From Ajinkya Rahane to Shreyas Iyer, 5 captains who have led three teams in IPL history

Shreyas Iyer's captaincy journey in the Indian Premier League began in 2018 with Delhi Capitals. He later moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2022, where he captained the franchise for two seasons. Despite successfully leading KKR to an IPL title triumph in 2024, the team subsequently released Iyer.

Shreyas Iyer was acquired by Punjab Kings for a substantial sum of Rs 26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega-auction, and he was subsequently appointed as their captain. Under Iyer's leadership, Punjab Kings have been in excellent form this season.

Ajinkya Rahane is another captain on this list. This seasoned Indian cricketer had a brief stint leading the Rising Pune Supergiant for a single match in IPL 2017. He then took the captaincy reins for the Rajasthan Royals in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Currently, in the IPL 2025, Rahane is at the helm of the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Steve Smith has a notable captaincy record in the IPL, having led Rajasthan Royals, Pune Warriors, and Rising Pune Supergiant. He experienced a successful stint as the captain of RPS, guiding them to the final of the IPL 2017 season. However, despite his leadership credentials, Smith has remained unsold in the IPL mega-auctions since 2022.

During his time in the Indian Premier League, Mahela Jayawardene took on the captaincy for three different franchises, Punjab Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, and Delhi Capitals. The legendary Sri Lankan cricketer currently holds the position of head coach for the Mumbai Indians. Under his guidance, Mumbai Indians have achieved significant success, winning three IPL titles.

Before concluding his IPL career, Kumar Sangakkara also held the captaincy for three different franchises in IPL. He led Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Deccan Chargers during his time as a player. Currently, Sangakkara remains involved with the IPL, serving as the director of cricket for the Rajasthan Royals.