Wicket-keepers are an integral part of a cricket team. Teams can always replace a fielder when it is required but they can never change their wicket-keeper as per their wish or amid injury concerns because teams pick their best man to stand behind the wickets often. Bowlers owe 60-70% of their success to the wicket-keepers as without them the abundance of catches and stumpings would never occur. Some great personalities like Adam Gilchrist, Mark Boucher, MS Dhoni, and Kumar Sangakkara were top in the business in the history of the game. Let us shed light on the most catches in ODI by a wicket keeper.
Adam Gilchrist
Former Australian stalwart, Adam Gilchrist tops the chart of most catches in ODI by a wicket-keeper. From 1996 to 2008 he took part in the 50-over format and plucked 417 catches in 287 outings at a magnificent cat/inn ratio of 1.483. Donning the gloves, he never disappointed his classy fast bowlers like Gleen McGrath, Brett Lee, and Nathan Bracken due to his unmatched catching skills.
Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher is considered the greatest wicket-keeper to play for South Africa and grabbed the 2nd most catches in ODI by wicket-keeper. The 5ft 6 in cricketer registered 402 catches in his name in 295 matches, having a cat/inn rate of 1.386. His antics with the gloves are the most talked thing about his career and he barely gave bowlers a chance to complain as he took the most difficult catches too.
Kumar Sangakkara
The 2nd highest run-getter in the one-day format, Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara gets the 3rd spot on the list of most catches in ODI by a wicket-keeper. Sangakkara fascinated everyone with his glove work for both fast and spin bowlers. Having played 404 games, the Southpaw grasped 383 catches and he took the highest 5 catches in an innings.
MS Dhoni
The only captain to win 3 different ICC trophies, MS Dhoni features in 4th place in taking the most catches in ODI by a wicket-keeper. The former Indian veteran’s movements were phenomenal and had the fastest hands in the world when it comes to stumpings. Making his debut in 2004, Dhoni went on to play 350 games and apprehended 321 catches, and affected 123 stumpings, the most by any wicket-keeper. Throughout his career despite batting at no.6, Dhoni scored 10773 runs at a stunning average of 50.57.
List of Most Catches in ODI by a Wicket Keeper
| Player | Mat | Inn | Catches | Cat/Inn |
| A Gilchrist (AUS) | 287 | 281 | 417 | 1.483 |
| M Boucher (SA) | 295 | 290 | 402 | 1.386 |
| K Sangakkara (SL) | 404 | 353 | 383 | 1.084 |
| MS Dhoni (IND) | 350 | 345 | 321 | 0.930 |
| B McCullum (NZ) | 260 | 183 | 227 | 1240 |
| M Rahim (BAN) | 251 | 235 | 215 | 0.914 |
| M Khan (PAK) | 219 | 209 | 214 | 1.023 |
| J Buttler (ENG) | 165 | 160 | 204 | 1.275 |
| I Healy (AUS) | 168 | 168 | 194 | 1.154 |
| Q De Kock (SA) | 140 | 133 | 183 | 1.375 |
Adam Gilchrist has taken the most catches in ODI as a wicket-keeper.
MS Dhoni took 321 catches as a wicket-keeper (321).
Senior Cricket Content Editor at Skyblogs Cricket.
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