Leading the Indian cricket team is considered one of the biggest responsibilities in international cricket. While several players have enjoyed winning starts to their leadership careers, some have had to deal with disappointing results in their very first matches in charge.
Interestingly, a similar pattern has emerged among three Indian players who failed to win either of their first ODI or T20I matches as captain. The latest addition to this list was Shreyas Iyer, who came after India’s heavy defeat in New Zealand, which extended an unwanted record involving two former Indian leaders.
Indian players who suffered defeats in both ODI and T20I captaincy debuts
1. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli’s first assignment as India’s ODI captain came during a tri-nation series match against Sri Lanka in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 2, 2013. He was standing in for the injured MS Dhoni and won the toss before electing to field. However, Sri Lanka made full use of the opportunity and posted a massive 348/1, with Upul Tharanga scoring an unbeaten 174 and Mahela Jayawardene also registering a century. India had a difficult time in the chase as Kohli himself managed just two runs off five deliveries. India were eventually bowled out for 187, suffering a heavy 161-run defeat in Kohli’s first match as ODI captain.
Nearly four years later, Kohli made his T20I captaincy debut against England in Kanpur on January 26, 2017. It was also his first assignment as full-time white-ball captain after taking over the leadership from Dhoni. Opening the batting, Kohli scored 29 off 26 deliveries, but India could only manage 147/7 on a sluggish surface. England comfortably chased down the target with 11 balls to spare, securing a seven-wicket victory and handing Kohli another defeat.
2. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill’s first match as India’s T20I captain came against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 6, 2024. The series followed India’s T20 World Cup triumph and featured a young Indian squad, with Gill taking charge of the team. India won the toss and elected to bowl, restricting the hosts to 115/9 in their 20 overs. Gill top-scored with 31 off 29 deliveries, but received little support from the other end as India were bowled out for 102. Zimbabwe secured a 13-run victory, handing Gill a disappointing start to his T20I captaincy journey.
Gill later made his ODI captaincy debut against Australia at Perth Stadium on October 19, 2025, after being appointed India’s full-time skipper in the format. The rain-affected match was reduced to 26 overs per side, and Australia made good use of the conditions to put India under pressure. Gill managed only 10 off 18 deliveries as India finished with 136/9. Australia were set a revised target of 131 under the DLS method and chased it down comfortably in 21.1 overs. The hosts registered a seven-wicket victory, leaving Gill without a win in either of his first two matches as India’s captain in the white-ball formats.
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3. Shreyas Iyer
Iyer became the latest Indian player to join this unwanted list after losing his first T20I match as captain against Ireland in Belfast on June 26, 2026. Ireland batted first and posted a competitive 182/9, putting India under pressure in the chase. Despite a quickfire 49 from Abhishek Sharma, India’s batting lineup failed to maintain the required momentum and was eventually bowled out for 148 in 18.5 overs. Ireland registered a 34-run victory, marking their first-ever win against India in international cricket.
Iyer’s first ODI match as captain proved even more difficult as India suffered a crushing 244-run defeat against New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 13, 2026. Standing in for Gill, who was rested ahead of the upcoming Test series, Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl. New Zealand posted 333, with Will Young scoring a century, before Matt Henry wreaked havoc with the Indian top order. Iyer was dismissed for a golden duck, while India were bowled out for just 89 in 26.4 overs, giving Iyer a second defeat in his first ODI and T20I matches as India’s captain.
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