7 Most Successful Captains in Women’s Cricket History (2026 List)

Captaining a cricket team is incredibly difficult. You have to make tactical decisions. You have to manage the players. You have to handle the pressure. You have to win matches. Success is measured by wins and losses. The best captains win more matches than they lose. They win when it matters most. They build teams that consistently perform well.

By 2026, eight women are among the most successful captains in cricket history. They hail from India, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. They captained at different times and under varying circumstances. Some have won over eighty percent of their matches. Others have won just over forty percent. All of them captained their respective countries for many years. Their records demonstrate who succeeded and to what extent.

7 Successful Captains in Women’s Cricket History

1. Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj is from India. She captained the team from 2004 to 2022. She captained in 155 matches, the most by any captain on this list. She won eighty-nine matches and lost sixty-three. Three matches ended without a result. Her win-loss ratio was 1.410. Her winning percentage was 57.41 percent. Her overall success rate was 58.55 percent.

Her 155 matches as captain reflect her long tenure. Eighteen years of captaincy is exceptional. She led India in several World Cups and tournaments. Eighty-nine wins is a significant number. Her winning percentage of over fifty-seven percent shows that she won more matches than she lost. This is good, but not exceptional compared to others on this list.

During her captaincy, Indian women’s cricket improved significantly. When she started, India was a developing team. By the time she stepped down as captain, India was competing for the World Cup. Her leadership contributed to this improvement.

2. Belinda Clark

Belinda Clark is from Australia. She captained the team from 1994 to 2005. She captained in 101 matches, winning 83 and losing 17. One match ended in a no-result. Her win-loss ratio was 4.880. Her win percentage was 82.17%. Her overall success rate was 83 percent.

An 82.17% win percentage is excellent. She won more than four times as many matches as she lost. 83 wins out of 101 matches means she won almost every series. During her captaincy, Australia dominated women’s cricket. She led that dominance.

Her win-loss ratio of 4.880 is the second highest on this list. Only Meg Lanning surpassed it. Clark set standards for Australian captains that lasted for decades.

3. Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur is from India. She captained the team from 2012 to 2025. She captained in 132 matches. She won seventy-eight matches. She lost forty-eight matches. One match was a tie. Five matches had no result. Her win-loss ratio is 1.620. Her winning percentage is 59.09 percent. Her overall success rate is 61.81 percent.

Thirteen years and 132 matches as captain demonstrate consistent leadership. She led India to the 2025 World Cup title. This is India’s greatest achievement in women’s cricket. Seventy-eight wins show consistent success. Her winning percentage is similar to Mithali Raj’s, but she led India to a World Cup victory, something Mithali never achieved.

Her captaincy has sometimes been criticized. However, winning the World Cup silenced all the criticism. This achievement defines her captaincy.

4. Meg Lanning

Meg Lanning is from Australia. She captained the team from 2014 to 2023. She captained in exactly 100 matches. She won forty-six matches and lost eighteen. One match was tied, and five matches had no result. Her win-loss ratio was 4.220. Her win percentage was forty-six percent. Her overall success rate was 80.52 percent.

A win percentage of forty-six percent in 100 matches is very impressive. She won more than four times as many matches as she lost. Her win-loss ratio of 4.220 is the highest on this list. Under her captaincy, Australia dominated women’s cricket in the same way they did under Clarke’s captaincy.

She led Australia to several World Cup titles in different formats. She never lost a World Cup final. This record is unparalleled. She retired at the age of thirty-one. Had she continued playing, her statistics would have been even more impressive.

5. Heather Knight

Heather Knight is from England. She captained the team from 2016 to 2025. She captained in ninety-six matches. She won seventy-one matches and lost twenty-three. One match was tied, and one match had no result. Her win-loss ratio is 3.080. Her winning percentage is 73.95 percent. Her overall success rate is 75.26 percent.

A winning percentage of 73.95 percent demonstrates excellent captaincy. She won more than three times as many matches as she lost. Under her captaincy, England has been competitive in all formats. They reached the World Cup final and won important series.

Playing ninety-six matches in nine years shows consistency. She will continue to captain England, and her statistics will only improve. She is approaching 100 matches as captain, a milestone very few captains reach.

6. Charlotte Edwards

Charlotte Edwards is from England. She captained the team from 2005 to 2016. She captained in 117 matches, winning 72 and losing 38. Seven matches ended without a result. Her win-loss ratio was 1.890. Her winning percentage was 61.53%. Her overall success rate was 65.45%.

Playing 117 matches as captain over eleven years demonstrates her longevity. Seventy-two wins is a significant number. Her winning percentage of 61.53% is good, but lower than that of Knight, who succeeded her. England performed better under Knight’s leadership, but Edwards laid the foundation for that success.

She was also one of England’s greatest batters. Being a key batter while also captaining adds to the pressure. She performed both roles for eleven years. This shows her mental strength and consistency.

7. Chamari Athapaththu

Chamari Athapaththu is from Sri Lanka. She captained the team from 2014 to 2025. She captained in 105 matches, winning forty-three and losing sixty. Two matches ended without a result. Her win-loss ratio is 0.710. Her winning percentage is 40.95 percent. Her overall success rate is 41.74 percent.

A 40.95 percent win rate means she lost more matches than she won. Her win-loss ratio of less than one confirms this. However, she is on this list because she captained Sri Lanka in 105 matches. Captaining the team for eleven years despite a losing record highlights the challenges faced by Sri Lankan cricket.

Sri Lanka has fewer resources compared to countries like Australia, India, or England. They regularly play against stronger teams. Athapaththu has kept Sri Lankan cricket competitive. Forty-three wins out of 105 matches show that they don’t lose every game. If the captaincy had been weaker, they would likely have won even fewer matches.

She is also Sri Lanka’s best batter. She carries the team with both her batting and her captaincy. This dual burden is immense.

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