Not Dhoni or Pant, this wicketkeeper of India is the best world … claims former captain

New Delhi. Whenever it comes to wicketkeeper in Indian cricket, the name of MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant first comes. Most of the Indians consider either of these two as the best wicketkeeper of India, but Mohammad Azharuddin’s opinion is different. Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin praised Syed Kirmani on Monday and said that he is the best wicketkeeper in the world. Kirmani was a member of India’s 1983 ODI World Cup winning team.

Syed Kirmani, who played 88 Tests for India, was highly praised by Mohammad Azharuddin on the launch of ‘Stump: Life Behind and Beyond the Twenty-to Yard’. Azharuddin shared the dressing room with Syed Kirmani in the early days of his career. That is, they have not only played with Kirmani, but have spent a big time together.

Syed Kirmani played a total of 88 Tests and 49 ODIs for Team India from January 1976 to January 1986 and scored 2759 and 373 runs respectively. He caught 160 catches in Test cricket as a keeper and stumped 38 batsmen. In ODIs, he completed 36 hunting (27 catches and nine stumpings). Kirmani played all eight matches in the 1983 World Cup and caught 12 catches and stumped two.

Syed Kirmani ended his career with 234 hunting (187 catches and 47 stumping) for India in 199 innings of 137 matches. Among Indian wicketkeepers, only MS Dhoni (823), Nayan Mongia (261) and Rishabh Pant (244) are ahead of them.