Syed Kirmani and MS Dhoni, two of the best wicketkeepers produced by India cannot be compared as they played their cricket during different time periods. Dhoni has recently broken Kirmani's record for the most number of dismissals by an Indian wicketkeeper.
SYED KIRMANI is considered one of the best wicket keepers that India has ever produced. But this might be put into question by many, as MS Dhoni has done very well with the gloves behind the wicket. Recently, Dhoni also became the first Indian wicketkeeper to record 200 dismissals behind the wicket, thus breaking a long standing record of Kirmani who had 198 dismissals to his name in 88 Test matches played, as reported by The Times of India. Dhoni has appeared in 62 Test matches for India.
It may be difficult to compare the two great wicket keepers of India, Kirmani and Dhoni, and in fact it may not be fair for either player, as they have played the game during different time periods. During the days of Kirmani, it was different ball game, as it was the wicket keeping skills that was considered to be important for a wicket keeper. But, now the game has been moving ahead as the wicket keeper must be someone, who has to be a good batsman, only wicket keeping skills will not take you anywhere. It may have been Adam Gilchrist, who started this trend.
MS Dhoni has excelled both as a wicketkeeper and batsmen, which is the need of the hour. Though, his wicket keeping skills have come into the question many number of times, as there have been lots of instances, where he has missed many a catches during the game. Still, he remains the best bet as far as wicket keepers are concerned due to the simple fact; he is one of the best batsmen of Indian cricket along with his great captaincy skills.
The story was not the same during Kirmani’s days, when a single drop catch would be scrutinized. Kirmani had to keep wickets to some of the best Indian bowlers too such as Bishan Singh Bedi, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, Kapil Dev, and Roger Binny, etc. These crops of bowlers, especially the spinners of that era, were very difficult to keep wickets to, due to the variety that they possessed in their bowling. Wicketkeepers of Kirmani's generation did not put on helmets when they were keeping to spinners, unlike now, where Dhoni keeps wickets to spinners. But, Dhoni also stood well behind the wicket to bowlers such as Kumble and Harbhajan, which was not an ordinary feat.
Dhoni has some good years ahead of him, hence he can think of claiming more dismissals in the future too. If he records more than 300 dismissals, then it would take some doing to break that record.
