The art of wicketkeeping is not a light-hearted task. Wicketkeepers play a predominant role in any format of the game. Be it for Test cricket, ODI’s or IPL, they play a crucial role for their side, indeed could change the course of the game even.
Wicket-keepers also play a pretty important role contributing with his bat. The recent editions of the Indian Premier League has seen many wicketkeepers evolving tenaciously being a vital asset to their sides.
As all eyes set on the 14th Edition of the Indian Premier League, which is primed to kickstart on April 9, and ahead of the IPL 2021 season let’s rate the wicket-keepers of all the eight franchise ahead of the 2021 season.
8. KL Rahul (Punjab Kings)
KL Rahul will be once again donning the gloves for the newly rebranded Punjab Kings for the 2021 season. Arguably the wonder boy from Karnataka is one of the best wicket-keeper batsman in T20 cricket at the moment. KL Rahul has also captained his side in the IPL 2020 edition. He’s been simply brilliant for the Indian team in the recent past.
Rahul has kept wickets in 50 innings in the IPL and has 37 dismissals- 32 catches, 5 stumpings to his side. His notable performances with the bat helped KL Rahul win the orange cap last year, who really scored 670 runs with an average of 55.
7. AB De Villiers: (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
By far, the cricketing genius Mr. AB De Villiers is one of the best wicketkeepers in World Cricket. The dazzling gentleman from South African has been the spinal cord of the Bengaluru franchise for years. He can be regarded as a fine Wicket-keeping choice for Royal Challengers Bangalore this time.
The South African legend has scored a staggering 4800 runs in IPL cricket and has a whopping strike rate ranging to 153. De Villiers has done the keeping duties in 44 matches in this cash-rich T20 tournament. He has 26 dismissals to his credit.
6. Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)
This promising talent from Delhi, Pant came into reckoning after his exploits for India Under-19 in the 2016 World Cup. A ferocious hitter of the cricket ball who could clear the boundary ropes with ridiculous ease.
The Delhi lad has had a couple of excellent IPL seasons. He’s been Delhi’s prime batsman in the middle and has stepped up to play a crucial role behind the stumps too. Pant has kept wickets in 58 innings, having 54 dismissals to his credit. Out of the 54, 43 of them are catches, while 11 are stumpings.
5. Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals)
The English Cricketer, Jos Buttler is a hard-hitting batsman and a fine wicket-keeper. Apparently, Jos Buttler is a player who has everything to succeed in the shorter formats of the game. Over his stints in the Indian Premier League, Jos Buttler proved to be a key part of Rajasthan’s line-up. His move to open the batting in all T20 cricket has worked wonders for him.
The English wicketkeeper has dismissed 21 batsmen. While 20 of them have been catches, he also has a solitary stumping to his credits.
4. Wriddhiman Saha (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Wriddhiman Saha is one of the prolific wicket-keeping choices of the Indian National team. The diminutive figure from Kolkata has been a key behind the stumps for the David Warner-led side in the Indian Premier League. The SRH’s first-choice wicketkeeper has 77 dismissals against his name. He has pouched 57 catches, also has 20 stumpings to his credit.
His abilities with the gloves are exemplary, his consistent performances at the top order gives a solid strength to the Orange Army’s batting line-up.
3. Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians)
Quinton de Kock is one of the best talents produced by South Africa ever to Modern Cricket. The five-time champions MI’s first-choice wicket-keeping option, Quinton De Kock just joined the Mumbai franchise in the year 2019, but he has already been an integral member of the team line-up.
His addition gives a solid strength to Mumbai’s batting line-up. De Kock has kept in 59 innings in the IPL and has 58 dismissals to his name. While 12 of them are stumpings, and the remaining 46 being catches.
2. Dinesh Karthik (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Dinesh Karthik is one of the most experienced and skilled players that Team India has ever produced. A heroic wicket-keeper, who has loads of experience playing for 6 different sides, ever since the inception of the Indian Premier League.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) veteran is the second wicketkeeper (apart from MS Dhoni) who has dismissed more than 100 batsmen in the cash-rich T20 tournament. His experience would be handy for the KKR side in the upcoming edition as well. He has dismissed 140 batsmen with his gloves behind the stumps. While having 110 catches, 30 stumpings to his name. Dinesh Karthik ranks 2 in our feature ratings.
1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
The captain cool needs no introduction to the world of Cricket. The most successful captains and wicketkeeper-batsman, MS Dhoni has amazing numbers stats to his name. He has 148 dismissals (109 catches and 39 stumpings) to his name and has scored 4,632 runs at an average of 40.99 and a strike rate of 136.75.
Without any doubt, this man leads up the charts. His performances in every IPL seasons have been nothing short of extraordinary. The calmness and composure in his demeanour helped the Yellow army glistening with Silverware of trophies.
