Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin has downplayed the status of legendary wicketkeeper-batter and one of the world’s greatest captains, MS Dhoni. MS Dhoni is widely considered as one of the all-time greatest wicketkeepers the game has ever seen.
Dhoni changed the way people looked at wicketkeeping. With his quick reflexes, sharp reading of the game, and incredible agility, the former Indian captain pulled off run-outs and stumpings, sometimes without even looking at the stumps, that left the cricket world stunned.
Mohammad Azharuddin picks Syed Kirmani over MS Dhoni as the greatest wicketkeeper
Under pressure, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter stayed cool and made tough dismissals look effortless. Over the years, his sharp glove work and natural instincts earned him the status of one of the greatest wicketkeepers the game has ever seen across the formats.
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Yet, Mohammad Azharuddin overlooked MS Dhoni and called Syed Kirmani the best wicketkeeper the world has ever seen. He hailed Kirmani’s brilliance behind the stumps, especially against spin, and his crucial role in India’s 1983 World Cup triumph at Lord’s.
Speaking at the launch of Kirmani’s autobiography, Stumped: Life Behind and Beyond The Twenty-Two Yards, Azhar recalled how wicketkeeping to four spinners was no easy task, but Kirmani still pulled off brilliant catches in the 1983 World Cup.
Such a wicket-keeper was never born: Mohammad Azharuddin on Syed Kirmani
Mohammad Azharuddin said at the event, as quoted by the Times of India, “He is the number one wicket-keeper in the world. Such a wicket-keeper was never born. It was not easy for him to do wicketkeeping with four spinners.
He took many good catches in the World Cup in 1983. Even in the match when Kapil scored 175 runs, he scored a crucial 24 runs. I am very happy to attend this event today. May God give him a long life. People should also read this book and enjoy it, and I hope it is successful.”
In the 1983 World Cup, Kirmani finished with 12 catches and two stumpings, just behind West Indies’ Jeff Dujon in the dismissals tally. In his career, the former Indian legend racked up 234 dismissals, placing him fourth among the keepers after MS Dhoni, Nayan Mongia, and Rishabh Pant. Kirmani also scored more than 3,000 runs across formats, including two centuries.
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Mohammad Azharuddin hails Mohammed Siraj’s fiery spell in Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025
At the same event, Azhar also praised Mohammad Siraj for his fiery bowling against England in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. Siraj was the leading wicket-taker in the five-match Test series with 23 scalps and bowled more overs than anyone else on the England tour.
Azharuddin signed off by saying, “I also got a chance to meet Siraj. He bowled very well. I would like to congratulate him as well. I hope he continues to grow and perform well.”
Notably, MS Dhoni already retired from the international arena five years back, but he is active in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He even led Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025, and he is expected to turn up in yellow for one more season next year.
