Cricket is not just a sport; it is a religion for crazy cricket lovers. Any devoted cricket enthusiast would give you countless reasons why they enjoy it. Every cricket-crazy fan would tell you they relish close finishes in the games. The type of game that goes to the last ball of the overexcites and entertains the most.
And in those crucial moments, the finisher’s role comes to the forefront. A batsman who can finish a game on a high note is referred to as a finisher in cricket. Because of their calm mindset and power-hitting ability, many fans consider such players the best finisher in the world. Scoring 10-12 runs in an over is not a big deal for finishers. They tend to take the game deep and score even 20 runs and an over.
From MS Dhoni to AB de Villiers, cricket has witnessed some out-of-this-world finishers. This article will examine some of the best finishers in cricket and the reasons why they are regarded as the best finishers in world cricket.
Let’s go!
Many players can hit the long ball and are best openers, but only a few leave lasting impressions and consistently finish matches for their country.
People often inquire about who is the best finisher in cricket. For those seeking an answer to this question, we’ve compiled this list of individuals who’ve been the best in the business when it comes to batting lower down the order and consistently finishing games with ease.
Best Finisher in Cricket:
| No. | Player | Team | Strike Rate |
| 17 | Kieron Pollard | West Indies | T20- 137.2 |
| ODI- 83.2 | |||
| 16 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | T20- 145.0 |
| ODI- 87.2 | |||
| 15 | Rohit Sharma | India | T20- 137.6 |
| ODI- 88.9 | |||
| 14 | Andre Russell | West Indies | T20- 150.3 |
| ODI- 88.2 | |||
| 13 | David Warner | Australia | T20- 139.5 |
| ODI- 94.2 | |||
| 12 | Virat Kohli | India | T20- 137.0 |
| ODI- 93.2 | |||
| 11 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | T20- 140.0 |
| ODI- 87.2 | |||
| 10 | Javed Miandad | Pakistan | T20- |
| ODI- 67.01 | |||
| 9 | Lance Klusenar | South Africa | T20- |
| ODI- 89.91 | |||
| 8 | Micheal Hussey | Australia | T20- 136.29 |
| ODI- 87.16 | |||
| 7 | Vivian Richards | West Indies | T20- |
| ODI- 90.20 | |||
| 6 | Micheal Bevan | Australia | T20- |
| ODI- 74.16 | |||
| 5 | Glenn Maxwell | Australia | T20- 150.97 |
| ODI- 123.65 | |||
| 4 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | T20- 135.16 |
| ODI- 101.09 | |||
| 3 | Jos Buttler | England | T20- 144.66 |
| ODI- 117.75 | |||
| 2 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | T20- 150 |
| ODI- 117 | |||
| 1 | MS Dhoni | India | T20- 87.56 |
| ODI- 126.13 |
An example of a player who has made a name out of himself through a massive hit at the shortest form of the game is Kieron Pollard, a Caribbean based, explosive right-hand batsman. Pollard is a nightmare to bowlers in T20 and this is because of his aggressive style and towering sixes, which often place him in discussions about the best finisher in the world.
One of the most renowned aggressive right-handed batsmen of New Zealand; Brendon McCullum, is known as an aggressive and fearless captain. The type of attack by McCullum tended to place the opposition bowlers on the defensive at the very beginning.
One of the India players Rohit Sharma is a fashionable right-hander who is known to play strokes with ease and has the power to hit big. Rohit, the so-called Hitman, has the capability of anchoring an innings or smashing in the last overs with his power-hitting.
Andre Russell is a brute of an all-rounder who is dreaded by the force of his blows at the bat and also with the ball. Russell has a reputation of having amazing finishing skills, where he smashes sixes that seem to be taller than he is. Because of this ability, many fans consider him a strong contender for the best finisher in the world.
Read more: 6 ball 6 wicket record list
David Warner is the fearless Australian left-handed opener, who is a known aggressive player and who plays in such a way that he changes the game. Already, Warner can easily control bowlers both at the beginning and the end of the event.
Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian right-handed batsman, is known all over the world for his chasing skills and performance under pressure. Kohli performs well in crises and can often complete games incredibly, which is why many fans regard him as the best finisher in the world.
The legendary left-handed West Indian batsman, Chris Gayle, is a legendary player and is referred to as the Universe Boss due to the explosive hitting skills and match-winning talent. It takes just one session for Gayle to transform the game with his massive sixes and fearless strokes.
Javed Miandad, widely regarded as one of the most talented right-handed batsmen, comes from a nation known for its formidable bowling prowess. Miandad was known to play some exquisite shots to anchor an innings. Pakistan won a lot of matches, all thanks to Javed Miandad and his reverse sweep.
In that era, he stood out as Pakistan’s best batsman, consistently putting opposition bowlers under a lot of pressure. He finished a lot of games for Pakistan and played some brilliant innings in their campaign to the 1992 World Cup win.
Lance Klusener is often overlooked for his efforts down the order. From his early days, he showed signs of a great allrounder. He had the knack of breathing life back into games by scoring runs at a quick pace with clarity. Because of his match-winning impact under pressure, many fans still remember him as a contender for the best finisher in the world.
Lance also performed above expectations for South Africa in the World Cup. In his international career, he amassed a total of 3576 runs at a strike rate of 89.91 in 171 matches.
Micheal Hussey is known as Mr. Cricket among his peers and fans because of his ability to perform and deliver for Team Australia. His composed and calm demeanor truly made him an invaluable player for Australia.
His ability to switch gears when required made him one of the best finishers for the team in the 2010s. He has guided his team to victory many times with his exceptional performances.
Vivian Richards stands as one of the best West Indies players to ever play the game of cricket. He had a different personality on the field which makes him one of the best fielder in the world, bowlers feared him whenever he was on the crease.
During his prime days, Richards amassed a remarkable 8,540 runs in 124 Test matches and an impressive 6721 runs in ODI games. Whenever he was on the crease, he used to finish games for the team and walk back, not out. That is why he is included in this list.
In the late ’90s and early 2000s, Michael Bevan was one of the most dependable stars and finishers for Australia, mainly in ODIs. He was one crafty batsman who always one-upped his opposition.
Many of his innings can be remembered for a long time in the history of the games. He was part of the most dominant Australian team ever assembled. Here are some stats for Michael Bevan to prove him as one of the best finishers in the world.
In the modern era, there is no one better than Glenn Maxwell when it comes to playing unorthodox shots. Earlier, it was AB de Villiers, but he is retired now.
A stylish and powerful player from Australia possesses all the qualities of a finisher. He has repeatedly proven himself in the role for his national side as well as in the IPL. Over the years, Australia has produced many great players, but the consistency of Glenn Maxwell has led him to be included in the list of best-finishers in world cricket. Glen Maxwell’s price in IPL auctions reflects his status as one of the best finishers in the world. His ability to turn games around in the final overs has made him one of the most talked-about players as the best finisher in the world.
Here are some records of Glenn Maxwell as a finisher.
AB de Villiers, known as Mr. 360, is arguably the most flamboyant and innovative player on this list. His ability to score in all parts of the field and manufacture impossible shots leaves bowlers bewildered.
His ability to change gears, perform under pressure, and understand the game dynamics makes him one of the most revered finishers in the sport. Here are some stats on the best finishers in the world.
Jost Buttler, a modern-day finisher, is a crucial member of the England team who is known for his aggressive style of play. Buttler’s ability to play at any position in the batting lineup makes him one of the most dangerous batters out there. He can adjust his game according to the requirements and situation in the middle.
His knack for hitting long balls at will makes him one of the best finishers in the world of cricket.
Shahid Afridi is one of the players who revolutionized the world of cricket when T20 was only beginning to gain a foothold. His performances with the bat in both ODI and T20 formats have been nothing short of legendary.
He has been the biggest match-winner for Pakistan for quite some time, especially with his exploits with the bat. Afridi was known to hit a lot of sixes in the end to take his team home. Here are some of the stats for one of the world’s best finishers in cricket. Afridi’s knack for winning matches in crunch situations has earned him a reputation as the best finisher in the world.
In the world of cricket, no one has a better record than MS Dhoni when it comes to finishing games. As you can see from the list, his strike rate is not that high, but that is because of his unique style of play.
He always takes the game deep and unleashes fury on the opponents as the best captain of Indian cricket team. More often than not, he always ends up on the winning side. As one of the most successful captains of India, he understands how to play his game to achieve optimal results. His brilliance as a captain has helped India win the T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, and even the World Cup.
Although he is retired from international cricket, MS Dhoni is still supporting Chennai Super Kings on his back, helping the team win multiple IPL matches. It wouldn’t be wrong to say MSD is the king of IPL.
Dhoni’s key strength was his agility and quick footwork, which allowed him to steal singles, doubles, or even triples whenever possible to put the opposition under pressure. This agility and swift footwork come with the job description of the best wicketkeeper in the world for the fastest stumping, a role MS Dhoni has executed perfectly for years. It is this combination of attributes that helped him become the best finisher in the world.
Here are some numbers to back up MS Dhoni as the world No. 1 best finisher in cricket.
In the current context, these are the top 10 players who excel at finishing games with control and ease. These players not only provide the finishing touches to matches but also inject a sense of unpredictability and excitement into the game. From MS Dhoni’s calm composure and calculated approach to the innovative shots of AB de Villiers and the unorthodox play by Glenn Maxwell, each of these individuals brings unique flavors to the art of finishing.
As cricket lovers and enthusiasts, we are privileged to witness their mastery.
As we conclude our exploration, we hope you liked our list of best finishers in world cricket. Feel free to tell us your thoughts on this below and start a healthy discussion.
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