Shreyas Iyer Joins Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in Unwanted Indian Captaincy Debut Club

Captaining India is among the most demanding roles in international cricket. Some players begin their leadership tenure with victories, but others endure disappointing results in their very first matches in charge.

Three Indian captains share a similar unwanted distinction: each lost both his first ODI and first T20I as skipper. Shreyas Iyer became the latest to join that group after India’s heavy defeat to New Zealand, a result that extended a record already involving two former Indian leaders.

Indian captains who lost both ODI and T20I debuts

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli’s first ODI as India captain came in a tri-nation series match against Sri Lanka in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 2, 2013. He led the side in place of the injured MS Dhoni, won the toss and chose to field. Sri Lanka capitalised fully, posting 348/1 as Upul Tharanga made an unbeaten 174 and Mahela Jayawardene also scored a century. India struggled in reply; Kohli made just two runs off five balls, and the team was bowled out for 187, losing by 161 runs.

Nearly four years later, Kohli captained India in a T20I for the first time against England in Kanpur on January 26, 2017. It was also his first match as full-time white-ball captain after succeeding Dhoni. Opening the batting, Kohli scored 29 off 26 balls, but India managed only 147/7 on a slow surface. England chased the target with 11 balls remaining, winning by seven wickets and handing Kohli another debut defeat.

2. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill’s first T20I as India captain was against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 6, 2024. The series came after India’s T20 World Cup triumph and featured a young Indian squad under Gill. India won the toss and bowled, restricting Zimbabwe to 115/9. Gill top-scored with 31 off 29 balls, but lacked support as India were bowled out for 102. Zimbabwe won by 13 runs, giving Gill a disappointing start to his T20I captaincy.

Gill later made his ODI captaincy debut against Australia at Perth Stadium on October 19, 2025, after being named India’s full-time skipper in the format. Rain reduced the match to 26 overs per side, and Australia used the conditions well to pressure India. Gill made only 10 off 18 balls as India reached 136/9. Australia were set a revised DLS target of 131 and chased it in 21.1 overs, winning by seven wickets and leaving Gill without a win in either of his first two white-ball matches as India captain.

3. Shreyas Iyer

Iyer became the latest Indian player to join this unwanted list after losing his first T20I as captain against Ireland in Belfast on June 26, 2026. Ireland batted first and posted a competitive 182/9, putting India under pressure in the chase. Despite a quickfire 49 from Abhishek Sharma, India’s batting line-up could not sustain the required momentum and was bowled out for 148 in 18.5 overs. Ireland won by 34 runs, recording their first-ever victory over India in international cricket.

Iyer’s first ODI as captain proved even tougher as India suffered a crushing 244-run defeat against New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 13, 2026. Standing in for Gill, who was rested ahead of the upcoming Test series, Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl. New Zealand posted 333, with Will Young scoring a century, before Matt Henry tore through the Indian top order. Iyer was dismissed for a golden duck, and India were bowled out for just 89 in 26.4 overs, giving Iyer a second defeat in his first ODI and T20I matches as India captain.

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