12 Best Wicket Keeper in the World 2025: Exceptional Performances and Skills Unveiled

kaiggy12 13 January 2025 13:14

In cricket, the wicket-keeper is a pivotal position, often making or breaking matches with their precision and quick reflexes. Having a top-notch wicket-keeper not only stabilizes the defense but also bolsters a team's confidence by curbing the opposition's scoring opportunities. Here's a comprehensive overview of the 12 Best Wicket Keeper Worldwide in 2025, showcasing their exceptional abilities and stellar contributions to the game.

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Top 12 Best Wicket Keepers in the World (with Data)

Below is the overall ranking of the Top 12 Best Wicket Keepers in the World for 2025:

RankPlayerCountryCatchesRun OutsStumpingsTotal
1MS DhoniIndia786572371080
2Quinton de KockSouth Africa584962655
3Jos ButtlerEngland5033051584
4Rishabh PantIndia2911050351
5Jonny BairstowEngland3711418403
6Matthew WadeAustralia2481127286
7Alex CareyAustralia246431281
8Nicholas PooranWest Indies1181614148
9Heinrich KlaasenSouth Africa1051120136
10Rahmanullah GurbazAfghanistan769691
11Ben FoakesEngland7201183
12Tim SeifertNew Zealand434956

1. MS Dhoni (IND)

Notable Achievements: Known for his calm and composed presence behind the stumps. He has a record of making some brilliant stumpings and catches under pressure. In the IPL, he has led his team to multiple championships with his excellent captaincy and wicket-keeping skills. In international cricket, he has been a key figure in many important matches. For instance, in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final, his stumpings and catches were crucial in the team's victory.

MS Dhoni

Statistics: In his entire T20 career, he has an average of 38 runs and has made over 100 stumpings and 200 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2005-14)256338
ODI (2004-19)32122123
T20I (2006-19)57834
IPL (2008-)152
2442

2. Quinton de Kock (SA)

Notable Achievements: A highly experienced opener and reliable batsman. In the SA20 League, he has been a consistent performer. In the previous season's matches, he showed great skills behind the stumps and with the bat. His quick reflexes and ability to make stumpings and catches have been crucial for his team. For example, in the 2024 SA20 League matches, he had a significant number of dismissals and scored runs at a good strike rate, making him one of the key players for DSG.

Quinton de Kock

Statistics: In the last 10 T20 matches, he has an average of 40 runs with the bat and has affected around 5 stumpings and 10 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2014-21)221111
ODI (2013-23)209217
T20I (2012-)84418
IPL (2013-)70216

3. Jos Buttler (ENG)

Notable Achievements: A dynamic wicket-keeper batsman. He has been a consistent performer for the England team in T20 cricket. His aggressive batting style combined with his safe hands behind the stumps has made him one of the top wicket-keepers in the world. In the T20 World Cup matches, he has scored crucial runs and also made important dismissals.

Jos Buttler

Statistics: In the last 20 T20 matches, he has an average of 45 runs and has made around 6 stumpings and 12 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2014-22)15311
ODI (2012-23)221
1237
T20I (2011-)741113
IPL (2016-)5561

4. Rishabh Pant (IND)

Notable Achievements: A talented wicket-keeper batsman. He has shown great potential in the Indian team. His ability to score runs quickly and his sharp reflexes behind the stumps have made him an important player. In a match against England, he made some spectacular catches and also scored a fighting century.

Rishabh Pant

Statistics: In the last 10 T20 matches, he has an average of 37 runs and has made around 4 stumpings and 7 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2018-)149
115
ODI (2018-)2701
T20I (2017-)40311
IPL (2016-)75623

5. Jonny Bairstow (ENG)

Notable Achievements: He is known for his excellent batting skills along with his wicket-keeping abilities. He has made significant contributions in Test and T20 cricket. In T20 matches, he has scored quick runs and has also been reliable behind the stumps. In a series against Australia, he had a great performance with both bat and gloves.

Jonny Bairstow

Statistics: In the last 15 T20 matches, he has an average of 42 runs and has made around 5 stumpings and 10 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2012-)242
314
ODI (2011-23)5583
T20I (2011-)4631
IPL (2019-)2834

6. Matthew Wade (AUS)

Notable Achievements: He has been a key player for the Australian team in T20 cricket. His batting has been useful and his wicket-keeping has been reliable. In a T20 World Cup match, he scored crucial runs and also made some important dismissals that helped Australia win the match.

Matthew Wade

Statistics: In the last 15 T20 matches, he has an average of 32 runs and has made around 5 stumpings and 9 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2012-21)74
111
ODI (2012-21)10839
T20I (2011-)5876
IPL (2011-)8
01

7. Alex Carey (AUS)

Notable Achievements: He has been a consistent performer for the Australian team. His wicket-keeping skills have been highly regarded. In the Ashes series and T20 internationals, he has made important contributions. He has a good record of making stumpings and catches and has also scored some useful runs.

Alex Carey

Statistics: In the last 15 T20 matches, he has an average of 33 runs and has made around 5 stumpings and 9 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2021-)141014
ODI (2018-)8418
T20I (2018-21)1929
IPL (2020)200

8. Nicholas Pooran (WI)

Notable Achievements: A promising wicket-keeper batsman, Nicholas Pooran has been making his mark in the cricketing world. He has shown excellent skills both behind the stumps and with the bat. In recent matches, his batting has been aggressive, often providing a boost to the team's score. His reflexes and glove work have been crucial in effecting stumpings and taking catches. For example, in a crucial encounter against a strong opponent, he made a couple of important dismissals that changed the game's momentum.

Nicholas Pooran

Statistics: In the past 10 T20 matches, he has an average of around 30 runs with the bat and has made approximately 3 stumpings and 6 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
ODI (2019-23)23
42
T20I (2016-)63
68
IPL (2019-)32
64

9. Heinrich Klaasen (SA)

Notable Achievements: A dependable batsman and excellent keeper. He has been in good form in the SA20 League. In the matches he has played, he has not only made important contributions with the bat but also has been very efficient behind the stumps. His glove work has been praised by many cricket experts. In a crucial match against a strong opponent last season, he made some crucial catches and stumpings that changed the course of the game.

Heinrich Klaasen

Statistics: In the last 10 T20 matches, he has an average of 35 runs and has made around 4 stumpings and 8 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2019-23)1002
ODI (2018-)4826
T20I (2018-)3365
IPL (2018-)1437

10. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG)

Notable Achievements: A young and aggressive batter. He has shown great potential in the matches he has played for PC. His batting skills combined with his wicket-keeping abilities make him a valuable asset for the team. In a recent match, he made some good saves behind the stumps and also scored a quickfire half-century, proving his all-round capabilities.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Statistics: In the last 10 T20 matches, he has an average of 30 runs and has made around 3 stumpings and 6 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2024-)2
00
ODI (2021-)2352
T20I (2019-)3644
IPL (2023-)1500

11. Ben Foakes (ENG)

Notable Achievements: Known for his excellent glove work. He has been a reliable wicket-keeper in the England team. In Test cricket as well as T20 matches, he has made important contributions with his wicket-keeping skills. In a Test match against South Africa, his catches and stumpings were highly praised.

Ben Foakes

Statistics: In the last 10 T20 matches, he has an average of 28 runs and has made around 4 stumpings and 8 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
Test (2018-)69010
ODI (2019-)201
T20I (2019-)100

12. Tim Seifert (NZ)

Notable Achievements: A promising wicket-keeper batsman. He has shown good form in the New Zealand team. His batting has been aggressive and he has also been solid behind the stumps. In a match against India, he scored a quick fifty and also made some important dismissals.

Tim Seifert

Statistics: In the last 10 T20 matches, he has an average of 30 runs and has made around 3 stumpings and 6 catches.

FormatCatchesRun OutsStumpings
ODI (2019)701
T20I (2018-)35
48
IPL (2021-22)100

Summary

In the world of cricket, wicket-keepers play a vital role. The top 12 wicket-keepers listed above have shown exceptional skills both behind the stumps and with the bat. Their reflexes, glove work, and ability to contribute to the team's score make them stand out. They have performed in various international and domestic leagues, and their consistent performances have earned them their positions among the best. These wicket-keepers have to adapt to different pitch conditions, bowling attacks, and match situations, which showcases their versatility and importance in the game.

QATs

Is Dhoni the best wicket keeper in the world?

MS Dhoni is one of the most renowned wicket-keepers globally. He has an outstanding record with his glove work and captaincy. However, determining the "best" is subjective as it depends on various factors like different formats of the game, team requirements, and personal opinions. But his achievements and skills definitely place him among the top tier of wicket-keepers.

Who is the god of wicket keeping in world?

There isn't a universally agreed-upon "god" of wicket keeping. Different eras have seen different players excel in this position. Players like MS Dhoni, Adam Gilchrist, and others are highly regarded for their wicket-keeping skills and have made significant contributions to the game.

Who is the best wicket keeper in the IPL?

In the IPL, MS Dhoni has been one of the most successful wicket-keepers. His leadership and wicket-keeping skills have helped Chennai Super Kings win multiple championships. However, other players like Jos Buttler and Quinton de Kock have also shown great performances in the IPL and are strong contenders for the title of the best wicket-keeper in the IPL.

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