A wicketkeeper is one of the most important player of the team as he provides a momentum to the whole squad. There were times when they were asked just to be good wicketkeepers and not bother too much about their batting. However, with the passage of time, the situation has changed completely. A wicketkeeper has to be an excellent batsman who can contribute consistently. The wicketkeepers are now batting at the top of the batting order and have scored heavily in one day internationals. Here is the list of 5 highest scores by wicketkeepers in ODIs.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 183* vs Sri Lanka, 2005
This knock made MS Dhoni a cult in the eyes of Indian fans. He was still new in the international arena but his exceptional batting against Sri Lanka paved his way for the never ending stardom. Sri Lanka were blindsided by a calculated assault from Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the third ODI of the seven-match series against India and en route to his unbeaten 183, the wicketkeeper-batsman forced his way into a few record books. By the time he hammered the last of his 10 sixes, Dhoni had surpassed Adam Gilchrist’s record for the highest score by a wicketkeeper in a one-day match. He was at his devastating best, which helped India in winning the game by 6 wickets. The team was chasing 299 runs to win and boy Mahi made a mockery of the total.
Quinton de Kock, 178 vs Australia, 2016
Quinton de Kock is the latest entrant to this list because of his sensational knock in the first ODI of the five-match series against Australia. His 178 off 113 balls saw South Africa crush Australia by six wickets in the first one-day international at Centurion. De Kock’s knock is the second highest in ODI history for South Africa – behind only Gary Kirsten’s 188 – and he clubbed 16 fours and 11 sixes as South Africa chased down their 295-run target in just 36.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. De Kock was in imperious form virtually from the start of his innings, hitting a six off John Hastings in the second over. The left hand batsman reached 50 off 38 balls and reached his 11th one-day international century off 74 balls when he pulled Daniel Worrall for his fourth six.
Adam Gilchrist, 172 vs Zimbabwe, 2004
The former Australian star player was one of the most attacking batsmen in world cricket throughout his career and there was no stopping for him when he was in the attacking mode against any team in international cricket. Adam Gilchrist’s swashbuckling 172 steered Australia to a 148-run win against Zimbabwe in the triangular one-day series at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. He smashed his 10th one-day century off 126 balls comprising 13 boundaries and three sixes as the world champions showed their dominance again in the shorter version of the game. They made the most of a perfect batting track. Gilchrist gave Australia a flying start sharing a record 140-run first wicket stand with Matthew Hayden after Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat and he continued even after losing his opening partner.
Luke Ronchi, 170 vs Sri Lanka, 2015
A score of 360 for five, including a world record sixth-wicket partnership, gifted New Zealand the fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka by 108 runs, despite a spirited chase by the Lankans. The Sri Lankans faced sustained pressure after Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott stunned the visitors’ bowling attack and a packed University Oval with an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 267 to guide New Zealand from adversity to assurance. Ronchi savaged an unbeaten170 off 99 balls, continuing the form he found to deliver 24 off the 48thover to help win the fourth ODI in Nelson. It was the highest score by a No.7 batsman in ODIs and fourth highest by a New Zealander. He hit 14 fours and 9 sixes in his brutal knock and didn’t allow any Sri Lankan bowler to settle down with ease.
Kumar Sangakkara, 169 vs South Africa, 2013
Kumar Sangakkara celebrated his 350th one day international appearance with a career-best 169 as Sri Lanka crushed South Africa by 180 runs in the first ODI of the five-match series at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. His innings was the third-highest by a Sri Lankan in 50-over cricket and came off 137 balls, with 18 fours and six sixes. It carried the home side to 320 for five, a total South Africa never threatened as they were bowled out for 140 inside 32 overs. Sangakkara started cautiously. He scored his first 66 runs off 91 balls, but the next 103 came off just 46 deliveries. He shared a 123-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Lahiru Thirimanne, who scored 17 of those as Sangakkara dominated the proceedings.