On 7th February 2018 in the third One day international against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town, former Indian captain MS Dhoni became the fourth overall keeper to grab 400 dismissals in 50 over format. Only Kumar Sangakkara, Adam Gilchrist, Mark Boucher and Mahendra Singh Dhoni entered the list of 400 plus grabs.
Wicketkeeping is the toughest job in cricket. A Wicketkeeper has to have quick reflexes, agility, speed, strength to dismiss either by catching behind wickets or by stumping the opposition batsmen. He can get a player run out by catching the ball thrown by fielders and removing the bails. He is also to save runs behind the wicket.
Here we look at the top 5 wicketkeepers with most dismissals in One-day international cricket
- Kumar Sangakkara
The Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara is the leading wicketkeeper with most dismissals in One-day international cricket. His ODI debut was in 2000 and he played a total of 404 matches for Sri Lanka and kept wickets in 353 innings. He has 482 dismissals including 383 catches and 99 stumpings.
His average dismissals per innings come to 1.365. Apart from Sri Lankan national team, he has kept wickets for Asia XI and ICC. Kumar Sangakkara retired from ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand.
- Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist another great wicketkeeper who played for Australia made his One-day international debut in 1996. He is the second leading wicketkeeper with most dismissals- 472 including 417 catches and 55 stumping’s playing in 287 matches and keeping wickets in 281 innings. His total average dismissals per innings come to 1.679.
He retired from One-day international cricket in 2008. Apart from ODI, he took 416 dismissals consisting of 379 catches and 37 stumping’s in 191 innings of 96 test matches he played.
- Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher the best wicketkeepers for South Africa made his One-day international debut in 1998. He played a total of 295 matches, keeping wickets in 290 innings. Boucher had 424 dismissals including 402 catches and 22 stumping. His average dismissals per innings were 1.462.
He retired from One-day international cricket in 2011. He also possesses the privilege of most dismissals in test cricket of 555 including 532 catches and 23 stumping’s, in 147 test matches, keeping wickets in 281 innings.
- MS Dhoni
The former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the most recent and 1st Indian and 4th overall wicketkeeper with more than 400 dismissals in ODI cricket on 7 February 2018. He made his One day international in 2004, continues wicketkeeping duties till date.
He has played a total of 315 matches so far, keeping wickets in 310 matches. In the 3rd One day international against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town, MS Dhoni grabbed his 400th victim by stumping Aiden Markram. His average of dismissals per innings comes to 1.293.
Under his guidance, the young Indian spinners like Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are capitalizing their potential fully. Dhoni played a total of 90 test matches, keeping in 166 innings with 294 dismissals including 256 catches and 38 stumpings.
- Moin Khan
The Pakistani wicketkeeper Moin Khan made his One-day international debut in 1990; He played a total of 219 matches, keeping in 209 innings. His total dismissals were 287 including 214 catches and 73 stumpings. His average dismissals per innings come to 1.373.
Moin Khan retired from One-day international cricket in 2004. He played 69 test matches and had 128 catches and 20 stumpings. He was the best wicketkeeper for Pakistan keeping to quality pace bowlers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and spinners like Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed.