Not MS Dhoni or Rishabh Pant! Rohit Sharma names India’s best wicketkeeper; R Ashwin also agrees

Veteran Indian opener Rohit Sharma has showered rich praise on the former wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, which has irked the fans of the legendary MS Dhoni. Rohit Sharma made it clear that Wriddhiman Saha stands above everyone when it comes to pure wicketkeeping skills.

The former Indian captain has called Saha India’s best wicketkeeper and also one of the most underrated players the country has ever produced. Rohit explained that wicketkeeping in India, especially in Test cricket, is extremely difficult.

Rohit Sharma hails Wriddhiman Saha as India’s finest wicketkeeper ever

On Indian pitches, the ball often turns sharply, keeps low, and does unexpected things. In such conditions, a wicketkeeper has very little time to react. And Rohit Sharma felt Saha handled these challenges better than anyone else, including one of the all-time greatest wicketkeepers, MS Dhoni.

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The batting icon has pointed out that keeping wickets to bowlers like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin was never easy. Jadeja bowls at a good pace, while Ashwin has endless variations, including carrom balls, but Saha took catches that looked almost impossible.

In a viral video, Rohit Sharma said, “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).”

What a keeper Wriddhiman Saha was: Ravichandran Ashwin

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin reacted to Rohit Sharma’s comments as the former Indian off-spinner added a touch of humor before fully agreeing with the former captain’s assessment. Ashwin also praised Saha’s exceptional skills behind the stumps.

Sharing the clip of X, Ravichandran Ashwin posted, "🤣🤣 Rohit being Rohit! Aaj tak mujhe bhee nahin pata ki maine kaise gendh phenkee. Jokes apart! What a keeper Saha was 🔥🔥.”

🤣🤣 Rohit being Rohit!

Aaj tak mujhe bhee nahin pata ki maine kausee gendh phenkee.

Jokes apart ! What a keeper Saha was 🔥🔥 https://t.co/mnn5l5pSbF

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 19, 2025

How Wriddhiman Saha and MS Dhoni defined 2 eras of Indian wicketkeeping

Saha’s record in Test cricket reflects his quality. In 40 Tests, he was involved in 104 dismissals, which included 92 catches and 12 stumpings. With the bat, he scored 1,353 runs, hitting three centuries and six half-centuries. However, Saha got to play only nine ODIs for India.

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On the other hand, Dhoni has 294 dismissals in 90 Tests, including 256 catches and 38 stumpings to his name. The former Indian captain amassed 4876 runs with 6 hundreds and 33 fifties in tests.

Well, Dhoni and Saha represent two very different styles and eras of wicketkeeping in Indian cricket. Dhoni transformed the role of a wicketkeeper across the formats. His lightning-quick stumpings, sharp match awareness, and calm leadership made him a game-changer.

He not only kept wickets but also guided bowlers and controlled games under pressure. On the other hand, Saha shone with traditional and technically perfect wicketkeeping. His footwork, low catching, and ability to stand close to the stumps, even against fast bowlers, were outstanding.