Domestic Title-Winners Denied IPL Captaincy Roles

Ishan Kishan's captaincy credentials are hard to ignore. He guided Jharkhand to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and recently led East Zone to the Duleep Trophy final. Despite a win rate of 79% in domestic cricket, he has only served as a stand-in skipper for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, stepping aside when Pat Cummins returned.

Mandeep Singh enjoyed similar success in the SMAT, leading Punjab to their maiden title in 2023-24. His 66% win rate across 53 matches is impressive, yet he never captained an IPL side in 98 appearances. Manoj Tiwary, a seasoned campaigner, also never got the chance to lead a franchise despite his domestic achievements.

These examples highlight a recurring pattern: proven leaders in domestic cricket are often sidelined when it comes to IPL captaincy. The question remains whether franchises are missing out on ready-made leadership talent.