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Captain's Knock: IPL Skippers and Champions

This IPL captains quiz is about the skippers behind every title race, from the first season in 2008 to the 2026 final, with 15 questions on the captains who lifted the trophy and the ones who came close.

15 questionsMedium~3 minNo timer

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About this IPL Captains quiz

This IPL captains quiz covers the men who led their teams through the Indian Premier League's title races from 2008 to 2026: the winning captains, the losing finalists, the mid-season handovers and the franchises that waited years for a trophy. The 15 questions reward people who follow cricket closely but give enough clues for casual fans to reason their way through.

It works well as a sports round at an office quiz, a college fest or a family IPL watch party. Questions run from the first season, when one franchise had a captain who was also its coach, to the 2026 season, so both long-time fans and newer viewers get their share. Each answer has a short note.

Captaincy in a T20 league is a mix of tactics, auction strategy and man-management, and some of the most successful leaders were not the biggest names in their sides. Several franchises changed captains mid-season, and a few champions were in their first year in the job, which makes the history of IPL captaincy full of surprises.

IPL Captains questions with answers

Show answers

  1. The cheapest franchise, with Warne as captain and coach, won IPL 2008. Which team?

    A close-up portrait of a smiling man with spiky blond-tipped hair in a navy suit and white shirt.
    Photo: Tourism Victoria from Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    • Rajasthan Royals
    • Deccan Chargers
    • Chennai Super Kings
    • Kolkata Knight Riders

    Answer: Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan Royals were bought for US$67 million, the lowest of the eight, and still won it all.

  2. Rohit won five IPL titles as Mumbai captain. Who is the only other skipper with five?

    A batsman in blue kit plays a shot while fielders in dark shirts stand around him on a green field.
    Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    • Gautam Gambhir
    • David Warner
    • MS Dhoni
    • Virat Kohli

    Answer: MS Dhoni. MS Dhoni matched him with Chennai, the fifth coming in 2023. As of 2026 no other captain has more than two.

  3. Before becoming India's head coach, he led KKR to titles in 2012 and 2014. Who?

    • Shreyas Iyer
    • Dinesh Karthik
    • Sourav Ganguly
    • Gautam Gambhir

    Answer: Gautam Gambhir. Gautam Gambhir won both as captain, then came back as KKR mentor for the 2024 title.

  4. He won IPL 2024 with KKR, then took a different team to the 2025 final. Which one?

    • Punjab Kings
    • Royal Challengers Bengaluru
    • Lucknow Super Giants
    • Delhi Capitals

    Answer: Punjab Kings. Shreyas Iyer took Punjab Kings to their first final since 2014, where RCB beat them.

  5. Unsold at the 2022 auction, he joined RCB as an injury replacement. In 2025 he captained them to the title. Who?

    • Faf du Plessis
    • Krunal Pandya
    • Virat Kohli
    • Rajat Patidar

    Answer: Rajat Patidar. Rajat Patidar ended RCB's 18-year wait in his very first season in charge.

  6. Brand new team, first season, first title in 2022. Who captained Gujarat Titans?

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    Photo: Helfmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    • Shubman Gill
    • KL Rahul
    • Rashid Khan
    • Hardik Pandya

    Answer: Hardik Pandya. Hardik Pandya lifted the trophy in Gujarat Titans' debut season, at home in Ahmedabad.

  7. An Australian opener led SRH to the 2016 title, beating RCB in Bengaluru. Who?

    A wide view of a cricket ground with yellow seats, floodlight towers and a green outfield.
    Photo: Aniket Suryavanshi from Solapur, India, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    • David Warner
    • Pat Cummins
    • Kumar Sangakkara
    • Kane Williamson

    Answer: David Warner. David Warner captained SRH to their only title so far, as of 2026.

  8. In 2013, Mumbai's captain dropped himself after six games and handed over to Rohit. Who?

    • Sachin Tendulkar
    • Kieron Pollard
    • Harbhajan Singh
    • Ricky Ponting

    Answer: Ricky Ponting. Ricky Ponting stepped aside, and Rohit led MI to their first title that same year.

  9. Ten finals, five of them won. As of 2026, which franchise has reached more IPL finals than any other?

    • Royal Challengers Bengaluru
    • Kolkata Knight Riders
    • Chennai Super Kings
    • Mumbai Indians

    Answer: Chennai Super Kings. Chennai Super Kings have reached 10 IPL finals, winning in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023.

  10. RCB won the IPL in 2025 and again in 2026. Which two teams had already won back-to-back titles before them?

    • Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad
    • Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians
    • Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders
    • Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans

    Answer: Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Chennai won in 2010 and 2011, and Mumbai in 2019 and 2020. Rajat Patidar captained RCB in both of their title seasons.

  11. He took 4 for 16 and was Player of the Match in the 2009 final, yet his RCB side still lost. Who was RCB's captain that night?

    • Rahul Dravid
    • Anil Kumble
    • Kevin Pietersen
    • Virat Kohli

    Answer: Anil Kumble. Anil Kumble, who had taken over from Kevin Pietersen during that season.

  12. Which wicketkeeper-captain took Rajasthan Royals to the 2022 final, their first since Warne's side won in 2008?

    • Jos Buttler
    • Sanju Samson
    • Steve Smith
    • Ajinkya Rahane

    Answer: Sanju Samson. Sanju Samson, who had become Rajasthan's captain in 2021.

  13. England's 2019 World Cup-winning captain led Kolkata to the 2021 final in Dubai. Who?

    • Dinesh Karthik
    • Andre Russell
    • Eoin Morgan
    • Brendon McCullum

    Answer: Eoin Morgan. Eoin Morgan, who had taken over from Dinesh Karthik during the 2020 season.

  14. Mumbai reached their first final in 2010 and lost to Chennai at the DY Patil Stadium. Which batting legend was their captain?

    • Sachin Tendulkar
    • Harbhajan Singh
    • Shaun Pollock
    • Rohit Sharma

    Answer: Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin Tendulkar. Mumbai's first title came three years later, under Rohit Sharma.

  15. In March 2024 Dhoni handed over the Chennai captaincy a day before the season began. Who took over?

    • Ravindra Jadeja
    • Ruturaj Gaikwad
    • Shivam Dube
    • Devon Conway

    Answer: Ruturaj Gaikwad. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had led India to Asian Games gold in 2023. Jadeja had tried the job in 2022 and stepped down after eight games.

Frequently asked questions

When did the IPL start?

The Indian Premier League began in April 2008 with eight franchises, and the first final was played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

How many teams play in the IPL now?

Ten teams have played each season since 2022, when Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants joined the league.

Is this IPL quiz up to date?

Yes. It was checked in October 2026 and includes the 2026 season. Facts that can change, such as the most finals reached, are marked 'as of 2026' in the answers.