Cricket is an unforgiving game they say. But, what is often left unsaid are the stories of those players, who in spite of their best efforts are not able to get their team to an ICC Tournament during their stint as the captain of the side. And, here we bring to you a look at the names of 5 such players who in spite of being great individual performers, could not get their national team to the pole position in an ICC Tournament.
1. Mahela Jayawardene
One of the most prolific batsmen that Sri Lankan cricket has ever seen, Mahela Jayawardene, in spite of being on the better side of things as the captain, could not bring home an ICC Trophy, and the title of the winners of an ICC Tournament.
In the 38 Tests, 126 One Day Internationals and 19 T20 Internationals he captained Sri Lanka in, the team won 18 Tests, 68 One Dayers and 12 T20Is, which by no means are bad numbers. But, the one void that remains is that of an ICC Tournament win.
2. Graeme Smith
The iconic batsman and captain of the Proteas, a team that has in the past ruled the shorter formats of the game, Graeme Smith, is a part of the line of the South African captains who have not been able to breach the fortress of an ICC Tournament win.
In spite of having led his national team in 108 Tests, 149 ODIs and 27 T20Is, out of which they won 53 Tests, 92 ODIs and 18 T20Is, and their team seemed to have been in contention of reaching the pole position. But, in the end, things have got out of hand for them.
3. Inzamam-ul-Haq
An accomplished player himself, the one who took the responsibility of leading his nation’s team from the front in every game, Inzamam-ul-Haq, fondly called as ‘Inzy Bhai’ by his fans and friends, much to their dismay, during his stint as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team, could not lead his team through to an ICC Tournament win.
He enjoyed a 58.62 per cent win rate in the 87 ODIs he captained Pakistan in, and in Tests, 35.48 per cent win rate, off 31 games, which is in no sense short of brilliance.
4. AB de Villiers
‘Mr. 360’, Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, led the South African team in a handful of international matches, which add up to be 103 ODIs, 18 T20 Internationals and a modest 3 Test matches. And, under his regime, the team and he himself performed relatively well.
But, as it continues to be the state today, the South African team has not managed to win an ICC Tournament, not even when de Villiers was the captain of the team.
5. Virat Kohli
Arguably the best batsman on this list and an equally capable captain who was conquered every terrain that came his way, Virat Kohli, carrying the hopes of a billion fans, is yet to win an ICC tournament. He has come within touching distance of an ICC Trophy on many occasions, including the Finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy, and the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
But, somehow in the final stretch, he tends to lose track of things and eventually get close, yet stay far from becoming an ICC Tournament winning captain.
