In its 15th season, the Indian Premier League has seen superstar cricketers put on blockbuster performances. Chief among those has been the wicket keepers, the unsung heroes of the teams who control the game from behind the stumps.
But who is the best wicket keeper in the IPL? Is it the maverick Dinesh Karthik, the consistent Wriddhiman Saha, or the one-and-only MS Dhoni? Read on and find out who is on top of the list to be the best IPL wicket keeper.
Table of Contents
Most Dismissals by a Wicket Keeper in IPL: Statistics
The role of wicket keeper in cricket matches plays a vital part. Be it diving around to take catches, being quick on the stumping, or running-out dismissals, a wicket keeper, can help the team dominate the opposition. Let’s check the list of most dismissals by a wicket keeper in IPL.
| Position | Wicket keeper | Dismissals |
| 1 | MS Dhoni | 170 |
| 2 | D Karthik | 156 |
| 3 | W Saha | 93 |
| 4 | R Uthappa | 90 |
| 5 | P Patel | 81 |
5 Best IPL Wicket Keepers in IPL – Ranking
Wicket keepers are often referred to as the all-rounders of a team. They guard behind the stumps, dismiss batsmen, and direct bowlers. As batsmen, they contribute to the team’s total as finishers and anchors. And many great wicket keepers have also been effective captains. True IPL fans know who are the contenders for the title of best wicketkeeper in IPL.
You can easily check who has scored the most runs in IPL and who is the Baap of IPL. But what about the best wicket keeper? Let’s find out who are the top 5 all-time great wicket keepers according to the catches and runs scored.
| Position | Keeper | Matches | Innings | Runs | Catches | Stumpings |
| 1 | MS Dhoni | 233 | 226 | 4952 | 131 | 39 |
| 2 | D Karthik | 226 | 209 | 4331 | 123 | 33 |
| 3 | W Saha | 141 | 120 | 2391 | 71 | 22 |
| 4 | R Uthappa | 205 | 114 | 4952 | 58 | 32 |
| 5 | P Patel | 139 | 122 | 2848 | 65 | 16 |
5. Parthiv Patel
- Current IPL team: Retired
- Jersey Number: 42
- Matches: 139
- Bat style: Left-handed
A competent performer for several franchises, Parthiv Patel was the pocket-sized dynamo behind the stumps. The keeper, who debuted for the India national team in 2002 and played his last Test match in 2018, represented Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. However, Patel was never the best Indian wicket keeper.
Often sent out to open the innings, Patel was responsible for the solid starts that led to IPL titles for Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. He retired in 2019 with a total of 2,848 runs at an average of 22.60, with a strike rate of 120.78. He is the fifth most successful keeper in IPL history with 81 dismissals, including 65 catches and 16 stumpings.
4. Robin Uthappa
- Current IPL team: Chennai Super Kings
- Jersey Number: 37
- Matches: 205
- Bat style: Right-handed
In IPL, Robin Uthappa has mostly played the role of a backup wicketkeeper. But his performance behind the stumps rivals that of many regular keepers. Uthappa has played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and is currently representing the Chennai Super Kings. While he is a three-time IPL champion, his best work came with Kolkata.
The explosive batsman was a key part of KKR’s twin titles between 2012-2014. Despite often not being the primary keeper throughout his career, Uthappa’s glovework is supreme, and he is the fourth-best keeper in IPL with 90 dismissals (58 catches and 32 stumpings). Now with CSK, Uthappa is a specialist batsman with an overall record of 4,952 runs at an average of 27.51 with a strike rate of 130.35.
3. Wriddhiman Saha
- Current IPL team: Gujarat Titans
- Jersey Number: 6
- Matches: 141
- Bat style: Right-handed
The person who overtook Uthappa to become the third-best IPL wicketkeeper, Wriddhiman Saha, is a veteran stumper. Saha frequently played for India from 2010 to 2021 and has represented Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. The specialist keeper has been a consistent fixture in the tournament and has contributed with his nifty work behind the wickets.
As a batsman, Saha likes to stay busy, rotate the strike, and set other big-hitters up. One of the Indian best wicket keepers is currently at 2,391 runs at an average of 22.60 and a strike rate of 120.78. However, the Bengal keeper hasn’t slowed down behind the stumps with 93 dismissals (71 catches and 22 stumpings) in his IPL career.
2. Dinesh Karthik
- Current IPL team: Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Jersey Number: 19
- Matches: 226
- Bat style: Right-handed
Dinesh Karthik could have had a longer, more successful international career if not for a certain Mr. Dhoni. Despite not having featured in India’s blue jersey for three years, Karthik is a superstar in Indian cricket. Another IPL regular, Karthik, has played for Delhi Daredevils, Gujarat Lions, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. An IPL champion with Mumbai, DK has also been the captain for Kolkata.
The second-most successful IPL wicketkeeper ever, Karthik has 156 dismissals under his belt, including 123 catches and 33 stumpings. It is as a batsman, however, that Karthik is also the most dangerous wicket-keeper in IPL. He has scored 4,331 spectacular runs at an average of 26.73 and a strike rate of 132.57.
1. MS Dhoni
- Current IPL team: Chennai Super Kings
- Jersey Number: 7
- Matches: 233
- Bat style: Right-handed
What can we say about MS Dhoni that hasn’t been said already? The best wicket keeper in India, who led the team to World Championships in two formats, has also been an IPL megastar. For each of his 233 IPL matches, MSD has called the shots from behind the stumps.
What he lacks in acrobatic prowess, Dhoni makes up for with his sharp thinking and game sense. Be it the art of flicking the ball onto the stumps or dictating the play to his bowlers, Dhoni has redefined wicketkeeping in the modern era. He has the most catches in IPL by a wicket-keeper. Dhoni, the batter, has scored 4,952 runs at an average of 39.30 and a strike rate of 135.52.
One of the most successful wicket keepers in cricket, Dhoni, will be difficult to dislodge. He has recorded a whopping 170 dismissals, including 131 catches and 39 stumpings. He has also led CSK to 4 IPL titles.
FAQ
Who is the No 1 wicket keeper in the IPL?
MS Dhoni is the best wicket keeper in the IPL.
Final Thoughts
The Indian Premier League is the most exciting T20 competition around the world, and a significant reason behind that has been the quality of wicketkeepers. Also interesting is that every IPL best keeper is an Indian.
Main man MS Dhoni takes the title of the best wicketkeeper in IPL by some distance. The nearly 41-year-old is still going strong behind the stumps as the keeper for Chennai Super Kings. But interestingly, the rest of the list features a variety of stumpers.
Just like a safe pair of hands behind the stumps, you need a reliable partner when it comes to sports betting. That’s where we come in! We are an international brand and a licensed company with a 28-year history. With easy deposits, quick payouts, and promotional offers, Parimatch is the premium bookmaker for both newcomers and veteran bettors.
Betting on IPL without studying the odds and stats can be as difficult as keeping without gloves. On the Parimatch website, you will find guides, tips, and the latest odds. With our mobile app, you can check live scores and odds, bet pre-game or in-play, and enjoy 24×7 customer support. You can also bet on a variety of other sports, including e-sports and virtual sports.
Read More
- Most Successful Captain in India
- Highest Paid Athletes in 2022
- Top 10 Fastest Balls in IPL History
- Top 10 Longest Sixes in IPL History