Cricket has been celebrated for years now, but have you ever wondered who the best Cricket finisher is? Over 100 countries worldwide embrace this sport and thrill in its exhilarating last-minute finishes. Winning or losing often comes down to just one player, the ‘finisher.’ They are exclusively trained to serve in the most high-pressure situations to provide their team and supporters with nail-biting finishes to claim the game in their hand.
Throughout this post, we are going to uncover the talented players who have specially been trained to finish the game and walk away victorious. Focusing on past greats, modern-day stars, and immense talent that is set to take over the sport in the future. Even if you are new to cricket, we guarantee that our findings will illuminate you on everything you need to know about the ‘finisher.’
Who is the Best Finisher in Cricket?
Being a finisher in a cricket match requires much more than just being a batsman who scores runs. A finisher is a player that enjoys batting under a great deal of pressure and comes in to bat towards the end of a match during the last few overs. Here is a brief list of traits that a finisher possesses:
- Steadiness in Maintaining Composure: A person with this trait is able to remain calm under pressure such as during situations where their team is lacking runs.
- Shift in Style of Play: A good finisher is one who knows how to pace himself during a match when trying to either increase the run rate or maintain it.
- Ability to Honestly Motivate: An absolute necessary for a finisher as he needs the ability to hit many fours and sixes, particularly at the last few overs in a match.
- Keen Understanding of the Game: A good finisher will be able to assess how the match is going, the approach a bowler is taking, along with the setting of the field.
- Winning Consistency: Revisiting the last trait, a finisher must be able to display unique winning techniques over and over again.
5 Best Finishers in Cricket History (All-Time)
1. Michael Bevan (Australia)
“Michael Bevan” being Australian is believed to be the first great finisher. His ability to chase down targets in ODIs was unmatched. With the ball in the death overs Bevan’s calm demeanor and sharp shot selection made him a bowler’s worst nightmare. He played a number of legendary innings including the last over four against the West Indies in 1996.
2. MS Dhoni (India)
Often referred to as the ‘Captain Cool’, “MS Dhoni” is one of the most iconic finishers India cricket has ever seen. He is a legend of the game due to his elephantine ability to interpret the game and read nuances within it as well as being able to play the helicopter shot. Out of many wonderful innings he played, his 91 not out in the 2011 World Cup finals is surely top of the priority list.
3. AB de Villiers (South Africa)
“AB de Villiers”, affectionately known as “Mr. 360” was one of the best innovative batsmen which the game has ever seen. He is famed for demolishing bowls at insane speeds and unconventional angles. his enormous talent for ball disposal made him one of the most prominent finishers of the game. The strike rate with which de Villiers played T20s and ODIs is unrivaled, and so is his consistency in those formats.
4. Lance Klusener (South Africa)
“Lance Klusener” is known to have been a beast of a player at the end of the 1990s and start of the 2000s. His savage batting with the ability to hit monstrous shots when needed earned him the nickname “Zulu”. The legend of Klusener started during the 1999 World Cup where his performances were phenomenal.
5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
“Shahid Afridi” is a versatile player known in cricket as “Boom Boom Afridi”. He is truly a game changer. He is a fan of modern days due to his aggressive style of batting combined with the ability to hit sixes whenever he pleases. Due to his quick scoring ways, Afridi was able to switch the complexion of the game while playing for Pakistan.
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Top 5 Finishers in Modern Cricket (Current 2025)
1. Hardik Pandya (India)
In recent years, “Hardik Pandya” has shown himself to be a very effective finisher. He is a key player for India in “T20s and ODIs” because of his power-hitting and ability to handle pressure.
2. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
Known as “The Big Show” “Glenn Maxwell” is a lightning bat who can guarantee runs with innovative shots that mockish the ordinary. Any Australian side will dearly rely on his abilities to score rapidly in the death overs.
3. Jos Buttler (England)
“Jos Buttler” is regarded as the most destructive batsmen in modern cricket. He is one of the key pillars for the England white-ball teams because, aside from accelerating the innings, he can finish games too.
4. Kieron Pollard (West Indies)
West Indian brute “Kieran Pollard” is a T20 beast known for his strength and big hitting ability. Calm and experience, he is one of the most go-to finishers for the west indies and a myriad of T20 franchises.
5. David Miller (South Africa)
“David Miller”, alias “Killer Miller”, is notorious for his death chasing capabilities. He is one of the best finishers today because of his performance during the most stressful periods in the game.
The Importance of Finishers in Modern Cricket
There was a growing talk about finishers as one day cricket evolved into T20 cricket. It is now commonplace to have a few batsmen in the team who can come out to play in the last few overs just to accelerate the scoring and help the team win.
Conclusion
Relatively, every cricket fanatic will have a real time lively debate who the best finisher in cricket is. While the likes of Michael Bevan and MS Dhoni are household names, the new generation has the likes of Hardik Pandya and Glenn Maxwell, and the baton seems to have been passed on. Be it now or back in time, finishers are that aspect in cricket that makes it interesting. The fact that a batsman can come and all of a sudden change the whole game makes the game fun to watch.
FAQs
Who is considered the best finisher in cricket history?
MS Dhoni is widely regarded as the best finisher due to his calmness and match-winning performances under pressure.
What makes a great finisher in cricket?
A great finisher excels in calmness, adaptability, power-hitting, game awareness, and consistency in high-pressure situations.
Who are the top finishers in modern cricket?
Top modern finishers include Hardik Pandya, Glenn Maxwell, Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard, and David Miller.
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