Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced his support for the appointment of overseas captains in the Indian Premier League, stating that franchises should prioritise leadership qualities over nationality when selecting their skipper.
Manjrekar pointed out that several Indian captains have struggled to make an impact in recent IPL seasons, proving that being an Indian player does not automatically translate into captaincy success.
“I think we’ve also seen a lot of Indian captains struggle. You mentioned players like Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant. There have been quite a few Indian captains who haven’t quite delivered,” Manjrekar said in a conversation with Sportstar.
The former batter emphasised that franchises should focus on identifying the best leader available, especially in a format as demanding and fast-paced as T20 cricket. According to him, a captain’s ability to lead the side should take precedence over where he comes from.
“My philosophy is simple: in T20 cricket, you need the best captain available. If that happens to be a foreign player, then so be it. David Warner captained successfully, Pat Cummins has done it as well,” he said.
While advocating for merit-based captaincy appointments, former Mumbai batter acknowledged that IPL teams often have to consider factors beyond cricket. He hinted that an Indian captain can significantly enhance a franchise’s marketability and help establish a stronger connection with fans.
“That said, there is a non-cricketing reason why franchises often prefer Indian captains. An Indian captain becomes the face of the franchise and strengthens the brand,” he explained.
Manjrekar added that franchises must strike the right balance between building a recognisable brand and achieving success on the field.
“Ultimately, franchises have to decide what is better for the brand and what is better for winning titles. Ideally, the captain should be someone who is genuinely a good leader, regardless of nationality,” he said.
The 59-year-old further highlighted how captaincy can shape a franchise’s identity and influence its popularity among supporters.
“But let’s not forget that the IPL is also about brand value. An Indian captain naturally attracts more attention. Having someone like Rishabh Pant associated with a franchise, or Virat Kohli leading RCB in the past, creates a different dynamic and gives the team a stronger identity,” he concluded.
In IPL’s history, only three foreign captains have led their respective team to a championship. Shane Warne led Rajasthan Royals to an IPL victory in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, Adam Gilchrist won the IPL with Deccan Chargers in 2009, while David Warner led SRH to victory in IPL 2016.
