The real part of the wicket-keeper is in a cricket team regardless of any version of all status. They are not just out there behind the wicket to complete a catch but also they need to watch and understand the game, suggest with setting fields or bowling whatever when as they have seen so many crucial situations of highs and lows, some bad most good which makes them choose-ground motivators motivating players fitting into their roles. India has been blessed with a variety of world-class wicket-keepers who have enthralled fans all over the country, contributing through their safe glovework, excellent batting, and most importantly, electric energy – often becoming the focus of cricket live score updates during matches. Here we’ll try to enlist some all-time great wicket keepers in the Indian medium.
Syed Kirmani
One of the best wicket-keepers of his generation was Syed Kirmani who was the Indian team’s wicket-keeper in the 1970s and 80s; he was a rock behind the wickets for some of the most memorable Test victories. He played for the West Indies side in 1971 under Ajit Wadekar when the world had not seen such courage from Indian players against the fearsome Caribbean pace. By the time he made his debut in 1971, Sunil Gavaskar and Kirmani developed a long-term association with each other where Kirmani guided the young batting great. Kirmani’s adventurous batting also helped India from getting out in embarrassing positions as well. Amarasinghe’s marathon innings against Australia in 1981 to gain a victory after being made to follow on remains a record.
Nayan Mongia
Nayan Mongia had been the first-choice wicketkeeper of the Indian cricket team in the 1990s. Although getting few chances in the initial years of Kirmani continuing his good run, Mongia got his place in the Indian team during 1992. He quickly became an invaluable asset to the team, proving that he could effectively work alone or with others. Having been a neat and flamboyant wicketkeeper and a good bowler, especially in the One-day internationals, Mongia emerged as a new aggressive lower-middle-order batsman who was capable of changing the course of the game at any given time.
Most of the time, Mongia came in when the Indian top order had been dismissed early on, and he seized the opportunity to play valuable innings that helped India bounce back. His was a lusty, aggressive knock that was instrumental in India chasing down 170 against Australia at the WACA in the 1992 test match. The highest he got against Australia was a total team score of 300, where he single-handedly outplayed Sachin Tendulkar. Mongia continued to perform well throughout the early part of the year 2000 before he was replaced by another young exciting wicketkeeper/batsman.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, widely recognized as one of the best wicket-keeper-batsmen in Indian cricket history is a well-attributed personality worldwide. He was born in July 1981, and his one-day international career started in December 2004, and the year just after he displayed some brilliant batting muscles with which every cricket fan all around the world got familiar. The first time he announced himself as the dauntless attacking presence, however, was with his maiden international century even being an ODI ton came in a match against Pakistan at Colombo in 2005 & scored 148 to win India out of jaws defeat by cruising them home when they were reeling at 199.
However, with time, Dhoni improved as a keeper and eventually replaced Dinesh Karthik behind the stumps. He was fast-tracked to captain a young Indian T20 team in 2007 on their way he won the World T20 Championship and opened up an unprecedented era of leadership in Indian cricket –that belonged, till then came MS Dhoni. Over the next decade, Dhoni established himself as India’s most successful captain in all formats of the game.
Wriddhiman Saha
A small guy with a tiny frame, having limited power when batting, Saha was an artist between wickets behind the stumps, especially against spin or any fast bowler. Some stunning dives and lightning-quick work behind the stumps, made people take note of Saha being one of the best in that business. Arun Lal described his keeping ability in his series review as being reminiscent of Rod Marsh. He claimed 24 dismissals in that Test series against Australia, and Adam Gilchrist said he is the best keeper in world cricket.
While never a reliable bat, the courageous under-fire efforts were called upon again as their season progressed. But WSL did not get much opportunity to play after 2018 they mostly carried injuries and the rise of Rishabh Pant. Saha may not be an entertaining batsman, but in the case of form, he remains the best bet that India has at this moment and adds value as a decent option for the lower-middle order.
Rishabh Pant
Whereas Dhoni was the original example of an impactful keeper-batsman finisher for India, Pant has taken this role to new heights. Since making his Test mark with an assertive 123 against England in 2018, Pant has enthralled followers with his orthodox batting and ferocious power-hitting skills. Even now at a mere age of 25 with such performances, Pant is likely to become one of the great batsmen for India in the future. Some issues are still open about his stoking regularity and some technical flaws in his batting but it must be admitted that World Cricket is short of such x-factor players like Pant.
The audacious unbeaten 89 against Australia that got India its first-ever Test series win at the Gabba will stand tall when one looks at the fourth innings Test great escape stories involving India. Pant can also walk the walk, as seen from his over-enthusiastic verbal expressions and rib-cracking jokes in between on-field performances behind the wickets. As India’s first choice in Test and white-ball cricket, much is expected of Pant to improve his questionable catching abilities and keep on raging with the bat in hand as he succeeds the iconic figure of Dhoni.
Conclusion
Starting with the traditional wicket-keeping position of Kirmani who was an engineer by profession and turned into a cricketer, to Pant changing the guard behind and in front of the stumps, Indian wicket-keepers have been courageous with their performance. In so many ways they have played with such handy batting, brilliant catching, quirkiness, and most importantly love for cricket that has enhanced the history of Indian cricket scores today and the overall legacy of the sport.
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