We tend to focus on who is batting, bowling, or fielding in cricket, but we forget who is wicket-keeping, the one player who looks after the stumps. The best wicketkeeper in the world is someone who is an exceptional observer and attentive throughout the entire match.
Behind the stumps, a wicketkeeper must be alert, agile, and quick to respond. In any match, it can mean the difference between a win and a loss. As a result, every team requires a strong wicketkeeper in their playing 11.
Here are the top 7 wicketkeepers of all time!
| Player Name | Country | Matches Played | Total Dismissals | Catches | Stumpings |
| Mark Boucher | South Africa | 467 | 998 | 952 | 46 |
| Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 396 | 905 | 813 | 92 |
| MS Dhoni | India | 538 | 829 | 634 | 195 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 594 | 678 | 539 | 139 |
| Ian Healy | Australia | 287 | 628 | 560 | 68 |
| Rod Marsh | Australia | 188 | 479 | 463 | 16 |
| Brad Haddin | Australia | 226 | 474 | 449 | 25 |
1. Mark Boucher (South Africa)
South African legend Mark Boucher tops this list and is crowned the Greatest Wicket Keeper in the World. Boucher had played 467 matches in his career and had 998 dismissals to his name, falling just two dismissals short of a thousand.
Boucher was undeniably one of the safest hands behind the stumps, and his contribution to his team was invaluable.
2. Adam Gilchrist (Australia)
Australia has produced many great cricketers throughout its history, but few have been as influential as Adam Gilchrist, or ‘Gilly’ as he was affectionately known among his teammates.
Gilchrist was an incredible explosive batsman with one of the world’s safest hands.
With 396 international matches under his belt and 905 dismissals to his name, Gilchrist is only second to Mark Boucher on this list.
3. MS Dhoni (India)
MS Dhoni, perhaps India’s biggest and most respected name, is the only Indian name on this list.
Different people have different memories of M S Dhoni. Some will remember him as the only captain to win all ICC Trophies, while others will remember him as an explosive finisher, but one thing everyone can agree on is that he is without a doubt the greatest wicket-keeper the country has ever produced, and the numbers appear to agree.
Dhoni is the world’s third best wicket-keeper, having been dismissed 829 times in 538 matches.
4. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Kumar Sangakkara is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He not only has the most international runs and centuries, but he has also proven his worth as a wicket keeper.
Sangakkara, a well-known legend of the game, has played the most international matches of any wicket-keeper, with 594. He is ranked fourth on this list, with 678 dismissals to his credit.
5. Ian Healy (Australia)
Ian Healy, another Australian wicket keeper, is ranked fifth. Shane Warne, the great spinner, referred to him as the greatest Wicket Keeper he had ever seen. Healy, who made his debut in 1988 and played until 1999, was the first wicket keeper to have more than 600 dismissals.
In fact, he accomplished this in fewer than 300 international matches, with 628 dismissals in 287. No one could break that record for a long time, and even now, among fellow Australians, Adam Gilchrist has more dismissals than Healy.
6. Rod Marsh (Australia)
Rod Marsh is another Australian on the list, ranking sixth with 479 dismissals in his international career.
What’s remarkable is that Rod Marsh accomplished this feat in only 188 matches, which is not only 38 fewer than Haddin’s total, but also the only time someone on this list has played fewer than 200 games and been involved in this many dismissals.
7. Brad Haddin (Australia)
Australia has a long history of Wicket Keeper Batsmen who have influenced the team’s performance in a variety of ways.
Another example is Brad Haddin. Haddin, who made his debut in 2001 and retired from international cricket in 2015, ranks seventh with 474 dismissals in 226 matches.