While MS Dhoni is almost universally the first name that comes to mind when discussing India’s greatest wicketkeepers, the debate regarding technical mastery often includes Wriddhiman Saha. Known for his flawless glovework and agility, Saha has long been regarded by purists as a peerless talent in terms of pure gloverwork.
Rohit Sharma declares Wriddhiman Saha as India's best wicketkeeper
But in Rohit Sharma's view, it's Saha, who he declared as the finest wicketkeeper India has ever produced. Notably, Rohit’s comments were intended to highlight Saha’s immense technical talent.
Rohit emphasised that Saha is not only the best behind the stumps but also one of the most underrated cricketers in the nation's history. He explained that keeping wickets in India, particularly in Test cricket, is a grueling task that requires extraordinary reflexes. According to Rohit, the unpredictable nature of Indian pitches, where the ball frequently turns sharply, stays low, or bounces unexpectedly—demands a level of skill that Saha mastered better than anyone else.
We have never seen such a keeper in India. India's best keeper: Rohit Sharma
The veteran opener further stated that the difficulty level increases significantly when keeping to world-class spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. He pointed out that Jadeja’s high pace and Ashwin’s vast array of variations, such as the carrom ball, make every delivery a challenge. Despite these hurdles, Rohit said that Saha consistently made "impossible" catches look routine, cementing his reputation as a master of his craft.
“We have never seen such a keeper in India. India's best keeper. There is no doubt about it. You must have seen it when we were playing the Test matches. In India, the ball spins a lot. It stays low. Keeping the ball in that position. Keeping the ball in focus is tough. Jadeja bowls fast. Ashwin is so skillful. He bowls from the top. He bowls a carom ball. He doesn't even know which ball he is bowling. Saha has caught that ball. So, isn't it? (laughs),” Rohit said in a viral video.
Over the course of 40 Test matches, Saha was responsible for 104 dismissals, consisting of 92 catches and 12 stumpings. While primarily recognized for his glovework, Saha also proved to be a capable contributor with the bat, tallying 1,353 runs including three centuries and six half-centuries. Despite his consistency in the longest format, his opportunities in white-ball cricket were limited, appearing in only nine ODIs for his country.
In comparison, Dhoni’s record reflects both his longevity and his massive impact on the game. Across 90 Test matches, Dhoni recorded 294 dismissals, featuring 256 catches and 38 stumpings. His batting prowess was equally significant, as he amassed 4,876 runs at the Test level, decorated with six hundreds and 33 fifties. These figures highlight a career defined by high-volume production and the ability to balance heavy responsibilities behind the stumps and in the middle order.
Ultimately, Dhoni and Saha represent two distinct philosophies of wicketkeeping. Dhoni revolutionized the role, blending lightning-fast stumping reflexes with tactical leadership and an uncanny ability to read the game under pressure. Conversely, Saha was the quintessential traditionalist. His game was built on flawless footwork, exceptional low-catching technique, and the rare ability to stand up to the stumps against medium-pacers, making him a master of the classical craft.