Top 5 Wicket Keepers who can replace MS Dhoni

Top 5 Wicket Keepers who can replace MS Dhoni: M.S Dhoni retired from test cricket after the third test against Australia leaving all the cricket fans in ambush. The timing of decision is questionable leaving Indian cricket in tatters in the middle of the series. Dhoni was one of the best captains for India till date taking the team to No.1 spot in the Test rankings. But more than the captain Dhoni, team India will miss his wicket-keeping abilities and his batting prowess. Dhoni is not an orthodox batsman but he can terrorize the bowlers with his aggression. He has left a big job vacant through his retirement. Sources close to Dhoni believe that he will retire from limited overs format too, after the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Virat Kohli, who takes over the helm of affairs from the 4th Test against the Aussies at Sydney will be captain by default if ever that happens. Test Cricket is not probably a format where Dhoni has had much authority to be honest, but his retirement from the limited overs if ever that will happen after the World Cup will be a big blow. He is one of the best finishers in ODI cricket and it is highly impossible to replace him, at least in the near future. However, CricTracker seeks to find the probable replacements for M.S. Dhoni in both the formats. #1 Wriddhiman Saha Wriddhiman Saha has been India’s first choice wicketkeeper in MS Dhoni’s absence. (Photo Source: AFP) Wriddhiman Saha for most of his career has been under the massive shadows of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and played only when the later was unavailable. He is already 30 years, and it is by no measures a good age for a keeper to start, but worth a go for the shorter term. While he may not be seen as a long-term replacement for the Indian stalwart, he deserves his opportunity. Saha has been on the sidelines for quite some time now, and deserves to represent India as a front line wicket keeper batsman and must be given a worthy opportunity to prove himself at the highest level. For a wicket-keeper who averages at 43.77 he hasn’t been able to show justice to his talent so far. Days are numbered for him, he better grab the opportunity with both hands else the others are prowling for the much coveted position. #2 Naman Ojha Naman Ojha has been in prime form for India A and that prompts his name up for the Indian team. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Until a year ago, none would have ever thought of Naman Ojha as a replacement for Dhoni and his domestic stats further signifies the fact. Ojha averages 43.35 in first class, which is good for a wicket-keeper batsman, proves that he can play the long game. But he entered the limelight while playing for India A in Australia, where he made a double hundred and 2 hundreds from four innings. He played some of the best bowlers in Australia, with ease and was pressurizing the selectors but he was overlooked on grounds of his age and it would be unjustifiable on Saha to drop him having stayed behind the sidelines of Dhoni. Naman Ojha is in the low 30s and obviously can’t be looked with a long-term intent. But if 37-year-old Haddin can replace Gilchrist he surely can. So we would like to maintain that performance should be given utmost importance. #3 Robin Uthappa Robin Uthappa with solid T20 performance makes back into the Indian recons. (Photo Source: AFP) When Robin Uthappa made his debut for India years ago was a swashbuckling batsman who enthralled many with his blitzkrieg and gave hopes of replacing Sehwag. Uthappa played some crucial innings for India, but then he lacked the application and vision to keep his position. In those days he was in as a pure batsman; after being dropped he went back and improved on his wicket-keeping skills to be hailed as a wicket-keeping batsman. But there are doubts though, if he is able to don the keeping gloves in the longer format. Uthappa in 2014, was nothing short of prolific. He has really worked on his batting game and improved his technique. He is much more patient and allows the ball to come to the bat. He averages 40.92 in first class at a belligerent strike rate. Uthappa had a superb domestic season, scoring four hundreds in List A games, followed by an outstanding IPL in 2014, as he was the leading run scorer in the tournament. As a player, that’s the best you can do – rest is up to the selectors. #4 Sanju Samson Sanju Samson has all the ingredients to be a successful cricketer and the authorities should look at investing into him. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Sanju Samson is a long-term investment in progress. You may not get return from him for coming six months or even a year but he is a special talent and needs to be nurtured well. Sanju Samson, who idolizes Ab de Villiers has done similar roles like the South African himself. Despite having superb keeping skills, he plays for his state side Kerala as a front line batsman. Not to mention he is an electrifying fielder. As the coaches say, “Catch them Young ” , Samson is 20 years and is someone you can bank upon to take the helm of affairs from Dhoni in the future. Samson averages above 40 in first class, and he just has a 1 year experience of playing the Ranji Trophy. Samson’s inclusion in the eleven is imminent, but the timing of his selection will be the one to be decided. Two signs that Samson shows he is the next big thing – His astute temperament and his art of leaving the ball. #5 Dinesh Karthik Dinesh Karthik has the experience and batting abilities but needs to get his glove work in place to be India’s full-time wicket keeper. (Photo Source: AFP) Dinesh Karthik entered the Indian scheme of things, well before Dhoni did. But he failed to make use of the opportunity time and again. Had he been a lot more serious on his game, probably Dhoni wouldn’t have existed at all or the latter may have been under the shadows of Dhoni. Indian team has invested in Karthik at frequent times, but he failed to capitalise on the opportunity. He made a late surge into the Indian team following a good showing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He played well in Champions Trophy campaign in England, but since that he was left out. The platform is ready for him to perform, but will need to improve his credentials as a keeper to cement his place in the side. So the word from CricTracker to the Indian selectors will be to go with a long-term perspective in mind and pick the wicket-keeper which will best compliment Virat Kohli and his young brigade who are all the future of Indian cricket for at least the next 5 or 6 years.

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Top 5 Wicket Keepers who can replace MS Dhoni

#2 Naman Ojha

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