Most number of dismissals by an Indian wicket-keeper in a single Test match

In their 85-year old Test cricket history, India have had a total of 35 wicket-keepers. From 1932’s Janardhan Navle to today’s Wriddhiman Saha, all these keepers have taken at least one dismissal throughout their careers.

Many of these wicket-keepers have produced stellar performances throughout their careers and have been a part of many dismissals in a single Test. Here are the most number of dismissals taken by an Indian wicket-keeper in a single Test match.

Note: In case of equal number of dismissals, the dismissals with more stumpings have been ranked higher.

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#5 Eight dismissals (8 catches)- Nayan Mongia vs South Africa in 1996 and vs Pakistan in 1999

India’s premier keeper for most of the 90s, Nayan Mongia achieved the feat of 8 dismissals in a single Test twice in his career. The first instance came against South Africa at Durban in 1996.

It was the first Test of India’s tour of South Africa that year. In the first innings, Mongia took 5 catches and all of them were more or less crucial ones during that time- Andrew Hudson, Daryl Cullinan, skipper Hansie Cronje, Herschelle Gibbs and Lance Klusener.

In the second innings, he took catches to dismiss Cronje, Cullinan and Klusener, thus holding the record for the most number of dismissals by an Indian keeper at the time. However, Mongia’s brilliant keeping went in vain as India lost the match by 328 runs.

The second instance when Mongia took 8 dismissals came against Pakistan at Kolkata in 1999 at the Asian Test Championships. In the first innings, he took three catches to dismiss Shahid Afridi, Wajahatullah Wasti and Saleem Malik. In the second innings, Mongia took five catches to dismiss Wasti, Saqlain Mushtaq, Ijaz Ahmed, Moin Khan and skipper Wasim Akram.

Sadly, once again, Mongia’s performances with the gloves came to no avail as India lost the match by 46 runs.

#4 Eight dismissals (7 catches and 1 stumping)- MS Dhoni vs Australia in 2008

Dhoni had a brilliant match behind the stumps

It was the third Test of the 2007-08 Border Gavaskar Trophy and Perth was the venue for the match. India batted first and put 330 on the board. In reply, Australia could score only 212. Keeper MS Dhoni took 5 catches to dismiss Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark.

In the second innings, India scored 294 and Australia were given a target of 412 to win the match. Dhoni took two catches and affected a stumping during the innings as India won the match by 72 runs. All three of Dhoni’s dismissals were crucial ones. He first took a catch to dismiss debutant Chris Rogers before stumping out Michael Clarke who was looking dangerous at 81. He then took his 7th catch of the match to dismiss Stuart Clark for 32 who had stitched a partnership of 73 with Mitchell Johnson.

#3 Eight dismissals (6 catches and 2 stumpings)- MS Dhoni vs Bangladesh in 2010 and vs West Indies in 2011

Dhoni took 6 catches and 2 stumpings in a single Test on two occasions

Captain Cool makes a second appearance on this list with 8 dismissals but two of them were stumpings. Dhoni has attained this feat on two occasions. The first of them came against Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2010.

In the first innings, MSD affected 5 dismissals- three catches and two stumpings. His catches dismissed three of Bangladesh’s most crucial batsmen- Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique and Shakib al Hasan. His stumpings dismissed Mohammed Ashraful and Shahadat Hossain.

In the second innings, Mahi took three catches to dismiss Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique and Mohammed Ashraful. India went on to win the match by 10 wickets.

The second time Dhoni attained this feat was the following year against West Indies at Mumbai. In the first innings, MSD took five catches to dismiss Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Adrian Barath, Kieran Powell and skipper Darren Sammy.

In the second innings, Dhoni took a catch and two dismissals. His catch dismissed Darren Sammy while his stumpings got rid of Kirk Edwards and Marlon Samuels. The match eventually ended in a draw.

#2 Nine dismissals (8 catches and 1 stumping)- MS Dhoni vs Australia, 2014

MSD ended his Test career with a spectacular performance with the gloves

MS Dhoni makes another appearance on this list, having set a then-record for the most number of dismissals by an Indian keeper in a single Test. He set this record in his final Test match against Australia at Melbourne in 2014.

In the first innings, Dhoni took 5 dismissals- 4 catches and a stumping. His catches dismissed Chris Rogers, Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns and Brad Haddin while his stumping dismissed Mitchell Johnson.

In the second innings, then Indian skipper took four catches to dismiss Shane Watson, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris. In the process, Dhoni bettered his own and Nayan Mongia’s record of 8 dismissals for the most number of dismissals by an Indian glovesman in a single Test.

The match eventually ended in a draw and MS Dhoni ended his Test career by setting a new record.

#1 Ten dismissals (10 catches)- Wriddhiman Saha vs South Africa, 2018

Saha broke Dhoni's record just a couple of months back

Dhoni’s record of 9 dismissals was broken just two months back by his successor Wriddhiman Saha during the first Test of the South Africa tour at Cape Town.

In the first innings, Saha took 5 catches to dismiss Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, skipper Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada.

In the second innings, Saha took another five catches to dismiss Elgar, Du Plessis, De Kock, Keshav Maharaj and Morne Morkel. In the process, he surpassed MS Dhoni’s 9 dismissals to become the record holder for the most number of dismissals by an Indian keeper in a single Test.

India lost the game but Saha added a record to his name. Along with Adam Gilchrist and Bob Taylor, Wriddhiman is joint second in the list of the most number of dismissals by any wicket keeper in a single Test.