Here is the list of captains with the most Test wins:
1. Graeme Smith(South Africa)
- Country: South Africa
- Captaincy Tenure: 2003–2014
- Matches as Captain: 109
- Wins: 53 (Most by any Test captain)
- Losses: 29
- Draws: 27
- Win Percentage: 48.62%
- Key Achievements:
- Led South Africa to the No. 1 Test ranking.
- Oversaw historic away series victories in England and Australia.
- Captained from a young age (aged 22) and became South Africa’s longest-serving Test captain.
Smith’s record reflects exceptional leadership, making him one of the most successful captains in Test cricket history.
2. Ricky Ponting (Australia)
- Country: Australia
- Captaincy Tenure: 2004–2010
- Matches as Captain: 77
- Wins: 48 (Second-most by any Test captain)
- Losses: 16
- Draws: 13
- Win Percentage: 62.33%
- Key Achievements:
- Led Australia during one of their most dominant eras in cricket.
- Oversaw a record-equalling 16 consecutive Test wins (twice, in 2005–2008).
- Won multiple Ashes series (2006–07 with a 5-0 clean sweep).
- Known for an aggressive and attacking captaincy style.
Ponting’s leadership, combined with his batting excellence, made Australia a nearly unbeatable force in Test cricket during his tenure.
3. Steve Waugh (Australia)
- Country: Australia
- Captaincy Tenure: 1999–2004
- Matches as Captain: 57
- Wins: 41 (Third-most by any Test captain)
- Losses: 9
- Draws: 7
- Win Percentage: 71.92% (Highest among captains with over 25 matches)
- Key Achievements:
- Led Australia to a then-record 16 consecutive Test wins (1999–2001).
- Oversaw dominant performances both at home and overseas.
- Known for his “mental disintegration” strategy, putting immense pressure on opponents.
- Instrumental in maintaining Australia’s dominance in the early 2000s.
Waugh’s era as captain is remembered for Australia’s consistency, aggressive mindset, and unmatched dominance in Test cricket.
4. Virat Kohli (India)
- Country: India
- Captaincy Tenure: 2014–2022
- Matches as Captain: 68
- Wins: 40 (Fourth-most by any Test captain)
- Losses: 17
- Draws: 11
- Win Percentage: 58.82%
- Key Achievements:
- Led India to the top of the ICC Test rankings.
- First Indian captain to win a Test series in Australia (2018–19).
- Oversaw India’s dominance at home, with a near-unbeatable record.
- Known for his aggressive and fitness-driven approach, revolutionizing Indian cricket.
- Took India to the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final (2021).
Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest Test captains, known for instilling a winning mentality and fostering a world-class pace attack.
5. Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
- Country: West Indies
- Captaincy Tenure: 1974–1985
- Matches as Captain: 74
- Wins: 36
- Losses: 12
- Draws: 26
- Win Percentage: 48.65%
- Key Achievements:
- Led the West Indies to their first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1975.
- Oversaw the West Indies’ dominance in the 1970s and early 1980s, when they were considered the best team in the world.
- Known for his powerful batting and leadership in a team featuring legends like Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, and Malcolm Marshall.
- Was part of the West Indies’ undefeated Test series streak for more than 10 years.
Clive Lloyd’s leadership helped define an era of West Indies cricket, blending aggressive batting with formidable fast bowling, ensuring the team remained at the top throughout his captaincy.
6. Allan Border (Australia)
- Country: Australia
- Captaincy Tenure: 1984–1994
- Matches as Captain: 93
- Wins: 32
- Losses: 22
- Draws: 39
- Win Percentage: 34.41%
- Key Achievements:
- Captained Australia through a transitional phase, rebuilding the team after the 1980s.
- Played a pivotal role in the revival of Australian cricket, laying the foundation for future dominance.
- Set the record for most Test appearances as captain at the time.
- Known for his tenacity, work ethic, and leadership during challenging times.
- Led Australia to a historic 1989 Ashes series win in England.
Allan Border’s leadership was crucial in stabilizing Australian cricket during a tough period, setting the stage for the subsequent dominance under captains like Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
7. MS Dhoni (India)
- Country: India
- Captaincy Tenure: 2007–2014
- Matches as Captain: 60
- Wins: 27
- Losses: 18
- Draws: 15
- Win Percentage: 45.00%
- Key Achievements:
- Led India to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings for the first time in 2009.
- Captained India to their historic 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup victories, although these were in limited-overs formats.
- Known for his calm and composed leadership, Dhoni transformed Indian cricket with his strategic thinking, especially in challenging situations.
- Led India to series wins in New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and away victories in the West Indies.
- Known for his excellent wicketkeeping and match-finishing abilities, which earned him respect across formats.
MS Dhoni’s leadership was marked by his ability to remain calm under pressure and inspire his team to achieve greatness, both in Test cricket and in limited-overs formats.
8. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
- Country: Bangladesh
- Captaincy Tenure: 2009–2017, 2020–present
- Matches as Captain: 14
- Wins: 9
- Losses: 4
- Draws: 1
- Win Percentage: 64.29%
- Key Achievements:
- Led Bangladesh to several historic Test wins, including their first-ever Test win in the West Indies in 2009.
- Under his captaincy, Bangladesh showed significant improvement in both home and away performances.
- Shakib’s leadership was characterized by his all-round contributions, both as a batsman and a bowler.
- He played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s rise as a competitive Test nation, and was instrumental in nurturing young talent.
Shakib Al Hasan is widely regarded as one of the best all-rounders in the world, and his leadership in Test cricket has been crucial to Bangladesh’s success on the international stage.
9. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
- Country: Sri Lanka
- Captaincy Tenure: 2009–2011
- Matches as Captain: 25
- Wins: 13
- Losses: 7
- Draws: 5
- Win Percentage: 52.00%
- Key Achievements:
- Led Sri Lanka to several memorable Test victories, including a series win over India in 2010.
- His captaincy was marked by a calm and composed approach, often relying on his tactical acumen.
- Under Sangakkara’s leadership, Sri Lanka reached its peak in international cricket, with significant away wins.
- A legendary wicketkeeper-batsman, Sangakkara’s contributions were vital both as a leader and as a player.
- Was part of the Sri Lankan team that reached the 2009 ICC T20 World Cup final and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final (although he was not captain during those tournaments).
Kumar Sangakkara’s leadership was defined by his intelligence, experience, and ability to lead from the front, helping Sri Lanka achieve significant success in Test cricket.
10. Nasser Hussain (England)
- Country: England
- Captaincy Tenure: 1999–2003
- Matches as Captain: 45
- Wins: 18
- Losses: 17
- Draws: 10
- Win Percentage: 40.00%
- Key Achievements:
- Led England to a series win against West Indies in 2000, ending a 30-year winless streak in the West Indies.
- Regarded for his leadership during a transitional period for English cricket, including the recovery after England’s difficult performances in the late 1990s.
- Known for his strategic thinking, calmness under pressure, and tactical changes that brought England back to competitive levels in international cricket.
- Played a key role in establishing a more professional approach within the England team during his tenure.
- His leadership is credited with stabilizing the team, which later paved the way for future success under subsequent captains like Michael Vaughan.
Nasser Hussain’s captaincy, though marked by challenges, played a crucial role in England’s rise back to competitiveness in Test cricket after a period of struggles.