Former India batter Ambati Rayudu set off a storm with his viral blind ranking of Indian cricket captains, placing MS Dhoni at No. 1 while controversially slotting Virat Kohli in fifth. The video challenge, which required him to rank without knowing the next names, quickly became a talking point across social media as fans dissected his choices.
Rayudu’s final list had Dhoni leading the pack, followed by Rohit Sharma, Sourav Ganguly, and Kapil Dev, with Kohli surprisingly at fifth and Mohammad Azharuddin last. He justified Dhoni’s placement by pointing to his unmatched trophy cabinet and calm leadership across formats, calling him “the complete captain.” Rohit’s position at second reflected his recent success in ICC tournaments and consistent white-ball dominance, while Ganguly earned third for revolutionizing India’s aggressive mindset in the early 2000s.
What drew most attention was Kohli’s low rank. Rayudu clarified that while Kohli would rank in the top two as a Test captain, his overall record lacked ICC titles, which weighed against him in this all-format assessment. Despite that explanation, the decision sparked backlash from fans who highlighted Kohli’s role in making India a dominant Test side and his win percentage across formats.
The debate underscored how captaincy legacies are judged differently: some value silverware and composure under pressure, others the cultural shift and competitive edge a leader brings. Dhoni’s blend of trophies and temperament gave him the nod, but Kohli’s lower ranking stirred passionate defenses of his era.
Rayudu’s list may have been framed as a fun exercise, but its impact shows how deeply leadership legacies are intertwined with emotion in Indian cricket. It also reignited the age-old Dhoni versus Kohli debate, proving that in cricket-mad India, even a lighthearted ranking can spark a national conversation.