While the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen numerous iconic captains such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, former Indian pacer RP Singh has named former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist as his favorite IPL captain of all time.
During a recent interaction with JioCinema, Singh spoke about his experience of playing under Gilchrist’s leadership at the Deccan Chargers. Despite having played for various franchises under the captaincy of Dhoni, Kohli, and Sharma, Singh chose Gilchrist as the best captain he’s ever played under in the IPL.
Singh fondly recalled the turnaround Deccan Chargers experienced under Gilchrist’s captaincy. “My favorite is Adam Gilchrist. He was a former Australian captain and was the leader of the Deccan Chargers for three years. He was a favorite because, in the first year, we finished at the bottom, but the next year we bounced back and turned the tables around. We were at the top,” said RP Singh.
Under Gilchrist’s leadership, Deccan Chargers lifted the IPL trophy in 2009, showcasing the Aussie’s exceptional captaincy skills. Singh, who was the highest wicket-taker of the 2009 IPL edition with 23 wickets in 16 games, was a crucial part of the team’s success.
Throughout his IPL career, RP Singh represented various franchises such as Deccan Chargers, Kochi Tuskers, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Rising Pune Super Giants. Despite playing under prominent captains like Dhoni, Kohli, Harbhajan Singh, and Mahela Jayawardene, Singh maintained that Gilchrist was the standout leader for him.
Adam Gilchrist’s unassuming yet transformative leadership at the Deccan Chargers highlights the diverse array of captaincy styles that have found success in the IPL. While Dhoni, Kohli, and Sharma often steal the spotlight, Singh’s praise for Gilchrist is a testament to the Aussie legend’s indelible impact on the league’s history.