Arjuna Ranatunga vs Imran Khan - Who was the better captain?

[sweep_shot]

Ranatunga was like Sri Lanka's Imran Khan. Just like Imran Khan's leadership stamped Pakistan's authority in world cricket, Ranatunga's leadership stamped Sri Lanka's authority in world cricket.

Who do you think was the better captain?

I think it is a close one but I pick Imran Khan. I am a big fan of both cricketers, however.

*Ranatunga's captaincy record in Test was as follows: 56 matches, 12 wins, 19 losses, 25 draws.

*As a captain, Imran Khan played 48 Test matches, of which 14 were won by Pakistan, 8 lost and the remaining 26 were drawn. He also played 139 ODIs, winning 77, losing 57 and ending one in a tie.

Discuss.

 

[gazza619]

Both have great contributions and I have huge respect for them. SL was my second favourite team in the 90s.

Imran for me.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Poll added Guys!

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Both were great captain and charismatic leaders for their sides too. Remember how ranatunga stood for young Murali when a umpire used to call his every other ball no ball.

 

[Rajdeep]

Can we also add Saurav Ganguly and do a comparison among the three?

I have never seen Imran play, hardly remember Ranatunga but Ganguly was instrumental is success of modern Indian cricket. So it will be good to compare these 3 great Asian skippers.

@The Bald Eagle can you pls update the title with the permission of OP ofcourse

 

[sweep_shot]

@sweep_shot

Can we also add Saurav Ganguly and do a comparison among the three?

I have never seen Imran play, hardly remember Ranatunga but Ganguly was instrumental is success of modern Indian cricket. So it will be good to compare these 3 great Asian skippers.

@The Bald Eagle can you pls update the title with the permission of OP ofcourse

I feel like Ganguly is not at that level since he didn't win any WC as a captain. If you want to add an Indian captain, I think it should be either Kapil Dev or Dhoni.

 

[sweep_shot]

Both were great captain and charismatic leaders for their sides too. Remember how ranatunga stood for young Murali when a umpire used to call his every other ball no ball.

Yes. Ranatunga was very gutsy just like Imran Khan.

Leadership is not just about stats. Other things matter too and both Ranatunga and Imran Khan excelled in those.

 

[kron]

Yes. Ranatunga was very gutsy just like Imran Khan.

Leadership is not just about stats. Other things matter too and both Ranatunga and Imran Khan excelled in those.

Tough one. Rana for tests had a weaker team than imran. But imran made his team strong by inspiring his team with special performances. Imran early on wasn't quick. He worked hard to become a fast bowler. He had the fighting mentality and high cricketing iq.

For me imran is the better captain.

Yes ganguly is a good shout too. Ganguly did win champions trophies though if you are talking about no titles. If that counts.

 

[sweep_shot]

Tough one. Rana for tests had a weaker team than imran. But imran made his team strong by inspiring his team with special performances. Imran early on wasn't quick. He worked hard to become a fast bowler. He had the fighting mentality and high cricketing iq.

For me imran is the better captain.

Yes ganguly is a good shout too. Ganguly did win champions trophies though if you are talking about no titles. If that counts.

CT is not same as ODI WC. ODI WC is the top one.

Also, 2002 CT has an asterisk. Final got rained out. Both teams (India and SL) were declared winners.

I think Kapil Dev or Dhoni would be a more appropriate comparison to Ranatunga and Imran Khan since they all won ODI WCs as captains.

 

[kron]

CT is not same as ODI WC. ODI WC is the top one.

Also, 2002 CT has an asterisk. Final got rained out. Both teams (India and SL) were declared winners.

I think Kapil Dev or Dhoni would be a more appropriate comparison to Ranatunga and Imran Khan since they all won ODI WCs as captains.

Imran is better than all imo. Kohli statistically is the goat Asian captain but I still believe imran was the best captain. He managed his limited resources much better.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Very tough one.

I've got a lot of respect for Ranatunga.

Given the lack of resources Ranatunga had to play with id give him the edge here in terms of how he built the Lankans.

Imran has good resources to play with. He was of course inspirational but had more tools at his disposal.

 

[Justcrazy]

Imran as a cricketer will dominate the poll. It is very difficult to leave out Imran as a cricketer while judging his captaincy.

 

[kron]

Very tough one.

I've got a lot of respect for Ranatunga.

Given the lack of resources Ranatunga had to play with id give him the edge here in terms of how he built the Lankans.

Imran has good resources to play with. He was of course inspirational but had more tools at his disposal.

But imran made the team stronger. Without imran they wouldn't be as effective. For me it's imran.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

But imran made the team stronger. Without imran they wouldn't be as effective. For me it's imran.

I think we sometimes analyse the past Pakistan with the lens of the current state of Pakistan ( both the country and the cricket team).

Pakistan was a nation brimming with sporting and economic potential.

Imran could tap into some serious cricket knowledge, savvy cricketers, seasoned county pros and he himself operated at the very upper echelon of society both in the UK and Pakistan.

I think in his first test as captain he was surrounded by players like Bari, Zhaeer and Miandad all of which were established pros. They also had an exceptionally rich cricketing heritage at that time to draw on.

Compare it to Ranatunga as a captain, Sri Lanka as a cricket team and as a country at the time. He didn't have as much riches and was required to really build the team and it's identity.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

But imran made the team stronger. Without imran they wouldn't be as effective. For me it's imran.

Imran was a outstanding Captain for Pakistan. Infact, according to Chappeli and Benaud, imran was one of the very best Captains they had ever seen.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Imrans leadership was widely recognized.

Imran Khan Is One Of The Greatest Captains The Game Has Seen- Ravi Shastri

Current Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri termed former Pakistan player Imran Khan as one of the best captains and players the game has ever seen. He mentioned the same in his recently released book called ‘Stargazing: The Players In My Life’. Imran, who is currently the Prime Minister...

uk.sports.yahoo.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

I think Arjuna Ranatunga is notable because he led a side to win the World Cup when the world didn't expect it. Sri Lanka had the tag of being a minnow and a new cricketing nation.

 

[kron]

I think we sometimes analyse the past Pakistan with the lens of the current state of Pakistan ( both the country and the cricket team).

Pakistan was a nation brimming with sporting and economic potential.

Imran could tap into some serious cricket knowledge, savvy cricketers, seasoned county pros and he himself operated at the very upper echelon of society both in the UK and Pakistan.

I think in his first test as captain he was surrounded by players like Bari, Zhaeer and Miandad all of which were established pros. They also had an exceptionally rich cricketing heritage at that time to draw on.

Compare it to Ranatunga as a captain, Sri Lanka as a cricket team and as a country at the time. He didn't have as much riches and was required to really build the team and it's identity.

But the thing is you have to realize without imran the team wouldn't have been as potent.
Just like mcg made that all conquering Aussie side dominate. Without mcg they struggled. They would never have won as many accolades without
mcg

Same with imran. Captain just so happens to be the best player.

 

[kron]

Imran was a outstanding Captain for Pakistan. Infact, according to Chappeli and Benaud, imran was one of the very best Captains they had ever seen.

I think he is the best ever. Up there.

 

[Slim]

Can we also add Saurav Ganguly and do a comparison among the three?

I have never seen Imran play, hardly remember Ranatunga but Ganguly was instrumental is success of modern Indian cricket. So it will be good to compare these 3 great Asian skippers.

@The Bald Eagle can you pls update the title with the permission of OP ofcourse

Which worldcup Ganguly won? Scratching my head.

 

[Slim]

There will be no man like Imran Khan the cricketer. GOAT.

Lots of admiration and praise for his cricketing achievements, contribution in putting Pakistan on the map, cancer hospital.

Not so much for his political career.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Imran is up there at the peak IMO. No doubt ranatunga won a World Cup But Imran did so as well and more difficult times back then. Imran contributions as a captain have been top-notch for Pakistan, thee whole world recognizes him as one of the best.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Imran. Sri Lanka came into their own under Ranataunga but Imran is Imran.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Ranatunga. Turned a rag tag team of talented individuals into a fearsome unit that achieved ridiculous things between 1995 and 1998