New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrikar I have supported the appointment of more foreign captains. Indian Premier League (IPL), emphasizing that franchises should focus on leadership ability rather than nationality when selecting their captains.Speaking on the Sportsstar podcast, Manjrekar said that the performance of Indian captains in recent seasons shows that nationality alone does not guarantee success. “I think we have also seen a lot of Indian captains struggle. You have mentioned players like Akshar Patel and Rishabh Pant. There are a lot of Indian captains who have not performed to their full potential,” Manjrekar said.The former batsman believes that T20 cricket teams need to identify the most effective leader available, regardless of whether the player is Indian or overseas.“My philosophy is simple: in T20 cricket, you need the best captain available, if it’s a foreign player, so be it. David Warner captained successfully, so did Pat Cummins,” he said.At the same time, Manjrikar acknowledged that IPL franchises often weigh commercial aspects along with cricketing factors when making captaincy decisions.“That said, there is a non-cricket reason why franchises often prefer Indian captains. An Indian captain becomes the face of the franchise and strengthens the brand,” he explained.According to Manjrekar, teams must find the right balance between building a strong brand and maximizing their chances of success on the field.“Ultimately, the franchises have to decide what is best for the brand and what is best for winning the title. Ideally, the captain should be someone who is a genuinely good leader, regardless of nationality.” He further emphasized the unique role of captaincy in shaping the franchise’s public image and fan following. “But we should not forget that IPL is also about brand value. An Indian captain naturally attracts more attention. Having someone like Rishabh Pant, or Virat Kohli, associated with a franchise in the past lead RCB, creates a different dynamic and gives the team a strong identity.”Manjrekar’s comments are likely to reignite the debate over whether IPL teams should prioritize leadership credentials or marketing value when selecting their captains.
