Top 3 father-son duos who captained their country in international cricket
Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Geoff Marsh (Source: Instagram/@shaunmarsh9)
Published - 26 Jul 2026, 01:18 AM• Read time - 2 mins
Every cricketer dreams of captaining their national side one day, but only a few are able to realise that dream. However, there have been some families in international cricket where leading the country at the highest level has become a cherished legacy.
There have been many father-son pairs who not only represented their countries but also wore the captain's hat, carrying forward a tradition of responsibility. Here are three famous father-son pairs who led their national sides:
1. Iftikhar & Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (India)
The Pataudis remain one of cricket's most celebrated royal families. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi is one of the few players to have played Test cricket for both England and India. He captained India in three Tests during the 1946 tour of England and was the country’s third-ever Test skipper.
His son, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, better known as 'Tiger' Pataudi, took his legacy to greater heights. At just 21, he became India's youngest Test captain in 1962. Despite losing vision in one eye following a car accident, Tiger brought a revolution in the Indian Test side and captained the team in 40 Tests. Under his captaincy, India won their first-ever overseas Test series, beating New Zealand (3-1) in 1968.
2. Lala & Mohinder Amarnath (India)
The Amarnaths are another iconic cricketing family from India. Lala Amarnath etched his name into history by becoming the first Indian to score a Test century. He later captained India in 15 Tests between 1947 and 1952. He led India to their first-ever Test series win in 1952 against Pakistan, securing a 2-1 victory in a five-match series at home.
His son, Mohinder Amarnath, became one of India’s finest all-round cricketers and a hero of the 1983 World Cup triumph with Player of the Match performances in both the semi-final and the final. While he never became a full-time captain, Mohinder led India in one ODI against Pakistan in 1984, which ended in no result.
Australia's Marsh family also has a rich legacy in cricket. Geoff Marsh was an accomplished opening batter and led Australia in four ODI matches between 1987 and 1991.
More than three decades later, his son Mitchell Marsh was handed Australia’s T20I captaincy, and he’s even captained the ODI side sporadically. Mitchell has led Australia in 15 ODIs and 42 T20Is so far.