New Delhi: Former India wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani, who has recently received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, feels that the quality of glovemen has fallen off because of the rise in keeping batsman.


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“The (wicket-keeping) technique is not there at all because the game has become result oriented now. But I have no complaints,” Kirmani told The Times of India.


However, the 66-year-old backed India's limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who also plays duel role of wicket-keeper batsman in the team.


“A few years ago MS Dhoni was criticized for his wicket-keeping and batting However, I felt that when he is delivering the results, these hings are secondary.


“He has been performing consistently and no one would remember 10 years later that Dhoni didn’t have a copybook technique. People would look a he results. You cannot keep harping on the copybook techniques, which are not being followed at the moment. You need to evolve with the game,” added Kirmani.


The former cricketer seemed quite impressed with India's Test wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha as he heaped praise on the Bengal cricketer.


“Saha showed great technique in the South Africa series where the ball was turning square. He was coming in line to collect the ball beautifully on the legside. His movement behind the stump was fantastic. He is in the process of becoming good, better and best.”