'Fastest hands as wicket-keeper': Robin Uthappa lauds MS Dhoni
What's the story
Ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2025 season, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has praised MS Dhoni's phenomenal wicket-keeping abilities.
Uthappa, a former teammate of Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), praised the veteran cricketer's unmatched agility behind the stumps.
Despite being in his early 40s, Uthappa told the Times of India that Dhoni has "the fastest hands in the world as a wicketkeeper."
Here's more.
Batting position
Uthappa feels Dhoni will bat at seven or eight
As the IPL 2025 season nears, speculation is rife over Dhoni's batting position.
Uthappa has hinted that the former Indian captain could bat lower down the order at number eight, just like last year.
This approach would allow Dhoni to maximize his impact, facing around 12 to 20 deliveries per match throughout the season.
"As far as Mahi is concerned, I have a feeling that he might bat at number 7 or number 8," stated Uthappa.
Uncertainty
What next for Dhoni?
When asked if this could be Dhoni's last IPL season, Uthappa was non-committal.
He said, "I don't think the passion ever dies. MS' love for the game has not dwindled at all."
Uthappa further added if a player has both skills and passion to continue playing, nothing should deter them from doing so.
He also lauded Dhoni's wicketkeeping skills while stating, "At 43, I think he's got the fastest hands in the world as a wicketkeeper."
Leadership challenges
Uthappa shares his insights on new captains
Uthappa also shared his thoughts on the new captains leading their respective franchises in IPL 2025.
He admitted that Axar Patel and Rajat Patidar have their work cut out for them, but he is confident they will adapt.
Uthappa stated that both captains must find a way to manage their bowlers at high-scoring venues like Bengaluru and Delhi, where shorter boundaries often diminish home-ground advantages.
Stats
MSD owns 145-plus catches behind the stumps
During the 2024 IPL season, Dhoni managed 10 catches behind the stumps across 14 games.
In his illustrious career, he owns a total of 148 catches as a wicket-keeper. He has also managed 42 stumpings across 264 matches.
He also owns 5,243 runs with the bat at an average of 39.13 and a strike-rate of 137.54. He has also smashed 24 fifties.