5 most successful Indian wicket-keepers in Test cricket

Indian cricket team has never been short of exceptional batsmen in the longest format of the game. It has produced a plethora of batsmen who can be termed as one of the all-time best in the sport's history. Even the bowling lineup, that has been India's weak link historically, has seen such an unimaginable turnaround that even the biggest of pundits have started calling the current Indian bowling crop as the best in the world.

However, India's wicketkeepers have never received the same level of praise and attention for their work behind the stumps. Barring one former skipper, Indian glovemen are not very fondly remembered by the fans, even though India has produced many world class wicketkeepers.

As a tribute, we take a look at India's 5 most successful wicketkeepers in Test Cricket.

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#5 Wriddhiman Saha

India's wicketkeeper in the longest format, Wriddhiman Saha has been a revelation both behind the stumps and with the bat. His presence in the team not only provides a more than handy lower order batsman, but his exceptional wicket-keeping skills have ensured he remains India's first choice behind the wickets since MS Dhoni's retirement.

Saha has played 32 Test matches so far in his 8-year long career and has taken 75 catches behind the stumps and has also been part of 10 stumpings, which takes his overall dismissal tally to 85. His 10 dismissals in the first Test against South Africa made for the best figures by an Indian wicket keeper.

With his performance getting better with each match, Saha will undoubtedly be an asset for the Indian team on the upcoming foreign tours.

#4 Nayan Mongia

The man who was hard to replace

The fact that India had to wait for another 4 years to finally settle for a permanent wicketkeeper after Nayan Mongia's retirement is enough evidence that he was a splendid gloveman.

Donning the gloves after Kiran More in 1994, Mongia was India's first-choice wicketkeeper for the next 6 years. His more than handy lower-order batting, along with his superb keeping technique made him an indispensable member of the Azaharuddin led side.

In 77 innings of the 44 Test matches he played during his career, he accounted for 99 catches behind the stump along with 8 stumpings, taking his overall dismissal tally to 107. Often remembered for his off-field controversies, the contributions of this wicketkeeper from Baroda, who won India plenty of matches in the late 90s, are often forgotten.

#3 Kiran More

A phenomenal personality both on and off the field

Before he became India's chief selector or started his own cricket academy in order to groom young cricketers, Kiran More himself was an exceptional athlete behind the stumps. Although he was not famous for his performance with the bat, his stupendous work behind the stumps ensured that he was India's first choice wicket keeper in the longer format for more than 7 years.

More was part of the Indian team in 49 test matches, and kept the wickets in 90 innings. In these 90 innings, he accounted for 130 dismissals, which include 110 catches behind the stumps and 20 stumpings. He still holds the record for most stumpings in a match(6) as well as in an inning(5), which he achieved during a Test match against West Indies in 1989.

#2 Syed Kirmani

India's stumper during their early glory days

The early 1980s was probably the worst time to be a wicketkeeper as world cricket was full of exceptional stumpers. Be it Rod Marsh, Ian Smith, Jeff Dujon or Syed Kirmani, every single cricket team had an exceptional, well-settled wicketkeeper in their line up.

Syed Kirmani was India's permanent wicketkeeper for almost 10 years, and it was his success behind the stumps that encouraged a generation of young glovemen in India in the future years. A handy lower-order batsman, he also provided depth to the Indian batting line up.

In the 88 test matches he played for the Indian team, he kept the wickets in 151 innings and was involved in 198 dismissals. 160 of those dismissals were caught behind while 38 of those were stumpings, the joint highest among Indian wicketkeepers. He was the first Indian to register 6 dismissals in an innings when he took 5 catches and affected a stumping against New Zealand in 1976.

#1 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Faster than lightning

MS Dhoni's arrival at the international scene not only brought an end to India's three-year search for a permanent wicketkeeper but also gave a new finisher to the Indian team. So good has been the former Indian captain in all the three formats with the bat and the gloves that the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel only got a chance to play for India either when he was unavailable or when an extra batsman was needed.

Although Dhoni was never labelled as a Test player, he had a rather successful career in the longest format of the game.

He played 90 Test matches for the Indian team and kept the wickets in 166 innings. Not only did he account for the highest number of dismissals by an Indian wicketkeeper with 294, he also holds the record for most catches and stumpings individually by a wicketkeeper with 256 and 38 respectively.

Dhoni's fast movements behind the stumps, coupled with his extraordinary catching skills have ensured his place as the most successful wicketkeeper in Indian history.