Top 5 most valuable wicketkeeper-batsmen of IPL 2018 thus far

Wicket-keeping is one of the most vital and strenuous roles on the cricket field due to its physical and mental demands. Every side wants someone with safest hands behind the stumps. In cricket's early days, the role of wicket-keepers was primarily to keep wickets but, in the last two decades, however, the role of the wicket-keeper has undergone drastic changes due to the exploits of a few gentlemen who have redefined the very art.

This trend began with the feats of Australia’s Adam Gilchrist who was one of the most dangerous batsmen for Australia in all forms of the game besides being one of the finest artists behind the stumps. And now every team expects wicketkeepers to perform like specialist batsmen especially in the shorter formats of the game.

In T20 format a wicketkeeper-batsmen hold high value for their dexterity in multiple aspects of the game.

With the largest cricket festival of the year, Indian Premier League 2018 is underway let us take a look at the top five wicketkeeper-batsmen who have been exceptional thus far to their respective teams with both bat and gloves this season.

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#5 Ishan Kishan

The former India U-19 captain from Ranchi was roped in by Mumbai Indians for a whopping 6.2 Cr. which was around 15 times his base price of 40 lakhs. The 19-year-old was the third highest bid among the uncapped players this season.

With 151 runs thus far in six innings at an average of 25.17 and a strike-rate of 141.12, the southpaw is the second highest run-getter for Mumbai Indians this season.

The youngster leads the wicketkeepers column with six catches, two stumpings, and a run-out assist to his name.

Despite scoring fewer runs than RCB wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, Kishan's contribution behind the stumps gives him an edge over QDK to snatch the fifth spot of the list.

#4 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik

The hero for India in the recently concluded Nidahas trophy final stands fourth on this list. The wicketkeeper-batsman has spilled his fine form from Nidahas trophy in the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League as well. With 194 runs in six innings at a decent average of 48.50 and a strike-rate of 136.62, the KKR skipper is the highest run-getter for his franchise thus far in this season.

Hailed as one of the finest wicketkeepers of the country, Karthik has been excellent with the gloves too with 2 catches and 2 stumpings to his name.

Apart from donning the wicketkeeper-batsman role, Karthik is also leading the KKR from the front.

#3 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

The 20-year-old from Delhi is one of the three players that Delhi Daredevils retained for the IPL 2018 along with Shreyas Iyer and Chris Morris.

Rishabh Pant has been the lone shining light for Delhi with the bat this season before the other youngster Shreyas Iyer put his hand up.

With 227 runs in 5 innings at an average of 37.83 and a strike-rate of 170.68, Pant is the Delhi’s top run-scorer this season. More than one-fourth of the Delhi's runs in this season were scored by Pant.

With 3 dismissals thus far behind the stumps, the Delhi lad ranks third on the list.

#2 KL Rahul

KL Rahul

The classic wicketkeeper-batsman from Karnataka has been making headlines with his batting heroics in the ongoing edition of Indian Premier League. The stylish opener has started the season with a 14-ball fifty against Delhi Daredevils and is now one of the top contenders for the orange cap with 236 runs in six innings at an average of 39.33 and a staggering strike-rate of 180.15.

The right-hander has also been doing a decent job for KXIP behind the stumps despite not being a specialist wicketkeeper. With three catches to his name thus far Rahul ranks second in the chart by scoring the bulk of his runs in the winning causes for KXIP.

#1 MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni

The skipper of Chennai Super Kings has been in imperious form this season. His valiant innings of 79 off 44 against KXIP with sour back in a losing cause and his match-winning knock 70 off 34 against RCB last night which helped CSK record one of the finest chasings in the history of IPL tells how good a form he is in this season.

The legendary wicketkeeper-batsman has thus far scored 209 runs in six innings at an outstanding average of 69.67 and a strike-rate of 165.87.

It's a fact that with gloves, he is second to none. Dhoni has 5 dismissals and a run-out assist to his name behind the stumps.

Besides donning wicketkeeper-batsman role the value he brings to the team with his outstanding captaincy skills and the way he guides his bowlers from the best part of the ground is priceless in the context of the game. Considering all these factors the legend himself leads the chart.