Cricket is famous for powerful batting, fast bowling and match-winning performances. However, some of its most exciting moments happen behind the stumps. A batter steps forward, misses the ball and suddenly finds the bails on the ground. The wicketkeeper has completed the dismissal before the batter can return to safety. It takes exceptional reflexes, sharp anticipation and perfect coordination.
The top 10 fastest stumping in cricket history is a popular topic among cricket fans, especially because of MS Dhoni’s remarkable wicketkeeping skills. His dismissal of West Indies batter Keemo Paul in 2018 is widely reported at 0.08 seconds. However, cricket authorities do not maintain an official ranking of stumping speeds. This article explores notable stumpings, their match details and reported timings while separating verified dismissals from unconfirmed claims.
Top 10 Fastest Stumping in Cricket History
MS Dhoni features prominently in discussions about the quickest stumpings in cricket. Other respected wicketkeepers, including Kumar Sangakkara, Brendon McCullum, Ben Cox and Adam Gilchrist, have also produced memorable dismissals.
The below presents notable stumping claims and reported timings. It is not a certified ranking because several dismissal details require further scorecard verification and the timings have not been independently established.
| No. | Wicketkeeper | Batter dismissed | Year | Reported timing |
| 1 | MS Dhoni | Keemo Paul | 2018 | 0.08 seconds reported |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | Mitchell Marsh | 2012 | Not independently verified |
| 3 | Ben Cox | Disputed — verify scorecard | 2018 | Not independently verified |
| 4 | MS Dhoni | Shubman Gill | 2023 | Approximately 0.10 seconds reported |
| 5 | Brendon McCullum | Ricky Ponting | 2011 | 0.11 seconds reported |
| 6 | MS Dhoni | Suryakumar Yadav | 2025 | Not independently verified |
| 7 | Kumar Sangakkara | Jimmy Maher | 2003 | Not independently verified |
| 8 | Kumar Sangakkara | Brian Lara | 2007 | Not independently verified |
| 9 | Kumar Sangakkara | Ricky Ponting | 2003 | Not independently verified |
| 10 | Adam Gilchrist | Craig McMillan | 2005 | Not independently verified |
1. MS Dhoni Stumping Keemo Paul in 2018
MS Dhoni’s stumping of Keemo Paul is one of the most famous examples of lightning-fast wicketkeeping. It occurred during the fourth ODI between India and the West Indies at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium on 29 October 2018.
Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja tossed the ball up outside the off stump. Paul moved forward but failed to make contact. Dhoni collected the ball and removed the bails while Paul remained outside his ground.
The match scorecard confirms that Paul was stumped by Dhoni off Jadeja. Contemporary reporting quoted a timing of 0.08 seconds, making it one of the most celebrated quick stumpings in modern cricket.
Although the dismissal is confirmed, the reported time is not an officially certified world record. It remains a widely circulated broadcast figure.
2. MS Dhoni Stumping Mitchell Marsh in 2012
MS Dhoni produced a sharp stumping of Australian batter Mitchell Marsh during the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 3 February 2012.
Marsh scored 13 runs from 13 balls before being stumped by Dhoni off leg-spinner Rahul Sharma. The dismissal is confirmed by the match report and scorecard.
Some online lists associate this stumping with a timing of 0.09 seconds. However, the exact timing has not been independently certified and should be treated as a reported estimate rather than an official record.
3. Ben Cox Stumping Ben Slater in 2018
Worcestershire wicketkeeper Ben Cox produced a stumping against Derbyshire during their T20 Blast match at Derby on 8 July 2018.
Derbyshire batter Ben Slater scored 33 runs from 29 balls before being stumped by Cox off Brett D’Oliveira. The official match scorecard confirms the dismissal.
Calum MacLeod was dismissed separately, caught by Luke Wood off Dillon Pennington for 7 runs. Therefore, descriptions claiming that MacLeod was stumped by Cox confuse two different dismissals in the same innings.
Although the Ben Slater dismissal is confirmed, its exact reaction time has not been independently verified. It should be described as a notable domestic stumping rather than a certified fastest-stumping record.
4. MS Dhoni Stumping Shubman Gill in the 2023 IPL Final
The 2023 Indian Premier League final provided another memorable moment in Dhoni’s wicketkeeping career. Chennai Super Kings faced Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, with Shubman Gill opening the batting for Gujarat.
The stumping came in the seventh over. Gill advanced to attack Ravindra Jadeja but missed the delivery. Dhoni collected the ball and removed the bails before Gill could regain his ground. Gill was dismissed for 39 runs from 20 balls.
The dismissal helped Chennai break an important opening partnership. Chennai eventually won the rain-affected final and claimed the IPL title.
Some cricket reports associate the stumping with a timing of approximately 0.10 seconds, although published figures vary. The dismissal itself is confirmed, but its exact timing is not an officially measured record.
5. Brendon McCullum Stumping Ricky Ponting in 2011
New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum produced a memorable stumping of Australian captain Ricky Ponting during the 2011 Cricket World Cup match at Nagpur.
The dismissal came off fast bowler Tim Southee. Ponting scored 12 runs and attempted to flick a wide delivery down the leg side but missed the ball. McCullum moved quickly, gathered it and removed the bails while Ponting was outside his ground. Australia won the match.
The incident demonstrates that stumpings are not limited to spin bowling. A wicketkeeper can complete a dismissal against a fast bowler when a batter moves away from the crease and misses the delivery.
Some published cricket lists associate this incident with a reported timing of 0.11 seconds. That figure should be treated as an estimate rather than an official record.
6. MS Dhoni and Suryakumar Yadav: A 2025 Claim to Verify
Some online lists attribute a 2025 stumping of Suryakumar Yadav to MS Dhoni off Noor Ahmad. However, this specific dismissal and the reported 0.12-second timing have not been independently verified for this article.
The claim should be checked against the relevant IPL scorecard and match footage before being included as a confirmed incident. The presence of Noor Ahmad in the Chennai Super Kings squad does not, by itself, establish that the reported dismissal occurred.
Any timing should be described as a reported estimate, not an official measurement.
7. Kumar Sangakkara and Jimmy Maher: 2003 Claim to Verify
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara was renowned for his sharp glovework and excellent understanding of the game. Some online lists attribute a stumping of Australian batter Jimmy Maher to Sangakkara during the 2003 VB Series.
The reported details place the incident in Brisbane during the Australia versus Sri Lanka match on 15 January 2003 and identify Muttiah Muralitharan as the bowler. However, these details should be checked against the official match scorecard before the dismissal is presented as confirmed.
The timing of 0.13 seconds sometimes associated with this claim has not been independently established as an official measurement.
Until the match record is verified, this entry should be treated as an unverified claim rather than a confirmed position in a fastest-stumping list.
8. Kumar Sangakkara and Brian Lara: 2007 Claim to Verify
Brian Lara was one of the most accomplished batters in international cricket. Some online descriptions attribute his dismissal during the 2007 Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies to a stumping by Kumar Sangakkara off Chaminda Vaas.
The match was played on 1 April 2007 during the Super Eight stage. However, the reported dismissal and bowler attribution need to be checked against the official scorecard before being stated as fact.
The exact reaction time has not been established. Keep this entry out of a confirmed list until the dismissal details have been verified.
9. Kumar Sangakkara and Ricky Ponting: 2003 Claim to Verify
An online claim says Australian captain Ricky Ponting was stumped by Kumar Sangakkara off Aravinda de Silva during the 2003 VB Series in Brisbane.
The reported details include a score of 15 runs from 40 balls, but the dismissal and bowler attribution require direct confirmation from the official match record.
Other online lists differ on the stumpings associated with this period, making it important to verify the scorecard rather than repeat an unconfirmed claim.
No verified reaction time is available for this alleged dismissal. Until the match record is checked, it should remain an unverified claim.
10. Adam Gilchrist and Craig McMillan: 2005 Claim to Verify
Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was famous for his attacking batting, athletic fielding and reliable glovework. Some online lists claim that he stumped New Zealand batter Craig McMillan off Glenn McGrath in Wellington in February 2005.
A stumping off a fast bowler would be unusual, which makes the claim particularly important to verify. The batter, bowler and dismissal should be checked against the official scorecard before publication.
No reliable reaction time has been established for this claim. It should not be presented as a confirmed fastest-stumping entry until the match details have been verified.
Why Is MS Dhoni Considered the King of Stumping?
Dhoni’s reputation rests on more than individual fast stumpings. He combined anticipation, balance, quick hands and the ability to read a batter’s intentions. His technique often allowed him to collect the ball and remove the bails in one smooth movement.
Dhoni finished his international career with 195 stumpings: 38 in Tests, 123 in ODIs and 34 in T20Is. His ODI tally of 123 stumpings is particularly notable.
These career figures provide a more reliable measure of his achievements than the reported fractions of a second attached to individual dismissals. While individual timings can be difficult to establish consistently, career dismissal statistics provide a clearer way to compare wicketkeepers.
How Is Stumping Speed Measured?
A stumping requires the wicketkeeper to collect the ball and put down the wicket while the batter is outside their ground. The actions can happen almost simultaneously, making some dismissals appear astonishingly fast.
Broadcasters can replay footage in slow motion and use on-screen graphics to illustrate the time taken. However, the measurement depends on the precise moments selected as the start and end of the sequence.
There is no universally recognised official ranking that certifies the exact speed of every stumping in international or domestic cricket. Consequently, figures such as 0.08 seconds should be described as reported timings rather than official world records.
The distinction is important because a spectacular dismissal can be genuine even when its precise reaction time remains uncertain.
What Are the Rules for a Stumping in Cricket?
Under Law 39 of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s Laws of Cricket, a batter can be given out stumped when the delivery is not called a No ball, the batter is outside their ground and they are not attempting a run, provided the wicketkeeper fairly puts down the wicket without another fielder intervening.
The law also covers qualifying situations in which the ball rebounds from the wicketkeeper’s person or equipment onto the stumps.
Stumpings are common against spin bowling because batters often advance down the pitch to attack or reach the ball. However, they can also occur against fast bowling, as the reported McCullum dismissal of Ponting illustrates.
Source: Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Law 39: Stumped.
Conclusion
MS Dhoni’s reported 0.08-second stumping of Keemo Paul in 2018 remains one of the most famous examples of lightning-fast wicketkeeping. His international record of 195 stumpings further establishes his place among cricket’s greatest wicketkeepers.
However, there is no universally certified official ranking of the fastest stumpings in cricket history. Some examples discussed here have documented dismissals and reported timings, while other entries still require direct scorecard verification.
The most reliable approach is to celebrate the skill involved while distinguishing established match records from unverified claims. Until the remaining entries have been checked against authoritative scorecards, this list should be treated as a collection of notable stumping claims rather than a definitive ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
MS Dhoni is widely credited with the fastest reported stumping for dismissing Keemo Paul against the West Indies in 2018. The commonly quoted timing is 0.08 seconds, but it is not an officially certified record.
The 0.08-second figure is widely reported in cricket publications. The match scorecard confirms the dismissal, but the exact timing is not an official measurement.
MS Dhoni holds the international record with 195 stumpings: 38 in Tests, 123 in ODIs and 34 in T20Is.
Dhoni is famous for his anticipation, quick hands, balance and ability to collect the ball and remove the bails in one fluid movement.
There is no universally recognised official ranking that certifies the exact speed of every stumping. Timings reported by broadcasters and cricket publications should be treated as estimates.