StaffA good wicketkeeper saves their side at least 20 runs a match along with affecting many dismissals. With the best view in the field, they’re required to understand the game with expertise. Here’s a look at the top 10 wicketkeepers in IPL’s short history.
10. Quinton de Kock
Country: South Africa
Current Team: Mumbai Indians
The hard-hitting South African is one of the best wicketkeeper-batters on the international circuit currently. The southpaw is quick on his feet and has taken many blinders throughout his IPL career. An explosive opener, de Kock is often compared to Adam Gilchrist, arguably the greatest wicketkeeper-batter to have ever played the game.
9. Rishabh Pant
Country: India
Current Team: Delhi Capitals
The up-and-coming poster boy of Indian cricket has massively improved his skills with the gloves over the years. The eccentric 23-year old is a crowd favourite, constantly chirping behind the stumps and showing off his athleticism in the middle of the games. The Delhi Capitals’ skipper has hugely benefitted from the experiences he has gained by donning the gloves in different conditions – from the green swinging wickets in England to the square-turners in Chennai.
8. Kumar Sangakkara
Country: Sri Lanka
Last Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad
An elegant strokemaker with a calm demeanor, Sangakkara is one of the greatest batters to have played the game and given his quality glovework the Sri Lankan legend has been a valuable asset for all his IPL teams. Amassing more than 10,000 runs in both ODIs and Tests, the southpaw has also captained Punjab and Hyderabad in the IPL. Sangakkara last played in the IPL in 2013 and retired from international cricket in 2015. He is currently the Director of the Rajasthan Royals.
7. Adam Gilchrist
Country: Australia
Last Team: Kings XI Punjab
Loved all over the world, ‘Gilly’ revolutionized the art by transforming the role from ‘wicket-keeper’ to ‘wicketkeeper-batter’. A ferocious striker of the cricket ball, Gilchrist is regarded as the greatest wicketkeeper-batter of all time. He led the Deccan Chargers to the IPL Title in 2009. Part of the legendary Australian squad that won 3 consecutive World Cups, Gilchrist epitomises the ‘Gentleman’s Game’.
6. Wriddhiman Saha
Country: India
Current Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Making his way through his state teams and even the national side on the back of injuries to the first-choice players, Saha’s career has trudged along for a long time now. Regarded by many as the most skillful wicketkeeper, Saha is a treat to watch behind the stumps with his athleticism. However, poor performances with the bat have meant that Saha has never held a fixed place in his IPL sides for too long.
5. Naman Ojha
Country: India
Last Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Another unlucky Indian keeper who remained sidelined due to the presence of MS Dhoni in the same era, Naman Ojha is a legend in the domestic circuits of Indian cricket. A free-flowing batter, Ojha had safe hands behind the stumps as is justified by the record he holds for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in the Ranji Trophy. Ojha was a member of the SRH squad that lifted the IPL trophy in 2016.
4. Parthiv Patel
Country: India
Last Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore
The youngest wicketkeeper to play test cricket at the age of 17, Parthiv Patel has been on the scene for a long time. However, shoddy performances saw him make way for the likes of Dinesh Karthik first and then the mainstay, MS Dhoni. Parthiv played for 6 IPL teams, opening the batting and providing his services behind the stumps. However, the veteran, who has been a consistent performer for Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy, failed to cement his place for any of the franchises.
3. Robin Uthappa
Country: India
Current Team: Chennai Super Kings
Starting his career as a wicketkeeper-batter, the flamboyant Uthappa hung up his gloves to focus more on his batting. However, for the time he was a wicketkeeper, he affected many dismissals. A prolific run scorer in the IPL, Uthappa had his golden days when he was a KKR player. Things seem to have gone downhill from there for the elegant shotmaker from Kerala.
2. Dinesh Karthik
Country: India
Current Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
The keeper from Tamil Nadu is a household name and has been in and around Indian cricket for a long time. Easily recognizable by the baseball helmet he dons while keeping, DK has been a consistent performer in the IPL, amassing close to 4,000 runs. He finally seems to have found a cemented place with KKR as their first-choice wicketkeeper. While the chances look bleak for Karthik to make a national side comeback, he is focused on domestic cricket, leading Tamil Nadu.
1. MS Dhoni
Country: India
Current Team: Chennai Super Kings
The best in the business, MS Dhoni is the most successful wicketkeeper-batter in the IPL as well as for India. While he might be in the winter of his career, MSD still has lightning-quick hands behind the stumps. A great thinker of the game with a composed persona, the veteran held his place in the Indian team for more than a decade. Many wicketkeeper-batters who came up in his era curse their luck, for there was no way they could replace Dhoni in the national side.
