Former India fielding coach R Sridhar revealed that MS Dhoni stopped dedicating time to wicketkeeping practice nearly eight to nine years into his international career. According to him, Dhoni had already invested countless hours on his wicketkeeping skills during the early phase of his journey.
Sridhar mentioned that after reducing traditional practice, Dhoni shifted to reaction-based drills to stay sharp behind the stumps. He further lauded Dhoni’s wicketkeeping style, describing his technique as highly effective. Speaking to cricket.com, Sridhar shared these insights.
“MS Dhoni did not practice wicketkeeping after playing eight or nine years of international cricket. While he was growing up, and while he was yet to make a mark in international cricket, let’s say before 2007, before 2005, he worked a lot on his wicketkeeping skills. He had a very good technique; he had a technique of his own. I wouldn’t call it unorthodox but very effective.”
“He practiced a lot early on, but once he started playing all three formats, the workload was too heavy and his fingers took a beating. So, he smartly reduced wicketkeeping practice and focused on reaction drills to stay sharp and quick.”
“Wriddhiman Saha Is The Finest Wicketkeeper I’ve Observed”: R Sridhar
While serving as India’s fielding coach, R Sridhar had the opportunity to work closely with both Wriddhiman Saha and MS Dhoni. He stated that among the two, Saha stood out as the finest wicketkeeper he had observed from close range. Speaking about Saha, Sridhar remarked:
“Right up there. I would say he’s one of the best wicketkeepers I have personally spent time with and worked with. Very coachable, knows what he wants to work on. Great pair of gloves. Terrific person to have in the team. Great team man and all that apart, the commitment he brought as a wicketkeeper to the team.”
“He was not the best of chirpers; he just stood silently behind the stumps, but the confidence he gave to the captain and the bowlers that ‘Saha is there behind the stumps’ was enormous. I have not seen him drop much, to be very honest, or miss much. He’ll be in my top two, if not top. I’ll always say he’s the best wicketkeeper I have seen from close quarters. Wriddhiman Saha as a wicketkeeper alone, top, number one”.
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