Hitting unlimited – Five Highest ODI scores by wicketkeepers

One knock of MS Dhoni that stands out in his International career was his unbeaten 183 against Sri Lanka in the 2005 Jaipur ODI. The innings was special in many ways as it satisfied the sentiment of scoring ‘183’ before becoming the Indian captain. Dhoni took the Lankan bowlers to the cleaners smashing ten sixes and 15 sixes to lit up the Pink city on the eve of Diwali. Even after nearly 15 years, Dhoni’s knock remains as the highest-ever ODI innings for a wicketkeeper.

Gilly Fire

Before Dhoni’s record innings, only one keeper managed to record a 150+ score in the history of ODI cricket. Adam Gilchrist scored 154 from only 129 balls during the 1999 MCG ODI against Sri Lanka. The Australian bettered his highest with a 172-run knock which came in only 126 balls against Zimbabwe during the 2004 VB Tri-series match in Hobart. This knock of Gilly stands at No.4 in the list of highest ODI scores by keepers.

Quinton de Kock came closer to Dhoni’s record when he smashed 178 from only 113 balls during the 2016 home ODI against the Aussies. The South African keeper also joined Gilchrist in scoring 150+ as a keeper more than once in Men’s cricket. De Kock smashed an unbeaten 168 from 145 balls in the 2017 ODI against Bangladesh to help South Africa clinch a 10-wicket win. Earlier this year, Liton Das smashed 176 from only 143 balls at home against Zimbabwe which is the highest ODI score for Bangladesh.

Liton’s knock came during an innings that was reduced to 43 overs and the keeper-batsman was dismissed in the 41st over. Luke Ronchi’s unbeaten 170 in the 2015 ODI against Sri Lanka is the 5th highest ODI score by a keeper. The New Zealand keeper-batsman took only 99 balls for this knock which came with help of nine sixes and 14 fours. Even West Indies’ Shai Hope scored 170 as a keeper in an ODI. Opening the batting in the 2019 Ireland Tri-series, Hope scored 170 from 152 balls with 22 fours and two sixes.

(Stats as on August 31, 2020)