Which cricketer has been named the captain of the ICC's men's T-20 and ODI teams of the decade ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (2): Mahendra Singh Dhoni

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the Men's Teams of the Decade in December 2020, covering performances from 2011 to 2020, and chose Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the captain for both the Men's ODI Team of the Decade and the Men's T20I Team of the Decade. This historic double captaincy role was awarded to Dhoni in recognition of his transformative leadership, consistency as a match-winning wicket-keeper batsman, and, most importantly, his unparalleled success in winning all three major ICC limited-overs trophies—the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy—all within the decade being considered. His tactical acumen and ability to finish games solidified his position as the most successful white-ball leader of that era.

The incorrect option is (1): A. B. Devilliers
A. B. Devilliers, the phenomenal South African batsman often nicknamed 'Mr. 360', was indeed selected as a middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper in both the ICC Men's ODI and T20I Teams of the Decade. His inclusion was based on his incredible strike rate, high average, and match-winning ability across formats. However, his primary role was that of a star performer and he did not captain either of the two specific ICC Teams of the Decade. While he did serve as captain for South Africa, his record in this capacity over the full decade did not match Dhoni’s triple-ICC trophy haul for the dual captaincy honor.

The incorrect option is (3): Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli was a strong candidate and was the only male player to be selected in all three ICC Teams of the Decade (Test, ODI, and T20I), highlighting his dominance in the era. Furthermore, he was named the captain of the ICC Men's **Test** Team of the Decade, acknowledging his leadership in the longest format of the game. Despite his incredible batting record and captaincy in the latter half of the decade, the selectors ultimately gave the captaincy of both the ODI and T20I teams to his predecessor, MS Dhoni, crediting Dhoni’s superior record in terms of major trophy wins during the review period.

The incorrect option is (4): Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle, the Jamaican power-hitter, was a cornerstone of T20 cricket and was rightly selected as an opener for the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Decade due to his explosive performances. He was a dominant force, instrumental in multiple T20 World Cup victories for the West Indies. However, Gayle was predominantly a T20 specialist during this period and did not play a central, multi-format leadership role for a major international team across the full decade. His selection was purely based on his batting prowess and entertainment factor, not his long-term captaincy record in both T20I and ODI cricket.