Top five wicketkeeper-batsmen at the World Cup

The Kiran More-Javed Miandad duel in the ’92 World Cup remains etched in our memories. Through the early decades and well into the advent of day/night cricket, wicketkeepers have long been perceived as specialists, with glovework being the primary skill sought from them.Add a healthy dash of exuberance and the ability to chirp away all day long, and you had the perfect wicket keeper. Any runs that they amassed lower down the order were always a bonus.All this changed in the 90s, with the belligerent Romesh Kaluwitharana and then the even more belligerent Adam Gilchrist rewriting the wicketkeeper’s rule book. With the genre now transformed, wicket keepers are the new all-rounders in the team. Send them up the order and they score hundreds, bring them down the order and they turn finishers – all done on the back of a cool 300 sit-ups (a minimum figure in a 50 over game).Often ignored, seldom appreciated and mostly relegated to gathering throw downs from the deep - until an acrobatic catch or a blooper draws the partisan commentator’s ire, the wicketkeeper rarely hogs the limelight. In this slideshow, we put the spotlight on the top five wicket keeper-batsmen – those that made an impact in the group stages of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

#1 Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara

Every international star wishes for a final swansong. Kumar Sangakkara is getting just that and is dishing out a lot more in the bargain. With 496 runs from 6 games and four back to back hundreds (three of which contributed to wins), the 37 year old Sri Lankan stalwart is turning this World Cup into his own.

Throw in 5 catches and three stumping’s into the mix and you’ve one heady concoction from the Sangakaara brew factory. For his all round display, Kumar Sangakaara is our undisputed leader of the wicketkeeper-batsmen’s pack.

#2 Brendan Taylor

Brendan Taylor

The India game for the Zimbabwe skipper must’ve been an emotional one. To keep his wits about him and then score a hundred the way he did was commendable indeed. While his batting performances of 433 runs at 72.16 (that included two hundreds and a fifty) outshone his glove work (four catches), for leading his side with pride and scoring a pile of runs while performing the demanding dual role on the field – Brendan Taylor is our number two pick.

#3 MS Dhoni

Mohammed Shami and MS Dhoni

Despite being a vehement critic of MS Dhoni’s tactics in the longer version of the game, Ian Chappell heaped praise on MS Dhoni, citing the skipper’s influence behind India’s remarkable run.

Second on the wicket keeping dismissal list this World Cup with 11 dismissals (all catches), Dhoni rose to the occasion against the West Indies and Zimbabwe to steer two nervy run chases to safe waters. For his captaincy, catching behind the wickets and steely nerves, MS Dhoni is number 3 on our list.

#4 Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim attempts to stump Chris Woakes

The diminutive former Bangladeshi skipper has quietly played a significant part in his team’s route to the quarter finals. While displaying measured calm coupled with aggression, Mushfiqur Rahim has notched up 271 runs at 54.2 thus far with 3 half centuries.

Add his consistent display behind the stumps and he is as vital a cog in the Bangladeshi wagon as there can be. For continuing to be an inspiration in the Bangla camp, Rahim gets our number four pick.

#5 Sarfraz Ahmad

Sarfraz Ahmed

Pakistan badly needed an impact player and they got one in Sarfraz Ahmad. Stepping in behind the stumps for the sloppy Umar Akmal in the game against South Africa, Sarfraz turned in a dream performance with a record-equalling 6 catches followed by a well made 49.

The dream continued with a splendid unbeaten 101 against Ireland that fetched him the Man of the Match award. For reigniting the fortunes of Pakistan with both willow and glove, Sarfraz is number 5 on our list.