Best wicketkeeper in cricket

Here is the list of top 10 brilliant wicketkeepers in cricket history 

1-    Adam Gilchrist (Australia): Adam Gilchrist is widely regarded as one of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket history. He played for Australia from 1996 to 2008. Gilchrist held the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in Test cricket (including catches and stumpings) at the time of my knowledge of the wicketkeeper cut-off, with a total of 416 dismissals in 96 matches.

  • Batting Prowess: One of the most devastating left-handed batsmen, Gilchrist often opened the batting in ODIs and Tests. He was known for his ability to score quickly and played crucial innings for Australia in various formats.

Records and Achievements:

  1. Gilchrist held the record for the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in Test cricket for several years. He scored 204 runs against South Africa in 2002.
  2. He also held the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a Test series, achieving 37 dismissals against India in 2003-04.
  3. Gilchrist was a part of multiple successful Australian teams, winning three consecutive ICC Cricket World Cups in 1999, 2003, and 2007.


2-    Mark Boucher (South Africa): Mark Boucher was an exceptional wicketkeeper who played for South Africa from 1997 to 2012. He held the record for the most dismissals in Test cricket until it was surpassed by Gilchrist. Boucher took 555 dismissals (532 catches and 23 stumpings) in 147 Test matches.

  • Most Test Dismissals: Mark Boucher holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in Test cricket. He achieved this milestone during his international career, taking numerous catches and effecting many dismissals behind the stumps.
  • ODI and T20I Performances: While Boucher was primarily known for his achievements in Test cricket, he also had a successful career in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is). He contributed significantly with both the bat and the gloves in limited-overs formats.
  • Longevity and Consistency: Boucher's career spanned over a decade, during which he consistently performed at a high level. His dedication to the game and his ability to maintain a high standard of wicketkeeping over an extended period were key factors in his success.


3-   Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): While primarily known for his batting, Kumar Sangakkara was an outstanding wicketkeeper for Sri Lanka. He played from 2000 to 2015. Sangakkara held the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) until it was surpassed by MS Dhoni. He took 482 dismissals (383 catches and 99 stumpings) in 404 ODI matches.

  • Record for Most Dismissals in ODIs: Sangakkara holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He has effected numerous dismissals through catches and stumpings during his career.
  • Record for Most Runs by a Wicketkeeper in ODIs: Sangakkara is also among the leading run-scorers among wicketkeeper-batsmen in ODIs. His ability to contribute significantly with the bat while keeping wickets is a testament to his skill and consistency.
  • Double-Century as a Wicketkeeper in Tests: Sangakkara became the first wicketkeeper-batsman to score a double-century in Test cricket when he achieved this milestone against Pakistan in 2012. His innings of 211 runs showcased his versatility and batting prowess.
  • Consistent Batting Performances: While Sangakkara's wicketkeeping skills were top-notch, he was equally known for his exceptional batting performances. He has a stellar record in all three formats of the game, and his ability to anchor the innings and play match-winning knocks made him a crucial player for Sri Lanka.


4-   MS Dhoni (India): MS Dhoni is considered one of the finest wicketkeeper-batsmen in cricket history. He played for India from 2004 to 2019. Dhoni currently holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in ODIs, with 444 dismissals (321 catches and 123 stumpings) in 350 matches.

Captaincy Achievements:

  • Dhoni was the captain of the Indian cricket team from 2007 to 2016.
  • Under his captaincy, India won numerous trophies, including the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the 2010 and 2016 Asia Cups, and most notably, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

ICC Awards:

  • Dhoni has been the recipient of various ICC awards, including the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

Batting Records:

  • Dhoni is known for his finishing abilities as a batsman in limited-overs cricket.
  • He has scored over 10,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and has multiple centuries and fifties to his name.

Wicketkeeping Records:

  • Dhoni holds several records as a wicketkeeper, including the most dismissals in a calendar year in ODIs and the most dismissals in a single innings in T20 Internationals.

5-   Jos Buttler (England): Buttler is regarded as one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in modern-day cricket. He has a natural ability to score at a high strike rate and has played crucial innings for England across all formats. As of 2021, Buttler has over 150 dismissals in ODIs and more than 50 dismissals in Tests.

ODI (One Day International) Cricket:

  • Buttler is known for his explosive batting in the middle order in ODIs.
  • He holds the record for the fastest ODI century by an English batsman, scoring it in just 46 balls against Pakistan in 2015.

Test Cricket:

  • Buttler has been a regular part of the England Test team as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
  • He has played crucial innings for England in Test matches, showcasing his ability to adapt to the longer format.

Indian Premier League (IPL):

  • Buttler has been a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL), representing teams like the Rajasthan Royals.
  • He has played match-winning innings in the IPL and is known for his aggressive style of play.

Wicketkeeping Records:

  • Buttler is known for his agile and athletic wicketkeeping skills, contributing to dismissals through catches and stumpings.


6-    Brendon McCullum (New Zealand): McCullum was a dynamic wicket-keeper batsman who set the tone for aggressive cricket. He scored 6,453 runs in Tests and 6,083 runs in ODIs, with 201 and 262 dismissals respectively.
Alec Stewart (England): Stewart was a versatile player who excelled both as a wi and a batsman. He scored 8,463 runs in Tests and 4,677 runs in ODIs while taking 263 and 227 dismissals respectively.

  • Fastest Test Century: McCullum holds the record for the fastest century in Test cricket. He scored a blistering 100 off 54 balls against Australia in 2016.
  • Captaincy Success: He was the captain of the New Zealand cricket team and played a crucial role in leading the team to success in various formats. Under his captaincy, New Zealand reached the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015.
  • Double Century in Tests: McCullum became the first New Zealand batsman to score a triple century in Test cricket. He achieved this feat against India in 2014, scoring 302 runs.
  • Versatility: McCullum was known for his versatility in the batting order. He could open the innings or play in the middle order, providing flexibility to the team.
While McCullum wasn't a specialist wicketkeeper


7-    Andy Flower (Zimbabwe): Flower was known for his consistency with both bat and gloves. He scored 5,642 runs in Tests and 4,794 runs in ODIs, and registered 151 and 184 dismissals respectively. Test dismissals: 151 catches and 9 stumpings
ODI dismissals: 184 catches and 34 stumpings.

Batting Records:

  • Flower is widely regarded as one of the finest batsmen to have played for Zimbabwe. He holds several batting records for Zimbabwe in both Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket.

Double Century against India:

  • One of his most memorable performances was his innings of 232 not out against India in Nagpur in 2000. This remains the highest individual score by a Zimbabwean batsman in Test cricket.

Cricket World Cups:

  • Flower represented Zimbabwe in multiple Cricket World Cups, contributing significantly with the bat. He played a crucial role in Zimbabwe's run to the Super Six stage in the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

Coach and Coaching Achievements:

  • After his playing career, Andy Flower transitioned into coaching. He served as the head coach of the England cricket team from 2009 to 2014. Under his coaching, England achieved significant success, including winning the Ashes series in 2009 and becoming the number-one-ranked Test team in the world.


8-    Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh): Rahim has been a key player for Bangladesh and has achieved several records. He has scored over 4,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs and has over 250 dismissals across both formats. Test dismissals: 247 catches and 14 stumpings
ODI dismissals: 204 catches and 40 stumpings.

  • First Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batsman to score 4,000 runs in Test cricket: Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batsman to reach the milestone of 4,000 runs in Test cricket.
  • Centuries in Test cricket: Mushfiqur Rahim has scored centuries in Test matches, showcasing his ability as a batsman. His centuries have played crucial roles in Bangladesh's Test performances.
  • ODI and T20I Performances: Rahim has also been a consistent performer in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for Bangladesh. He has contributed significantly with the bat and as a wicketkeeper in limited-overs formats.
  • Captaincy: Mushfiqur Rahim has captained the Bangladesh cricket team, leading them in various formats. His leadership has been instrumental in Bangladesh's cricketing journey.



9-    Quinton de Kock (South Africa): De Kock has emerged as one of the top wicket-keeper batsmen in recent years. He has scored over 3,000 runs in Tests and more than 6,000 runs in ODIs, with a significant number of dismissals to his name. Test dismissals: 269 catches and 22 stumpings ODI dismissals: 178 catches and 28 stumpings.

  • International Career: De Kock has been a key player for the South African national team in all three formats of the game - Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I).
  • Batting Records: He is known for his aggressive batting style and has scored numerous centuries and fifties in international cricket.
  • Wicketkeeping: De Kock is a skilled wicketkeeper, known for his agility and safe hands behind the stumps. He has taken numerous catches and executed dismissals.
  • IPL Success: Apart from international cricket, de Kock has been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL). he has played for franchises like Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Mumbai Indians. In the IPL, he has showcased his batting prowess and wicketkeeping skills.


10-    AB de Villiers (South Africa): Although primarily known as a batsman, de Villiers has also kept wickets for South Africa. He was known for his athleticism and acrobatic skills behind the stumps. While he doesn't hold any specific wicketkeeping records, he has been an exceptional asset to the team with his dual role. AB de Villiers has taken 73 catches and executed 5 stumpings in One-Day Internationals (ODIs).AB de Villiers has not been primarily known for his role as a wicketkeeper. He is widely recognized as one of the most versatile and talented batsmen in international cricket. However, his main contributions have been with the bat, and he has played various roles in the batting order for the South African cricket team.