<strong>Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average:</strong> Leading from the front is the real quality of a captain. And for a captain who is also a batsman, average more or less indicates the captain’s contribution for the team. And of course, having a good average and scoring well does not mean he is a great captain by default, but it is a definite parameter to measure a captain’s ability. Captaincy is a big responsibility, and performing in spite of handling the pressure of captaincy is the quality of a true leader.

In this list, we look at the <strong>Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average (Min. 100 ODIs):</strong>

<strong> 10. Brian Lara – 35.71 (125 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/Brian-Lara-ODI.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-26072" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brian-Lara-ODI.jpg" alt="Brian Lara ODI" width="401" height="265" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-26072" class="wp-caption-text">Brian Lara. (© Getty Images)</figcaption>

One of the greatest players ever to play the game, his international tournament trophy tally is sadly empty due to the inconsistent team he had around him. But that doesn’t mean he was not a great captain. He was the primary captain for the West Indies ODI team from 1994 to 2007, often sharing duties with Carl Hooper. He averages a decent 35.71 as a captain, despite being 5 points less than his career average of about 40. He has scored 5 centuries and 18 fifties in 119 innings as captain, showing his consistent performance even with the burden of captaincy.

Also Read &#8211; <strong><a href="http://goo.gl/KQ4YJZ" target="_blank">Top 10 Most successful captains in international Cricket</a></strong>

<strong> 9. Arjuna Ranatunga – 37.63 (193 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/Arjuna-Ranatunga.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-26440" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Arjuna-Ranatunga.jpg" alt="Arjuna Ranatunga" width="401" height="267" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-26440" class="wp-caption-text">Arjuna Ranatunga. (© Getty Images)</figcaption>

One of the greatest captains ever to grace the game, Arjuna Ranatunga is the reason behind Sri Lanka’s rise in the cricketing world. Before his tenure as captain, Sri Lanka was usually overlooked as a minnow over Asian giants Pakistan and India. But post his rein, coinciding with a golden period of Lankan cricket, Sri Lanka has become a formidable force in cricket. And Ranatunga always led from the front, averaging an impressive 37.63 in 183 innings he has played. The stats look even more impressive if we consider that he played before 2000s, a period where average above 35 was considered very good in general, leave alone a captain’s average. He has scored 4 centuries and 37 fifties in 183 innings he played as a captain, literally a 50+ score in every 4<sup>th</sup> inning.

<strong>8. Hansie Cronje – 37.68 (138 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/12/Hansie-Cronje.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-8367" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hansie-Cronje.jpg" alt="Hansie Cronje" width="196" height="297"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8367" class="wp-caption-text">Hansie Cronje. (Photo Source: Laurence Griffiths / AllSport UK Ltd)</figcaption>

A player sadly remembered for his controversies than his achievements, Hansie Cronje is the captain who lead the SA team from the front post the end of sport isolation in 1991. A decent all-rounder, he averages a good 37.68 in 128 innings that he batted. Though couldn’t manage a single century, he scored an impressive tally of 31 fifties as a captain. While his overall record might sound unimpressive in comparison to the other players on the list, it is his contribution towards the uprising of the SA team during the 90s which makes this a big deal, and the captain was the driving force under whom greats like Gary Kirsten and Alan Donald flourished.

<strong>7</strong>. <strong>Sourav Ganguly – 38.66 (147 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/Rahul-Dravid-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-20582" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Dravid-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg" alt="Sourav Ganguly – Rahul Dravid" width="420" height="532" sizes="(max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20582" class="wp-caption-text">Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

What Indian cricket team is today is partially due to Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy. He had a reputation for being a fearless and aggressive captain, something which was never expected from an Indian captain. And not only was he a great captain, his batting record is one any batsman would love to have. One of the best openers to have graced the game, he averages 38.66 as a captain in 143 innings. Considering the fact that he was an opener, this average looks even more impressive. He scored 11 hundreds and 30 fifties as a captain, with a highest of 144.

<strong> 6. Sanath Jayasuriya – 38.73 (118 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/Sanath-Jayasuriya.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-6927" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanath-Jayasuriya.jpg" alt="Sanath Jayasuriya" width="397" height="305" sizes="(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6927" class="wp-caption-text">Sanath Jayasuriya. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

The fore-father of the aggressive brand of openers we see today, Jayasuriya was a class apart during his playing days. And his record as a captain is what makes him one of the greatest of his generation. Averaging an impressive 38.73 in 118 innings, and coupled with an impressive strike rate above 80, he stood heads and shoulders above as far as leading from the front was concerned. Taking up the reins post the retirement of Arjuna Ranatunga, he was an inspirational leader, and an even better batsman. He has scored an astonishing 10 centuries and 25 fifties in 118 innings he played as a captain, a 50+ score in every 3<sup>rd</sup> inning in an average. And notwithstanding his performances with the ball, which we are not considering today, he was one of the most underrated captains of ODI cricket and an incredible cricketer.

<strong> 5. Vivian Richards – 38.81 (105 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/12/Sir-Viv-Richards.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-8122" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sir-Viv-Richards.jpg" alt="Sir Viv Richards" width="397" height="285" sizes="(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8122" class="wp-caption-text">Sir Viv Richards. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

The original master blaster took up captaincy post the retirement of Clive Lloyd, and what an incredible performer he was. A player who induced fear into the bowlers, he averaged an incredible 38.81 in 91 innings he has played. And not to forget a god-like strike rate of 92 in an era where 200 was considered a decent score in the shorter formats. While much of the success can be evenly attributed towards the talented team he had at his disposal, his contribution towards the team&#8217;s success plays a significant role. His highest score of 189 is considered as one of the greatest ever ODI innings played. He had 3 centuries and 22 fifties to his name while he played as a captain. While this average is significantly low compared to his career average, even then he was heads and shoulders above the batsmen of his generation. While his name rarely pops up in the debate of greatest ever captains, he has done everything required to satisfy the criteria.

<strong> 4. Graeme Smith – 38.96 (150 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/02/SAf-Eng.png"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-6716" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/SAf-Eng.png" alt="Graeme Smith" width="396" height="520" sizes="(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6716" class="wp-caption-text">Graeme Smith. (Photo: Getty Images)</figcaption>

The South African batsman with a somewhat debatable stance, he is widely considered as one of the greatest ever captains to have graced the game. When he was appointed as a captain as a 23-year-old player, many eyebrows were raised with regards to this decision. But fast forward 10 years, he built a team which can give competition to any team on any surface. His performance with the bat shows his true leadership qualities, averaging about 38.96 in 147 innings he played as a captain. While everyone remembers Gibbs’ epic 175 in that chase against Australia, it was Smith’s 90 of just 55 balls which gave the right start for the South African batsmen. That innings aptly sums up Smith’s role as a captain of the team. While he has never hogged the limelight, he steps up when the team needed him the most. He has scored about 8 hundreds and 37 fifties in 147 innings he has played, averaging about a 50+ score in every 3.5 innings.

<strong> 3. Mohammad Azharuddin – 39.39 (174 matches ):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Mohammed-Azharuddin.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-18485" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammed-Azharuddin.jpg" alt="Most elegant batsmen" width="403" height="299" sizes="(max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-18485" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Azharuddin. (© Getty Images)</figcaption>

Though he is sadly remembered for the fixing saga of 2000, Mohammad Azharuddin can be widely considered as one of the best batsmen in his generation, especially in the shorter format of the game. Once held the record of the most number of runs by a batsmen in ODIs, he was an inspirational leader for the Indian cricket team, especially in the shorter formats. And an incredible batting average of 39.39 in 162 innings is an indication for the same. While not the most aggressive of the players, he was a solid wall in the Indian middle order, and had wrists anybody would die for. He scored 4 centuries and 37 fifties as a captain in 162 innings, which is quite good considering that he generally came to bat three down, and averaging about a 50+ score in every 4<sup>th</sup> match.

<strong> 2. Ricky Ponting – 42.91 (230 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Ricky-Ponting-ODI.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-19871" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ricky-Ponting-ODI.jpg" alt="Captains with most runs" width="394" height="251" sizes="(max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-19871" class="wp-caption-text">Ricky Ponting. (© Getty Images)</figcaption>

A great team needs a great captain to lead from the front, and boy he was good. Ricky Ponting epitomizes the bullish Australia which dominated the world cricket for the better half of 2000s. And his record as a batsman during the time he was captain is a criteria enough to show his abilities to lead from the front. Scoring at an incredible average of 42.91, he has the most number of runs (8497), most 100s (22) and fifties (51) as a captain. The incredible fact is that he has scored 8497 runs bearing the burden of captaincy, that too for nearly a decade, is stuff for the legends. And not to forget his two world cup winning campaigns as a captain. And aptly, he is widely remembered as one of the greatest captains of all time.

<strong>1. MS Dhoni &#8211; 54.58 (194 matches):</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/MS-Dhoni-ODI-Latest.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-22540" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-ODI-Latest.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni ODI Latest" width="404" height="261" sizes="(max-width: 404px) 100vw, 404px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-22540" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption>

Widely regarded as one of the modern-day greats, it is his ability to manage three roles (captain, wicket-keeper and batsman) which is held in such a high regard by critics and fans alike. With a career average above 50, Dhoni&#8217;s record as a captain is even better, averaging an astonishing 54.58 per inning. While much can be attributed towards the fact that he is a lower middle order batsman, but considering his records chasing a target, and actually captains the team by even managing the tiring wicket keeping role, makes us in awe with these stats. He is heads and shoulders above other captains as far as averages is concerned, and this is one aspect which makes him to be regarded as one of the greatest modern-day captains.

Also Read &#8211; <strong><a href="http://goo.gl/N0522Z" target="_blank">Top 10 Captains with most runs in International cricket</a></strong>

<em><strong>(All Stats Updated Till 15th June, 2016)</strong></em>

<p><strong>Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average:</strong> Leading from the front is the real quality of a captain. And for a captain who is also a batsman, average more or less indicates the captain’s contribution for the team. And of course, having a good average and scoring well does not mean he is a great captain by default, but it is a definite parameter to measure a captain’s ability. Captaincy is a big responsibility, and performing in spite of handling the pressure of captaincy is the quality of a true leader.</p>
<h5>In this list, we look at the <strong>Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average&nbsp;(Min. 100 ODIs):</strong></h5>
<h4><strong> 10. Brian Lara – 35.71 (125 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_26072" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26072" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/Brian-Lara-ODI.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-26072" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brian-Lara-ODI.jpg" alt="Brian Lara ODI" width="401" height="265" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-26072" class="wp-caption-text">Brian Lara. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>One of the greatest players ever to play the game, his international tournament trophy tally is sadly empty due to the inconsistent team he had around him. But that doesn’t mean he was not a great captain. He was the primary captain for the West Indies ODI team from 1994 to 2007, often sharing duties with Carl Hooper. He averages a decent 35.71 as a captain, despite being 5 points less than his career average of about 40. He has scored 5 centuries and 18 fifties in 119 innings as captain, showing his consistent performance even with the burden of captaincy.</p>
<h5>Also Read – <strong><a href="http://goo.gl/KQ4YJZ" target="_blank">Top 10 Most successful captains in international Cricket</a></strong></h5>
<h4><strong> 9. Arjuna Ranatunga – 37.63 (193 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_26440" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26440" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/Arjuna-Ranatunga.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-26440" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Arjuna-Ranatunga.jpg" alt="Arjuna Ranatunga" width="401" height="267" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-26440" class="wp-caption-text">Arjuna Ranatunga. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>One of the greatest captains ever to grace the game, Arjuna Ranatunga is the reason behind Sri Lanka’s rise in the cricketing world. Before his tenure as captain, Sri Lanka was usually overlooked as a minnow over Asian giants Pakistan and India. But post his rein, coinciding with a golden period of Lankan cricket, Sri Lanka has become a formidable force in cricket. And Ranatunga&nbsp;always led from the front, averaging an impressive 37.63 in 183 innings he has played. The stats look even more impressive if we consider that he played before 2000s, a period where average above 35 was considered very good in general, leave alone a captain’s average. He has scored 4 centuries and 37 fifties in 183 innings he played as a captain, literally a 50+ score in every 4<sup>th</sup> inning.</p>
<h4><strong>8. Hansie Cronje – 37.68 (138 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_8367" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8367" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/12/Hansie-Cronje.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-8367" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hansie-Cronje.jpg" alt="Hansie Cronje" width="196" height="297" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8367" class="wp-caption-text">Hansie Cronje. (Photo Source: Laurence Griffiths / AllSport UK Ltd)</figcaption></figure>
<p>A player sadly remembered for his controversies than his achievements, Hansie Cronje is the captain who lead the SA team from the front post the end of sport isolation in 1991. A decent all-rounder, he averages a good 37.68 in 128 innings that he batted. Though couldn’t manage a single century, he scored an impressive tally of 31 fifties as a captain. While his overall record might sound unimpressive in comparison to the other players on the list, it is his contribution towards the uprising of the SA team during the 90s which makes this a big deal, and the captain was&nbsp;the driving force under whom greats like Gary Kirsten and Alan Donald flourished.</p>
<h4><strong>7</strong>. <strong>Sourav Ganguly – 38.66 (147 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_20582" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20582" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/Rahul-Dravid-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-20582" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Dravid-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg" alt="Sourav Ganguly – Rahul Dravid" width="420" height="532" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20582" class="wp-caption-text">Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>What Indian cricket team is today is partially due to Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy. He had a reputation for being a fearless and aggressive captain, something which was never expected from an Indian captain. And not only was he a great captain, his batting record is one any batsman would love to have. One of the best openers to have graced the game, he averages 38.66 as a captain in 143 innings. Considering the fact that he was an opener, this average looks even more impressive. He scored 11 hundreds and 30 fifties as a captain, with a highest of 144.</p>
<h4><strong> 6. Sanath Jayasuriya – 38.73 (118 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_6927" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6927" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/Sanath-Jayasuriya.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-6927" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanath-Jayasuriya.jpg" alt="Sanath Jayasuriya" width="397" height="305" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6927" class="wp-caption-text">Sanath Jayasuriya. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The fore-father of the aggressive brand of openers we see today, Jayasuriya was a class apart during his playing days. And his record as a captain is what makes him one of the greatest of his generation. Averaging an impressive 38.73 in 118 innings, and coupled with an impressive strike rate above 80, he stood heads and shoulders above as far as leading from the front was concerned. Taking up the reins post the retirement of Arjuna Ranatunga, he was an inspirational leader, and an even better batsman. He has scored an astonishing 10 centuries and 25 fifties in 118 innings he played as a captain, a 50+ score in every 3<sup>rd</sup> inning in an average. And notwithstanding his performances with the ball, which we are not considering today, he was one of the most underrated captains of ODI cricket and an incredible cricketer.</p>
<h4><strong> 5. Vivian Richards – 38.81 (105 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_8122" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8122" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/12/Sir-Viv-Richards.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-8122" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sir-Viv-Richards.jpg" alt="Sir Viv Richards" width="397" height="285" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8122" class="wp-caption-text">Sir Viv Richards. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The original master blaster took up captaincy post the retirement of Clive Lloyd, and what an incredible performer he was. A player who induced fear into the bowlers, he averaged an incredible 38.81 in 91 innings he has played. And not to forget a god-like strike rate of 92 in an era where 200 was considered a decent score in the shorter formats. While much of the success can be evenly attributed towards the talented team he had at&nbsp;his disposal, his contribution towards the team’s success plays a significant role. His highest score of 189 is considered as one of the greatest ever ODI innings played. He had 3 centuries and 22 fifties to his name while he played as a captain. While this average is significantly low compared to his career average, even then he was heads and shoulders above the batsmen of his generation. While his name rarely pops up in the debate of greatest ever captains, he has done everything required to satisfy the criteria.</p>
<h4><strong> 4. Graeme Smith – 38.96 (150 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_6716" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6716" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/02/SAf-Eng.png"><amp-img class=" wp-image-6716" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/SAf-Eng.png" alt="Graeme Smith" width="396" height="520" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6716" class="wp-caption-text">Graeme Smith. (Photo: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The South African batsman with a somewhat debatable stance, he is widely considered as one of the greatest ever captains to have graced the game. When he was appointed as a captain as a 23-year-old player, many eyebrows were raised with&nbsp;regards to this decision. But fast forward 10 years, he built a team which can give competition to any team on any surface. His performance with the bat shows his true leadership qualities, averaging about 38.96 in 147 innings he played as a captain. While everyone remembers Gibbs’ epic 175 in that chase against Australia, it was Smith’s 90 of just 55 balls which gave the right start for the South African batsmen. That innings aptly sums up Smith’s role as a captain of&nbsp;the team. While he has never hogged the limelight, he steps up when the team needed him the most. He has scored about 8 hundreds and 37 fifties in 147 innings he has played, averaging about a 50+ score in every 3.5 innings.</p>
<h4><strong> 3. Mohammad Azharuddin – 39.39 (174 matches ):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_18485" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-18485" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Mohammed-Azharuddin.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-18485" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammed-Azharuddin.jpg" alt="Most elegant batsmen" width="403" height="299" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-18485" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Azharuddin. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Though he is sadly remembered for the fixing saga of 2000, Mohammad Azharuddin&nbsp;can be widely considered as one of the best batsmen in his generation, especially in the shorter format of the game. Once held the record of the most number of runs by a batsmen in ODIs, he was an inspirational leader for the Indian cricket team, especially in the shorter formats. And an incredible batting average of 39.39 in 162 innings is an indication for the same. While not the most aggressive of the players, he was a solid wall in the Indian middle order, and had wrists anybody would die for. He scored 4 centuries and 37 fifties as a captain in 162 innings, which is quite good considering that he generally came to bat three down, and averaging about a 50+ score in every 4<sup>th</sup> match.</p>
<h4><strong> 2. Ricky Ponting – 42.91 (230 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_19871" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19871" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Ricky-Ponting-ODI.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-19871" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ricky-Ponting-ODI.jpg" alt="Captains with most runs" width="394" height="251" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-19871" class="wp-caption-text">Ricky Ponting. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>A great team needs a great captain to lead from the front, and boy he was good. Ricky Ponting epitomizes the bullish Australia which dominated the world cricket for the better half of 2000s. And his record as a batsman during the time he was captain is a criteria enough to show his abilities to lead from the front. Scoring at an incredible average of 42.91, he has the most number of runs (8497), most 100s (22) and fifties (51) as a captain. The incredible fact is that he has scored 8497 runs bearing the burden of captaincy, that too for nearly a decade, is stuff for the legends. And not to forget his two world cup winning campaigns as a captain. And aptly, he is widely remembered as one of the greatest captains of all time.</p>
<h4><strong>1. MS Dhoni – 54.58 (194 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_22540" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22540" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/MS-Dhoni-ODI-Latest.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-22540" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-ODI-Latest.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni ODI Latest" width="404" height="261" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-22540" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Widely regarded as one of the modern-day greats, it is his ability to manage three roles (captain, wicket-keeper and batsman) which is held in such a high regard by critics and fans alike. With a career average above 50, Dhoni’s&nbsp;record as a captain is even better, averaging an astonishing 54.58 per inning. While much can be attributed towards the fact that he is a lower middle order batsman, but considering his records chasing a target, and actually captains the team by even managing the tiring wicket keeping role, makes us in awe with these stats. He is heads and shoulders above other captains as far as averages is concerned, and this is one aspect which makes him to be regarded as one of the greatest modern-day captains.</p>
<h5>Also Read – <strong><a href="http://goo.gl/N0522Z" target="_blank">Top 10 Captains with most runs in International cricket</a></strong></h5>
<p><em><strong>(All Stats Updated Till 15th June, 2016)</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average:</strong> Leading from the front is the real quality of a captain. And for a captain who is also a batsman, average more or less indicates the captain’s contribution for the team. And of course, having a good average and scoring well does not mean he is a great captain by default, but it is a definite parameter to measure a captain’s ability. Captaincy is a big responsibility, and performing in spite of handling the pressure of captaincy is the quality of a true leader.</p>
<h5>In this list, we look at the <strong>Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average (Min. 100 ODIs):</strong></h5>
<h4><strong> 10. Brian Lara – 35.71 (125 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_26072" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26072" style="width: 401px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/Brian-Lara-ODI.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-26072" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brian-Lara-ODI.jpg" alt="Brian Lara ODI" width="401" height="265" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-26072" class="wp-caption-text">Brian Lara. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>One of the greatest players ever to play the game, his international tournament trophy tally is sadly empty due to the inconsistent team he had around him. But that doesn’t mean he was not a great captain. He was the primary captain for the West Indies ODI team from 1994 to 2007, often sharing duties with Carl Hooper. He averages a decent 35.71 as a captain, despite being 5 points less than his career average of about 40. He has scored 5 centuries and 18 fifties in 119 innings as captain, showing his consistent performance even with the burden of captaincy.</p>
<h5>Also Read &#8211; <strong><a href="http://goo.gl/KQ4YJZ" target="_blank">Top 10 Most successful captains in international Cricket</a></strong></h5>
<h4><strong> 9. Arjuna Ranatunga – 37.63 (193 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_26440" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26440" style="width: 401px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/Arjuna-Ranatunga.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-26440" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Arjuna-Ranatunga.jpg" alt="Arjuna Ranatunga" width="401" height="267" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-26440" class="wp-caption-text">Arjuna Ranatunga. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>One of the greatest captains ever to grace the game, Arjuna Ranatunga is the reason behind Sri Lanka’s rise in the cricketing world. Before his tenure as captain, Sri Lanka was usually overlooked as a minnow over Asian giants Pakistan and India. But post his rein, coinciding with a golden period of Lankan cricket, Sri Lanka has become a formidable force in cricket. And Ranatunga always led from the front, averaging an impressive 37.63 in 183 innings he has played. The stats look even more impressive if we consider that he played before 2000s, a period where average above 35 was considered very good in general, leave alone a captain’s average. He has scored 4 centuries and 37 fifties in 183 innings he played as a captain, literally a 50+ score in every 4<sup>th</sup> inning.</p>
<h4><strong>8. Hansie Cronje – 37.68 (138 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_8367" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8367" style="width: 196px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/12/Hansie-Cronje.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-8367" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hansie-Cronje.jpg" alt="Hansie Cronje" width="196" height="297"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8367" class="wp-caption-text">Hansie Cronje. (Photo Source: Laurence Griffiths / AllSport UK Ltd)</figcaption></figure>
<p>A player sadly remembered for his controversies than his achievements, Hansie Cronje is the captain who lead the SA team from the front post the end of sport isolation in 1991. A decent all-rounder, he averages a good 37.68 in 128 innings that he batted. Though couldn’t manage a single century, he scored an impressive tally of 31 fifties as a captain. While his overall record might sound unimpressive in comparison to the other players on the list, it is his contribution towards the uprising of the SA team during the 90s which makes this a big deal, and the captain was the driving force under whom greats like Gary Kirsten and Alan Donald flourished.</p>
<h4><strong>7</strong>. <strong>Sourav Ganguly – 38.66 (147 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_20582" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20582" style="width: 420px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/Rahul-Dravid-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-20582" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Dravid-Sourav-Ganguly.jpg" alt="Sourav Ganguly – Rahul Dravid" width="420" height="532" sizes="(max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20582" class="wp-caption-text">Sourav Ganguly. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>What Indian cricket team is today is partially due to Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy. He had a reputation for being a fearless and aggressive captain, something which was never expected from an Indian captain. And not only was he a great captain, his batting record is one any batsman would love to have. One of the best openers to have graced the game, he averages 38.66 as a captain in 143 innings. Considering the fact that he was an opener, this average looks even more impressive. He scored 11 hundreds and 30 fifties as a captain, with a highest of 144.</p>
<h4><strong> 6. Sanath Jayasuriya – 38.73 (118 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_6927" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6927" style="width: 397px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/Sanath-Jayasuriya.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-6927" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanath-Jayasuriya.jpg" alt="Sanath Jayasuriya" width="397" height="305" sizes="(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6927" class="wp-caption-text">Sanath Jayasuriya. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The fore-father of the aggressive brand of openers we see today, Jayasuriya was a class apart during his playing days. And his record as a captain is what makes him one of the greatest of his generation. Averaging an impressive 38.73 in 118 innings, and coupled with an impressive strike rate above 80, he stood heads and shoulders above as far as leading from the front was concerned. Taking up the reins post the retirement of Arjuna Ranatunga, he was an inspirational leader, and an even better batsman. He has scored an astonishing 10 centuries and 25 fifties in 118 innings he played as a captain, a 50+ score in every 3<sup>rd</sup> inning in an average. And notwithstanding his performances with the ball, which we are not considering today, he was one of the most underrated captains of ODI cricket and an incredible cricketer.</p>
<h4><strong> 5. Vivian Richards – 38.81 (105 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_8122" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8122" style="width: 397px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/12/Sir-Viv-Richards.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-8122" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sir-Viv-Richards.jpg" alt="Sir Viv Richards" width="397" height="285" sizes="(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8122" class="wp-caption-text">Sir Viv Richards. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The original master blaster took up captaincy post the retirement of Clive Lloyd, and what an incredible performer he was. A player who induced fear into the bowlers, he averaged an incredible 38.81 in 91 innings he has played. And not to forget a god-like strike rate of 92 in an era where 200 was considered a decent score in the shorter formats. While much of the success can be evenly attributed towards the talented team he had at his disposal, his contribution towards the team&#8217;s success plays a significant role. His highest score of 189 is considered as one of the greatest ever ODI innings played. He had 3 centuries and 22 fifties to his name while he played as a captain. While this average is significantly low compared to his career average, even then he was heads and shoulders above the batsmen of his generation. While his name rarely pops up in the debate of greatest ever captains, he has done everything required to satisfy the criteria.</p>
<h4><strong> 4. Graeme Smith – 38.96 (150 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_6716" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6716" style="width: 396px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/02/SAf-Eng.png"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-6716" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/SAf-Eng.png" alt="Graeme Smith" width="396" height="520" sizes="(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6716" class="wp-caption-text">Graeme Smith. (Photo: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The South African batsman with a somewhat debatable stance, he is widely considered as one of the greatest ever captains to have graced the game. When he was appointed as a captain as a 23-year-old player, many eyebrows were raised with regards to this decision. But fast forward 10 years, he built a team which can give competition to any team on any surface. His performance with the bat shows his true leadership qualities, averaging about 38.96 in 147 innings he played as a captain. While everyone remembers Gibbs’ epic 175 in that chase against Australia, it was Smith’s 90 of just 55 balls which gave the right start for the South African batsmen. That innings aptly sums up Smith’s role as a captain of the team. While he has never hogged the limelight, he steps up when the team needed him the most. He has scored about 8 hundreds and 37 fifties in 147 innings he has played, averaging about a 50+ score in every 3.5 innings.</p>
<h4><strong> 3. Mohammad Azharuddin – 39.39 (174 matches ):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_18485" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-18485" style="width: 403px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Mohammed-Azharuddin.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-18485" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammed-Azharuddin.jpg" alt="Most elegant batsmen" width="403" height="299" sizes="(max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-18485" class="wp-caption-text">Mohammad Azharuddin. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Though he is sadly remembered for the fixing saga of 2000, Mohammad Azharuddin can be widely considered as one of the best batsmen in his generation, especially in the shorter format of the game. Once held the record of the most number of runs by a batsmen in ODIs, he was an inspirational leader for the Indian cricket team, especially in the shorter formats. And an incredible batting average of 39.39 in 162 innings is an indication for the same. While not the most aggressive of the players, he was a solid wall in the Indian middle order, and had wrists anybody would die for. He scored 4 centuries and 37 fifties as a captain in 162 innings, which is quite good considering that he generally came to bat three down, and averaging about a 50+ score in every 4<sup>th</sup> match.</p>
<h4><strong> 2. Ricky Ponting – 42.91 (230 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_19871" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19871" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/05/Ricky-Ponting-ODI.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-19871" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ricky-Ponting-ODI.jpg" alt="Captains with most runs" width="394" height="251" sizes="(max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-19871" class="wp-caption-text">Ricky Ponting. (© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>A great team needs a great captain to lead from the front, and boy he was good. Ricky Ponting epitomizes the bullish Australia which dominated the world cricket for the better half of 2000s. And his record as a batsman during the time he was captain is a criteria enough to show his abilities to lead from the front. Scoring at an incredible average of 42.91, he has the most number of runs (8497), most 100s (22) and fifties (51) as a captain. The incredible fact is that he has scored 8497 runs bearing the burden of captaincy, that too for nearly a decade, is stuff for the legends. And not to forget his two world cup winning campaigns as a captain. And aptly, he is widely remembered as one of the greatest captains of all time.</p>
<h4><strong>1. MS Dhoni &#8211; 54.58 (194 matches):</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_22540" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22540" style="width: 404px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/MS-Dhoni-ODI-Latest.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-22540" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-ODI-Latest.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni ODI Latest" width="404" height="261" sizes="(max-width: 404px) 100vw, 404px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-22540" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Widely regarded as one of the modern-day greats, it is his ability to manage three roles (captain, wicket-keeper and batsman) which is held in such a high regard by critics and fans alike. With a career average above 50, Dhoni&#8217;s record as a captain is even better, averaging an astonishing 54.58 per inning. While much can be attributed towards the fact that he is a lower middle order batsman, but considering his records chasing a target, and actually captains the team by even managing the tiring wicket keeping role, makes us in awe with these stats. He is heads and shoulders above other captains as far as averages is concerned, and this is one aspect which makes him to be regarded as one of the greatest modern-day captains.</p>
<h5>Also Read &#8211; <strong><a href="http://goo.gl/N0522Z" target="_blank">Top 10 Captains with most runs in International cricket</a></strong></h5>
<p><em><strong>(All Stats Updated Till 15th June, 2016)</strong></em></p>

Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average

Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average: Leading from the front is the real quality of a captain. And for a captain who is also a batsman, average more or.

Top 10 Captains with highest ODI average

1. MS Dhoni – 54.58 (194 matches):

Also Read – Top 10 Captains with most runs in International cricket