From Virat Kohli to Sourav Ganguly: List of India captains to win most matches Won in England

The highly anticipated Test series between India and England is just around the corner, set to start on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. This series marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both India and England, and both teams will be eager to start their campaign with a victory. India will be under the leadership of a new captain, Shubman Gill, as the young cricketer embarks on his journey as the team's leader in the Test format. Throughout history, India has been led by several distinguished captains on English soil. Let's have a look at the list of Indian skippers who notched most wins in England:

One win- Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, a former captain of the Indian Test team, holds the fifth position in terms of wins in England, with a single victory across the three Test matches where he served as captain. This win came during India's tour of England in 2002, a series that comprised four Test matches in total. Despite starting the series with a loss in the first Test and drawing the second, Ganguly's leadership saw India clinch a memorable victory in the third Test at Headingley. The final Test of the tour, played at the Kennington Oval, also ended in a draw. Consequently, Sourav Ganguly's overall captaincy record in England stands at one win, one loss, and two draws.
 

One Win- Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid also features on this list, notably as the captain who led India to their last Test series victory in England back in 2007. During that tour, India played a three-match series against the hosts. The first Test at Lord's concluded in a draw, setting the stage for a crucial encounter at Trent Bridge, where India secured a victory. The third and final Test also ended in a draw, allowing Rahul Dravid to achieve the distinction of winning a Test series in England with a 1-0 result. His overall Test captaincy record in England includes one win and two draws.

One Win- Ajit Wadekar

Ajit Wadekar, a pivotal figure in Indian cricket history, also secured one Test victory as captain on English soil. Often credited with putting Team India on a path to success, Wadekar showcased his astute leadership during the 1971 series. While two matches on that tour ended in draws, the series was defined by a remarkable triumph at the Oval. In a historic moment, Wadekar led the Indian team to a decisive victory, marking their first-ever Test match win in England. His overall captaincy record in England reflects one win and two draws.

2 wins- Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev, regarded as one of India's most inspirational captains, secured two memorable Test victories on English soil. The 1986 tour is often remembered for India's dominant performance under his leadership. In this series, Kapil Dev guided the team to victories in both Headingley and Lord's, resulting in a series win for India. Key players like Kapil Dev himself and Dilip Vengsarkar played pivotal roles, leading from the front and creating a significant moment in Indian cricket history.

3 wins- Virat Kohli

Despite not winning a Test series in England, Virat Kohli holds the distinction of leading India to three Test victories on English soil. While the team faced a series loss in 2018, they managed to secure a win at Trent Bridge under his captaincy. However, Kohli's most successful period in England came in 2021. During that tour, India registered memorable wins at both Lord's and the Oval before the series was unfortunately suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Virat Kohli's overall Test captaincy record in England stands at four losses, three wins, and one draw.