Wicketkeeping is the only truly specialist position left in cricket. Bowlers can bat and batsmen can bowl but every team usually has one specific person who always takes position behind the stumps. Quick hands and agility can result in a lightning-quick stumping. Reflex catches can change a game.
However, a good wicketkeeper isn’t just an asset when the side is bowling. Those who excel in the role can change a match with their batting as well. It is for this reason that the rankings in this article take into account a player’s prowess both behind and in front of the wicket.
Only the players who have kept wickets in IPL 2017 have been considered. Their career statistics across all editions of the IPL have been taken into account. As most wicketkeepers are experienced hands, it would not be fair to compare the relative newcomers on the same scale.
Therefore, as Kedar Jadhav, Rishabh Pant and Vishnu Vinod have kept wickets for a much lower number of matches compared to the others, they have not been considered.
#6 Naman Ojha, Sunrisers Hyderabad
With 130 first-class matches under his belt, Ojha has been a handy soldier for his Madhya Pradesh team in the Indian domestic circuit since 2000. He has almost 9,000 first-class runs and more than 400 dismissals to his name.
He has been a regular in the IPL for many seasons now. Followers of the tournament will remember his unbeaten 94 against Chennai Super Kings in 2010 when he led Rajasthan Royals’ chase of a behemoth 247 run target.
He continues to remain handy with the bat. In a recent match against the Kings XI Punjab, he supported his captain, David Warner, in a decisive sixty-run partnership to help his team win the game. In his IPL career, he has played a hand in 70 dismissals and scored more than 1500 runs at an average of 21.22. On his day, he can be a match-winner.
#5 Parthiv Patel, Mumbai Indians
Parthiv Patel has represented India in Tests, ODIs, and T20s and is only five runs short of 10,000 first-class runs. He made his Test debut at the age of 17 and has often been in contention for a spot on the Indian team.
At the IPL, he has been a consistent performer, reliable behind the stumps and stable in front of it. He has more than 2000 runs under his belt and has sent 70 batsmen back to the pavilion. In 2015, he played his part in many opening partnerships with Lendl Simmons and took Mumbai Indians to the trophy.
His 32-ball fifty against the Gujarat Lions this weekend shows that when he’s striking the ball well, he can be a handful against any bowling attack.
#4 Wriddhiman Saha, Kings XI Punjab
Saha became a part of the Kings XI Punjab squad in 2014, after which he has been a regular part of the team’s playing eleven. He has been the Indian national team’s wicket-keeper in recent Test series ever since MS Dhoni withdrew from the format.
Possessing breathtaking reflexes, he pulled off some blinding catches against the Australians in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He is competent with the bat as well and has three Test centuries to his name.
In the T20 format, his batting is not as prolific as some of the other wicketkeeper-batsmen on this list. His 24-run career batting average in the IPL is lower than those above him. His strike-rate is lower as well. But he still remains a solid bet for Kings XI Punjab and provides able support to his team with his skilful keeping and batting.
#3 Dinesh Karthik, Gujarat Lions
Karthik is a familiar name for Indian fans and, indeed, for followers of cricket based in other countries as well. He has played 70-odd ODIs for the national team, however, he hasn’t played an international match since 2014.
In the IPL though, he has been a sought-after player. He has played for five different teams and has donned the Gujarat Lions uniform this year after being retained in the squad.
He has a total of 109 dismissals to his name in the IPL, the most amongst all wicketkeepers playing in the 2017 edition of the tournament. He is having a consistent IPL season with the bat so far as well, scoring at an average of 32. His team needs him to continue his good form if it wishes to make it into the playoffs.
#2 Robin Uthappa, Kolkata Knight Riders
Uthappa is an explosive batsman capable of winning a game for his team with the bat. At the same time, he is a competent wicketkeeper and with 30 career stumpings, he leads all other wicketkeepers in the IPL.
He has been in great form in IPL 2017, scoring five half-centuries in ten matches and is currently number three in the race for the Orange Cap. He is second on the list of those who have hit the most sixes, showcasing his big-hitting abilities. He is averaging more than 40 with the bat this season, a lift from his career IPL average of around 30.
Along with captain Gautam Gambhir, his batting has been one of the main reasons why KKR finds itself on the top of the league table. With three stumpings in the match against the Rising Pune Supergiant, he has shown his skills with the gloves as well.
#1 MS Dhoni, Rising Pune Supergiant
The Indian legend is the top wicketkeeper in the IPL, based on his prowess behind the stumps as well as his batting record across all editions of the IPL. He has played more matches and hit more sixes in his IPL career than any other wicketkeeper. No match is considered won or lost till Dhoni is at the crease.
With an average of 38.69 through his IPL career, he is more than 8 runs above the other keepers in the competition. He also has almost 100 dismissals to his name from behind the stumps, including 29 stumpings.
His finishing abilities have won many matches for his teams over the years. It is astonishing that Dhoni has remained not out in almost one out of every three IPL matches he has played. Even though he is no longer the captain of the Pune team, his performances will be the key to unlocking the door to the playoffs and beyond.
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