5 wicket-keepers with the most number of dismissals in ODI cricket 

On 7th February 2018, in the third ODI against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town, former Indian captain MS Dhoni became the fourth wicket-keeper to grab 400 dismissals in the 50 over format. Only Kumar Sangakkara, Adam Gilchrist, and Mark Boucher were ahead of him.

Wicket-keeping is one of the toughest jobs in cricket. A wicket-keeper has to have quick reflexes, agility, speed, and strength to dismiss the batsman, either by catching the ball behind the wicket, or by stumping the opposition batsmen. He can get a player run out by catching the ball thrown by the fielders and removing the bails. Finally, he is also responsible to save runs behind the wicket.

Here we look at the top 5 wicket-keepers with the most number of dismissals in ODI cricket

#1 Kumar Sangakkara

The Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara is the leading wicket-keeper in this list, with the most dismissals in ODI cricket.

He made his ODI debut in 2000 and played a total of 404 matches for the Sri Lankan cricket team, keeping wickets in 353 of those innings. He inflicted 482 dismissals, including 383 catches and 99 stumpings. The average dismissals per innings comes up to 1.365.

Sangakkara retired from ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand.

#2 Adam Gilchrist

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Adam Gilchrist was a great wicket-keeper who played for Australia. He made his ODI debut in 1996. He holds the record of the second most number of dismissals by a wicket-keeper, with 472 scalps to his name.

The Australian great took 417 catches and 55 stumpings. He played in 287 ODI matches and kept wickets in 281 innings. Known for his quick reflexes, his total average dismissals per innings was 1.679.

He retired from ODI cricket in 2008. Apart from ODIs, he inflicted 416 dismissals in Tests, consisting of 379 catches and 37 stumpings. He played a total of 96 test matches and kept in 191 innings.

#3 Mark Boucher

Mark Boucher, the best wicketkeeper for South Africa, made his ODI debut in 1998. He played a total of 295 matches, keeping wickets in 290 innings. Boucher had 424 dismissals to his name, including 402 catches and 22 stumpings. His average dismissals per innings was 1.462.

He retired from ODI cricket in 2011. He also holds the record of most dismissals in test cricket - 555, including 532 catches and 23 stumpings. Boucher played a total of 147 test matches, keeping wickets in 281 innings.

#4 MS Dhoni

The former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the first Indian and fourth overall wicketkeeper with more than 400 dismissals in ODI cricket. He made his ODI debut in 2004 and continues his wicketkeeping duties till date.

He has played a total of 315 matches so far, keeping wickets in 310 matches. In the 3rd ODI against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town, MS Dhoni grabbed his 400th victim by stumping South African captain Aiden Markram. His dismissals per innings is 1.293.

Under his guidance, the young Indian spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are capitalizing their potential fully.

Dhoni also played a total of 90 test matches, keeping in 166 innings, with 294 dismissals, including 256 catches and 38 stumpings.

#5 Moin Khan

The Pakistani wicketkeeper Moin Khan made his ODI 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 was 1.373.

Moin Khan retired from ODI cricket in 2004. He also played 69 test matches and had 128 catches and 20 stumpings. During his wicketkeeping career, he was helped by world-class pacers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, and spinners like Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed.