got from Ricky Ponting was immense. He believed in me more than I believed in myself”.
That’s what defines a leader. He makes others believe, instills faith, and shows them the light at the end of the tunnel. Watson played 26 Tests and 101 ODIs under Ponting with 1870 and 2566 runs respectively.

<h3>4. Imran Khan- Waqar Younis</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427449" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427449" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427449" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Imran-Khan-and-Waqar-Younis.jpg" alt="Imran Khan and Waqar Younis" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427449" class="wp-caption-text">Imran Khan and Waqar Younis. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
A martinet, inspirational, and polished cricketer, Imran Khan is one fine produce of Pakistan from the days of yore. A leader as charismatic as any, Imran Khan led a victorious campaign to bring the biggest sporting laurel to his nation- the 1992 ICC World Cup.
In his career, Imran resigned twice from the captaincy as he couldn’t get a team he wanted. He was a person who wore his heart on his sleeve and was courageous enough to lock horns with his cricketing Board to get what he wanted.
Such was the genius of Imran that he spotted Waqar Younis while watching a domestic ODI game on Television as he was resting due to illness. Enquiring about Waqar, he called him to nets the next day and no one needs to be told what happened thereafter.
Waqar debuted in 1989 under Imran. The skipper’s untiring support and Waqar’s talent led to the making of a marvelous cricketing legend. His incredible ability with the ball made him a lethal force and along with Wasim Akram, he made a fearsome duo. Waqar played 11 Tests and 40 ODIs under Imran scalping 42 and 66 wickets respectively.

<h3>5. Arjuna Ranatunga- Marvan Atapattu</h3>
<figure id="attachment_427448" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-427448" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-427448" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Arjuna-Ranatunga-and-Marvan-Atapattu.jpg" alt="Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-427448" class="wp-caption-text">Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
In 1988, a 24-year-old Ranatunga took the captaincy of Sri Lanka to become the then youngest captain in ODIs. It was under Ranatunga’s stint that Sri Lanka scaled its biggest cricketing triumph by winning the 1996 ICC World Cup.
Come to back the players, Ranatunga was the one who would back his men to the hilt. 0 and 0, 0 and 1, 0 and 0, can a batsman start his Test career any worse? After a start as disastrous as that, a player not getting a chance to wear whites for his country again should be no wonder. Atapattu hit rock-bottom and his game could have been over, had it not been for Ranatunga’s support for him.
After a vulnerable start and a flurry of low scores, Atapattu came back with a bang as he scored 108 against India in 1997. Over time, he stamped himself as a valuable player not just in Tests, but in the shorter format of the game as well.
Atapattu played 21 Tests and 70 ODIs under Ranatunga and aggregated 1011 and 2136 runs respectively.

When a player enters a lean patch, the captain’s role increases manifold. It is time for him to pull from the front, push from behind, and say “I’ve got your back!”

5 Players who were backed to the core by their captain

Vision, among other things, is what separates a good captain from the ordinary ones. The legendary MAK Pataudi once said “Captaincy is either pulling from