Top 10 Fastest Stumpings in Cricket History

Wicketkeeping is one of cricket’s unsung arts. While batters smash boundaries and bowlers snag wickets, the guy behind the stumps quietly shapes the game. A great stumping; those lightning-quick moments when the bails fly off before the batter even knows what’s happened, can steal the show. From old-school legends to modern masters, here’s a rundown of the 10 fastest stumpings in cricket ever, packed with moments that make you go, “How’d they do that?”

What Makes a Stumping Lightning-Fast?

To figure out which stumpings top the list, we looked at a few things:

• Hand Speed and Instincts: How fast can the keeper grab the ball and whip off the bails? It’s not just raw speed; it’s about anticipating the batter’s next move and being ready to pounce.
• Pitch and Conditions: A spinning, bouncing pitch makes life tougher. If the ball’s zipping or turning sharply, pulling off a stumping is like catching lightning in a bottle.
• Consistency: The best keepers don’t just pull off one fluke stumping; they do it over and over, even when the pressure’s on.

Slow-motion replays let us see these moments in all their glory, showing off the crazy skill involved. With that in mind, let’s dive into the top 10.

The 10 Fastest Stumpings in Cricket

Here’s the lineup of the quickest stumpings ever, with a table to lay it all out, followed by the stories behind each one.

#	Wicketkeeper	Batter Stumped	Time (sec)	Year	Tournament
1.	MS Dhoni (India)	Keemo Paul (West Indies)	0.08	2018	Bilateral Series
2.	MS Dhoni (India)	Mitchell Marsh (Australia)	0.09	2012	Bilateral Series
3.	Ben Cox (Worcestershire)	Callum MacLeod (Derbyshire)	0.10	2018	T20 Blast
4.	MS Dhoni (CSK)	Shubman Gill (GT)	0.10	2023	Indian Premier League
5.	Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)	Ricky Ponting (Australia)	0.11	2011	ICC World Cup
6.	MS Dhoni (CSK)	Suryakumar Yadav (MI)	0.12	2025	Indian Premier League
7.	Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)	Jimmy Maher (Australia)	0.13	2003	VB Series
8.	Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)	Brian Lara (West Indies)	–	2007	World Cup
9.	Mark Boucher (South Africa)	Marvan Atapattu (Sri Lanka)	–	2006	Bilateral Series
10.	Adam Gilchrist (Australia)	Craig McMillan (New Zealand)	–	2005	Bilateral Series

1. MS Dhoni vs. Keemo Paul – 0.08 seconds, 2018, Bilateral Series

MS Dhoni’s hands are practically a superpower. In a 2018 ODI, West Indies were chasing a mammoth total of 377. Keemo Paul came charging down the pitch at Ravindra Jadeja’s spinning ball, missed it, and Dhoni had the bails off in 0.08 seconds. That’s faster than you can snap your fingers. The crowd went nuts, and commentators couldn’t stop replaying it. This is why Dhoni’s name is all over this list; he’s just built differently.

2. MS Dhoni vs. Mitchell Marsh – 0.09 seconds, 2012, Bilateral Series

Back in 2012, Dhoni did it again. Australia’s Mitchell Marsh stepped out, missed the ball, and before anyone could blink, Dhoni had the bails flying; 0.09 seconds flat. The guy has a sixth sense for when a batter is out of their crease. With 123 stumpings in ODIs and 34 in T20Is, Dhoni’s not just fast; he’s relentless.

3. Ben Cox vs. Callum MacLeod – 0.10 seconds, 2018, T20 Blast

This one’s a bit of a wild card. During a 2018 T20 Blast match, Ben Cox got a stumping that was more luck than plan. Ed Barnard bowled a good-length ball, it clipped Cox’s pad, and rolled onto the stumps. Callum MacLeod, just barely out of his crease, was gone in 0.10 seconds. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective, and it left Derbyshire reeling at 28/4.

4. MS Dhoni vs. Shubman Gill – 0.10 seconds, 2023, IPL

Dhoni at 43? Still untouchable. In the 2023 IPL final, Shubman Gill tried to take on Ravindra Jadeja but lost his balance. Dhoni, calm as ever, flicked the bails off in 0.10 seconds before Gill could slide back. It’s no wonder fans still chant his name; Dhoni’s reflexes are ageless.

Recommended read – MS Dhoni’s Net Worth

5. Brendon McCullum vs. Ricky Ponting – 0.11 seconds, 2011, ICC World Cup

Brendon McCullum’s better known for smashing sixes, but he was a wizard behind the stumps too. In the 2011 World Cup, Ricky Ponting went for a flick off a wide Tim Southee delivery and missed. McCullum, quick as a flash, had the bails off in 0.11 seconds. Australia won the game, but McCullum’s stumping was the moment everyone remembered.

6. MS Dhoni vs. Suryakumar Yadav – 0.12 seconds, 2025, IPL

Fast forward to 2025, and Dhoni’s still at it. In an IPL clash, Suryakumar Yadav tried a fancy sweep against Noor Ahmad’s loopy delivery. Dhoni, reading it like a script, had the bails off in 0.12 seconds. The crowd erupted, and social media went wild over the old master’s magic.

7. Kumar Sangakkara vs. Jimmy Maher – 0.13 seconds, 2003, VB Series

Kumar Sangakkara was all class behind the stumps. In 2003, Australia’s Jimmy Maher danced down the pitch to Muttiah Muralitharan’s spin, got completely bamboozled, and Sangakkara? He stretched left, lost his balance, but still managed to flick the ball back and hit the stumps in 0.13 seconds. Maher didn’t stand a chance.

8. Kumar Sangakkara vs. Brian Lara – Time Not Recorded, 2007, World Cup

Sangakkara struck again in 2007, this time against the legendary Brian Lara. Lara misjudged a Chaminda Vaas ball, dragging his foot out while driving. Sangakkara pounced, whipping off the bails in a heartbeat. The exact time wasn’t clocked, but the sheer speed and smarts made it one for the ages.

9. Mark Boucher vs. Marvan Atapattu – Time Not Recorded, 2006, Bilateral Series

South Africa’s Mark Boucher was a keeper with ice in his veins. In 2006, he pulled off a stunner against Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu, catching the ball and removing the bails in one smooth motion. Atapattu was caught napping, and Boucher’s quick hands made it look effortless.

10. Adam Gilchrist vs. Craig McMillan – Time Not Recorded, 2005, Bilateral Series

Adam Gilchrist was a game-changer with the bat, but don’t sleep on his keeping. In 2005, New Zealand’s Craig McMillan stepped out to Glenn McGrath, missed the ball, and Gilchrist had the bails off before anyone could react. It was McGrath’s first-ever stumping in Tests or ODIs, and Gilchrist made it look way too easy.

Stumpings are more than just wickets—they’re moments that get fans screaming and spark heated debates on cricket betting apps about who’s the best keeper out there. From Gilchrist’s artistry to Dhoni’s flair, these keepers have given us moments that live on through grainy highlights and slow-mo replays. They’re the unsung heroes who make cricket’s biggest stages that much more electric.

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