Cricket is a sport full of exciting moments that leave fans on the edge of their seats. From towering sixes to unplayable yorkers, there’s never a dull moment on the pitch. But one of the most thrilling sights is when a wicketkeeper pulls off a lightning-fast stumping to dismiss an unsuspecting batsman. It takes incredible skill, anticipation and reflexes to execute a stumping before the batsman can get their foot back behind the crease.
So who holds the record for the fastest stumping ever in international cricket? None other than the legendary MS Dhoni of India. Dhoni is widely considered one of the greatest wicketkeepers of all time, renowned for his sharp glovework behind the stumps. Let’s take a closer look at his record-breaking stumping and some of the other fastest stumpings in cricket history.
MS Dhoni’s 0.08 Second Stumping vs Keemo Paul
The record for the fastest stumping in cricket belongs to MS Dhoni for his dismissal of West Indies’ Keemo Paul in just 0.08 seconds during an ODI match in 2018[1]. On the second last ball of the 28th over, India’s Ravindra Jadeja got one to spin past Paul’s outside edge as the batsman lunged forward to defend. Paul’s back foot momentarily lifted off the ground.
In the blink of an eye, Dhoni whipped off the bails, leaving Paul stranded outside his crease. The third umpire confirmed the stumping after reviewing the replay, which showed Dhoni took just 0.08 seconds to complete the dismissal from the moment the ball reached his gloves[1]. It was a stunning display of skill and speed by the veteran keeper.
Incredibly, it wasn’t even the first time Dhoni had pulled off a sub-0.1 second stumping in international cricket. In fact, he appears multiple times in the list of fastest stumpings, showcasing his unrivaled prowess behind the stumps. Here’s a look at the top 5 fastest stumpings in cricket:
| Position | Wicketkeeper | Time (seconds) | Batsman | Match | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MS Dhoni | 0.08 | Keemo Paul | India vs West Indies ODI | 2018 |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | 0.09 | Mitchell Marsh | India vs Australia T20I | 2012 |
| 3 | Ben Cox | 0.11 | Callum MacLeod | Worcestershire vs Derbyshire T20 Blast | 2018 |
| 4 | MS Dhoni | 0.13 | Shubman Gill | IPL Final – CSK vs GT | 2023 |
| 5 | Brendon McCullum | 0.14 | Ricky Ponting | New Zealand vs Australia World Cup | 2011 |
As you can see, Dhoni occupies 3 of the top 4 spots for fastest stumping[1][2]. His 0.09 second stumping of Australia’s Mitchell Marsh in 2012 was the previous record before he broke it himself against Paul.
The Art of Stumping
So what exactly makes a stumping so difficult to pull off? It requires a unique combination of skills from the wicketkeeper:
- Concentration: The keeper must watch every ball closely, even when it’s not hit by the batsman. They need to be ready to collect any delivery.
- Anticipation: Top keepers can sense when a batsman might lose balance or step out of their crease based on the ball and the batsman’s movements. This allows them to move early.
- Fast Hands: Removing the bails cleanly in a split second requires extremely fast hands and reflexes. The keeper has to collect the ball and break the stumps in one swift motion.
- Precision: For a stumping to count, the keeper must remove at least one bail while the batsman is out of his ground. Touching the stumps without dislodging the bails doesn’t count.
Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy explained the art of stumping in his autobiography:
“Stumping is all about anticipation…As the batsman’s foot lifts up, my hands and the ball are already on their way to the stumps. It’s then just a matter of flicking the ball at the target. You only need a few centimetres to work with.”
Healy himself had some quick stumpings in his career, but none as fast as Dhoni’s efforts. Other noted wicketkeepers like Mark Boucher of South Africa and Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka also feature in the list of fastest stumpings, showing how keepers from many countries have mastered this skill.
More Dhoni Stumping Magic
Let’s go into more detail on some of MS Dhoni’s other notable quick stumpings:
0.09 seconds vs Mitchell Marsh, 2012
India were playing Australia in the 2nd T20I in 2012. Aussie batsman Mitchell Marsh decided to step out against spinner Rahul Sharma, but missed the ball completely. Dhoni anticipated it perfectly, collecting the ball and whipping off the bails in just 0.09 seconds to send Marsh packing[2]. It set the record at the time for fastest stumping.
0.13 seconds vs Shubman Gill, IPL 2023 Final
Even at age 41, Dhoni showed he still had some magic left in those gloves. In the IPL 2023 final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans, Dhoni produced a moment of brilliance to stump GT opener Shubman Gill.
As Gill stepped out to CSK spinner Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni moved swiftly to collect the ball down the leg side and broke the stumps before Gill could get back. Third umpire confirmed the stumping, timed at just 0.13 seconds[2]. It was a crucial moment in a tight final.
Dhoni’s unbelievably quick hands and razor-sharp reflexes behind the stumps make him probably the most feared wicketkeeper for any batsman to face. His mere presence creates doubt in the minds of batters, who know they can’t afford to lose balance or overcommit against the spinners with Dhoni waiting to pounce.
Other Noteworthy Fast Stumpings
While Dhoni is the king of fast stumpings, some other keepers have also pulled off some remarkably quick dismissals:
Kumar Sangakkara vs Brian Lara, 0.17 seconds
In an ODI against the West Indies in 2007, Sri Lankan keeper Kumar Sangakkara showed amazing reflexes to stump the legendary Brian Lara. As Lara tried to play an off drive against Chaminda Vaas, he completely missed the ball, and Sangakkara pouched it and removed the bails in a flash to send Lara back to the pavilion[1].
Mark Boucher’s catch & stumping vs Marvan Atapattu
South Africa’s Mark Boucher once pulled off a stunning piece of keeping to dismiss Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu. As Atapattu edged a ball, Boucher dived to catch it, and in the same motion noticed Atapattu stepping out of his crease.
Boucher removed the bails while still on the ground appealing for a catch. The third umpire confirmed Atapattu was indeed stumped, a testament to Boucher’s incredible game awareness and skill[1].
Adam Gilchrist stumping off Glenn McGrath
You don’t often see fast bowlers getting stumpings, but legendary Aussie keeper Adam Gilchrist managed it off the bowling of Glenn McGrath once. Kiwi batsman Craig McMillan charged McGrath but missed the ball, and Gilly, standing up to the stumps, was lightning quick to remove the bails before McMillan could get back[1].
It showed Gilchrist’s versatility in being able to keep to fast bowlers and spinners equally well. He revolutionized the keeper’s role with his ability to score quick runs as well.
The Future of Fast Stumpings
With MS Dhoni now retired from international cricket, who will take over his mantle as the fastest stumper in the game? There are some exciting young wicketkeeper-batsmen who have shown promise:
- Rishabh Pant (India): Touted as Dhoni’s successor in Indian cricket, Pant is an aggressive batsman and a very athletic keeper. He’s already pulled off some quick stumpings in his short career.
- Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan): Rizwan has been a revelation for Pakistan in recent years with his tidy keeping and ability to score big runs consistently. He’s very quick with his glovework.
- Jos Buttler (England): Buttler is one of the most destructive batsmen in white ball cricket currently. But he’s also a very skilled keeper, capable of pulling off rapid stumpings.
These young keepers, and others like South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and Australia’s Alex Carey, will be looking to make their mark and perhaps even challenge Dhoni’s record in the coming years. Of course, pulling off a stumping in less than 0.1 seconds requires a lot of things to go right, so whether we’ll see Dhoni’s mark broken remains to be seen.
One thing’s for sure – any time a stumping is completed in lightning-quick time, it sends a thrill through the crowd and is sure to feature in cricket highlight reels for years to come. As long as cricket is played, skillful keepers will keep attempting to outfox batsmen with their quick hands and sharp reflexes.
MS Dhoni may have set an incredibly high bar with his 0.08 second effort, but as they say, records are meant to be broken. Maybe someday a keeper will manage to whip off the bails in an even shorter time and write their name into cricketing folklore alongside the great Dhoni. Until then, let’s appreciate his genius and marvel at the stunning skill a rapid stumping requires.
