Image: Which captain is considered the best in the World Test Championship? / © Hindustan Times
Captaincy in Test cricket is often seen as one of the toughest jobs in the world, requiring sharp tactics and leadership over five days to get the best from a team. In countries like India, Australia, and England, Test captains are highly respected. The World Test Championship (WTC), starting in 2019, has showcased successful captains like Pat Cummins, Ben Stokes, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, who have led their teams with skill and determination. Pat Cummins, leading Australia from 2021 to 2025, captained 35 Tests, winning 20 and losing 8, with 6 draws.
His win/loss ratio of 2.50 and 71.42% win contribution highlight his dominance, guiding Australia to the 2021-2023 WTC title. Ben Stokes, England’s captain from 2020 to 2025, led 30 Tests, securing 18 wins and 11 losses, with a 1.63 win/loss ratio and 62.06% win contribution. His aggressive “Bazball” approach transformed England’s Test fortunes. Virat Kohli, captaining India from 2019 to 2022, led 22 Tests, winning 14 and losing 7, with a 2.00 win/loss ratio and 66.66% win contribution. Let’s take a look at the detailed analysis now.
Pat Cummins at 32, has been an amazing addition for Australia since grabbing the Test captaincy in 2021. With 20 wins, 8 losses, and 6 draws in 35 Tests, he’s rocking a 2.50 win/loss ratio and 71.42% win contribution. His fast bowling is pure fire, but his brain for tactics is what sets him apart. In 2022, he pulled off a miracle series win in Pakistan, sniffing out ways to crack those dead pitches with crafty bowling switches.
| Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | NR | W/L | %W | %L | %Tied | %Draw | Win Contribution (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–2025 | 35 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2.50 | 57.14 | 22.85 | – | 17.14 | 71.42 |
The 2022 Sri Lanka draw showed his boys could gut it out on spin-crazy wickets. In the 2021 and 2023 Ashes, he stared down England’s best, nailing draws with gutsy calls. His golden moment? Leading Australia to the 2023 World Test Championship title against India, a win that screamed his smarts. Even after South Africa pipped them in the 2025 WTC final, Cummins’s 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win over India was a banger.
He’s calm as a cucumber but leads like a lion, his fiery spells matched by a knack for keeping everyone on point. Cummins knows when to swing for the fences or play the long game, making Australia a Test beast. His leadership feels like it’s straight from the heart, and he’s carving out a legacy as one of Australia’s all-time great skippers.
Ben Stokes has turned Test cricket into a thrill ride since taking England’s helm in 2020. He’s got 18 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw in 30 Tests, with a 1.63 win/loss ratio and 62.06% win contribution. His “Bazball” vibe with coach Brendon McCullum is all about swinging big and playing fearless, making England a blast to watch. Stokes lets guys like Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow cut loose, tossing out Test cricket’s stuffy playbook. The 2023 Ashes were a proper ride for him as his bold moves snagged a draw against a tough Aussie side.
| Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | NR | W/L | %W | %L | %Tied | %Draw | Win Contribution (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–2025 | 30 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.63 | 60.00 | 36.66 | – | 3.33 | 62.06 |
In 2022, he bossed a series win in Pakistan, throwing aggressive tactics at spin-heavy wickets. As an all-rounder, Stokes is the heart of the team, setting wild fields and egging his bowlers to hunt wickets. His 18 wins, including New Zealand and South Africa, show he’s not just talk. Stokes’s vibe is electric and he’s got his team playing with pure swagger. Bazball’s more than a game plan; it’s a whole attitude that’s flipped Test cricket on its head.
Whether he’s smashing runs or firing up his crew, Stokes thrives when the heat’s on. England’s a nightmare for opponents under him, and he’s rewriting how Tests are played. His leadership’s all guts and glory, making him a captain who’s got the cricket world buzzing with every ballsy call he makes.
Virat Kohli ran India’s Test team from 2019 to 2022 with a fire you could feel from the stands. In 22 Tests, he racked up 14 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw, a 2.00 win/loss ratio and 66.66% win contribution. His 63.63% win rate was pure dominance, especially at home. Kohli’s passion turned India into a wrecking ball. The 2021 England tour, ending 2-2, showed they could brawl overseas.
| Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | NR | W/L | %W | %L | %Tied | %Draw | Win Contribution (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–2022 | 22 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 | 63.63 | 31.81 | – | 4.54 | 66.66 |
In 2022, he steamrolled South Africa at home, outsmarting them with killer tactics. India was a fortress under him, thanks to his faith in guns like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin, who tore teams apart. Kohli had an eye for young talent and knew when to attack or hold tight. His 14 wins, even without a 2021-2023 WTC title, scream impact. The England and South Africa series showed India’s new backbone. He led with his whole heart, demanding his team play with the same fire.
His game plans were sharp, always a step ahead, like he could see the game unfold before it did. Kohli didn’t just chase wins as he built a squad that could stare down anyone, anywhere. His legacy is that relentless drive, turning India into a Test monster. He set a bar so high it’s still the benchmark, proving a captain’s spirit can change a team’s DNA for good.
Rohit Sharma led India from 2022 to 2024, stepping down in May 2025, and brought a fresh spark to Test cricket. In 24 Tests, he nabbed 12 wins, 9 losses, and 3 draws, a 1.33 win/loss ratio and 57.14% win contribution. His 50% win rate came from a bold, go-for-it style. Rohit made India play fast and loose, shaking up their Test mojo. The 2024 South Africa series draw proved his team could scrap on tough wickets.
| Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | NR | W/L | %W | %L | %Tied | %Draw | Win Contribution (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2024 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1.33 | 50.00 | 37.50 | – | 12.50 | 57.14 |
But the 4-1 home win over England in 2024? That was his masterpiece, India’s batters and bowlers just flattened them. Rohit backed players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jasprit Bumrah, setting fields that kept opponents sweating. His chill vibe hid a fierce hunger, shining in big moments. Those 12 wins, especially the England thrashing, show his clout. Rohit didn’t just captain as he got his team to play with flair, no fear.
His leadership mixed laid-back smarts with a killer instinct. The South Africa draw and England rout proved he could balance gutsy calls with staying cool. Rohit’s legacy is an India that plays with swagger, stronger and bolder than ever. He left the team with a new edge, showing a captain can be calm and still set Test cricket alight, ready to take on any fight with a grin and a game plan.
Joe Root captained England from 2019 to 2022 through some rough patches, leading 32 Tests with 12 wins, 13 losses, and 7 draws, a 0.92 win/loss ratio and 48.00% win contribution. His 37.50% win rate reflects a tough gig, but his batting kept England in the hunt. The 2019 Ashes were his shining moment as his runs carried the team to a 2-2 draw against a brutal Aussie side.
| Player | Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | NR | W/L | %W | %L | %Tied | %Draw | Win Contribution (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PJ Cummins (AUS) | 2021–2025 | 35 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2.50 | 57.14 | 22.85 | – | 17.14 | 71.42 |
| JE Root (ENG) | 2019–2022 | 32 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.92 | 37.50 | 40.62 | – | 21.87 | 48.00 |
Root worked magic with bowlers like James Anderson and Stuart Broad, scraping wins despite a shaky squad. His steady hand kept everyone calm when the pressure piled on. Those 12 wins, especially the Ashes draw, showed his heart. Root wasn’t about big, flashy moves as he led by grinding it out, often saving games with his bat. Even when top teams got the better of England, he never backed down.
His leadership was about showing up, no matter how bad it got, and giving his all. Root’s grit laid the tracks for England’s later wins, even if he didn’t get the spotlight. His legacy is that quiet strength, proving a captain can shine by keeping the faith. Those clutch innings and dogged fight made him a cornerstone of England’s Test story, showing leadership is about heart and hustle, even when the wins don’t come easy.