4 wicketkeepers who are unlucky to play in the same era as MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the world's finest finisher and a great wicketkeeper-batsman who has been in the team for more than a decade now. Hard-hitter, finisher, wicketkeeper and most importantly, Dhoni has also been the captain of the Indian cricket team. Aggression with decorum, modesty along with stardom, and apparent happy-go-lucky Midas touch, Dhoni is the perfect blend of a role-model and pin-up star.

He established himself as the world's best ODI batsman and a dangerous finisher and captained the Indian team, which won the 2007 T20 World Cup and also the World Cup 2011. Since Dhoni was introduced into the Indian team, he has been consistently performing so well that there was no need to have backup options. Other keepers were only considered if he was not fit to play or needed rest.

In such a situation, let's take a look at the five such unfortunate Indian wicketkeepers who had to sit out of the Indian team because of Dhoni's class.

#1 Wriddhimaan Saha

Experts appreciated Saha for his amazing reflexes and wicketkeeping skills. Perhaps his batting has been his weak side, yet his career is comparatively better than other fellow wicketkeepers.

He was in dream form in the 2014 IPL where he had scored a magnificent century for Kings XI Punjab, becoming the first Indian player to score a century in the IPL final. In December 2014, when MS Dhoni retired from Test cricket after the Australian tour, Saha was given the responsibility to fill up his shoes. Since then he has been impressive with his quick reflexes and acrobatic wicketkeeping skills behind the stumps and also contributed with the bat in dire circumstances when the stroke-making stalwarts failed. But unfortunately, he has been out of the team in 2018 owing to injury that has made way for young Rishabh Pant.

ODI Record: Matches: 09, Runs: 41

Test Record: Matches: 32, Runs: 1167

#2 Parthiv Patel

In 2002, 17-year-old Parthiv Patel started his Test career against England at Trent Bridge. Parthiv started on a promising note with both bat and wicketkeeping and played many commendable innings abroad till the year 2004. However, in the Pakistan series, he was axed from the squad due to his unreliable glovework. With the rise of MS Dhoni as a wicketkeeper-batsman, Parthiv's opportunity faded, as did the opportunities for most other aspiring young wicketkeepers in the country.

Owing to his spectacular performances in domestic matches, he was never out of the selectors' radar, perhaps that is why he did make a comeback in the team but could not solidify his place. Patel got an opportunity to play against England in 2016 and against South Africa in 2018 and with his good performance, he showed that he still holds his spot in the team. Under captain Kohli, Parthiv Patel continues to be a quintessential backup.

ODI Record: Matches: 38, Runs: 736

T20 International record: Matches: 02, Run: 36

Test Record: Matches: 25, Run: 934

#3 Naman Ojha

Naman Ojha is a fluent stroke-player and got his first opportunity to play in the ODI side of the Indian team in 2010, but didn't have any significant contribution. Later, he was dropped out of the team and has continued to be out of favour. Ojha has shown his potentialities through his domestic performance over the years.

Naman Ojha was also part of 2016 IPL-winning Sunrisers Hyderabad Team and was instrumental in their success. He also made his Test debut in 2015 when Saha was injured against Sri Lanka. However, his Test career was also in the same direction.

After making his domestic debut in 2000-01, he was one of the players who had been out of the team due to Dhoni. The fact that Naman Ojha appeared in the same era as Mahendra Singh Dhoni has done him more harm than good.

ODI Record: Matches: 01, Run: 01

T20 International Record: Matches: 02, Runs: 12

Test Record: Matches: 01, Runs: 56

#4 Dinesh Karthik

A few months ago, in the Nidahas Trophy final, India needed five runs on the last ball and Karthik gave the team victory with a six. He scored 29 runs off 8 balls in that match and made it into the headlines. After making his international debut before Dhoni and after Parthiv Patel, Karthik immediately caught the public eye with his uncanny ability to play crucial knocks when the team needed the most. However, a string of low scores made way for other batsman-keepers in the fringes.

With the rise of Dhoni, Karthik's come back chances were scarce. In the 2007 England Test series, Karthik returned to the team as a specialist batsman. He also became the leading run-scorer for the team. In 2018, he established himself as a trusted finisher for India and stamped his place for the World Cup 2019.

T20 International Record: Matches: 27, Runs: 352

Test Record: Matches: 26, Runs: 1025

ODI Record: Matches: 86, Runs: 1663