Who Is the Best Finisher in the World

Who Is the Best Finisher in the World? Let’s Talk About It

Thus, at some point or another, every cricket fan has asked the question, Who is the best finisher in the world?

This is the sort of debate you begin in living rooms that ultimately ends up in WhatsApp groups, and gets resurrected again nearly every time there is a nail-biting finish. It’s a cricket conversation I’ve looked forward to, honestly, it’s one of the most exciting in cricket.

Being a ‘finisher’ is more than sixes; that’s why. That’s a game of nerves of steel, reading the game like a book and achieving magic in moments when it seems like you have absolutely no chance.

So, let’s break it down. Who deserves that title?

First, What Makes a Great Finisher?

With that in mind, we should crown somebody, but I think there are reasons to hesitate before doing so. Hitting the last ball for six certainly isn’t the end of it: it’s not enough on its own.

Below are the answers to define a top-tier finisher.

  • Staying calm under pressure
  • Chasing tricky totals
  • Delivering in clutch moments
  • Winning games from impossible positions
  • Without losing their wicket and with an insane strike rate

Not everyone can do this. Some crumble. Some get lucky. Rarely… Well, they take ownership of the moment.

MS Dhoni – The Inevitable Answer

For want of a better word, MS Dhoni is the man everyone thinks of when they talk about ‘best finisher’. And for good reason.

He didn’t just finish games. He calculated them.

And Dhoni had a fantastic feel for a match situation as you might guess a seasoned stockbroker has a feel for market trends. The man had ice in his veins. He was calm in what was a last over in a World Cup or in an IPL league match, and he enacted big things.

Never mind the 2011 World Cup final. That’s six to seal the trophy? Goosebumps. Pure Dhoni.

His demeanour is cool, as are his numbers:

  • Over 10,000 ODI runs
  • 50+ average in ODIS
  • 183* vs Sri Lanka – an all-time classic

Dhoni’s name is the default setting for an answer when people ask who the best finisher in the world.

What About AB de Villiers?

Ah yes. The 360-degree genius.

AB de Villiers was a bat redefiner. His games didn’t just finish; they demolished attacks.

He was able to sweep fast bowlers for six. Scoop full tosses behind the keeper. He did all of it whilst smiling.

Dhoni was methodical and calm, AB was flair and chaos, but then as deadly.

He’s got:

  • A strike rate over 100 in ODIS
  • Multiple finishes from hopeless positions
  • Quick to the boundary with the ability to hit literally any ball to the boundary
  • However, he did it with grace and humility.

AB wasn’t just a showman. He was closer. He provided us with some of the most entertaining finishes that have been seen in modern cricket.

Michael Bevan

For a 90s cricket kid, this name reminds me of times gone by.

The original finisher was Michael Bevan. Blasting sixes sometimes was not a need for him. That was his strength: patience and smart placement. He would adjust the strike, find gaps and quietly terminate the asking rate without any perspiration.

He played in a different era, so his finishing stats are mind-blowing:

  • ODI average of nearly 54
  • Tons of unbeaten innings in tight chases have been hammered.
  • Calm and consistent – every captain’s dream

Bevan would be the master of calculated chases, while Dhoni was the king of power finishes.

Current Players in the Mix

Now, let’s fast-forward to today.

A new wave of finishers has some serious noise to make right now as well.

Jos Buttler

 England’s go-to man. Fearless, capable of winning matches single-handedly and aggressively. His T20 finishing is world-class.

Glenn Maxwell

 As full as the name “Big Show,” the Big Show lives up to his name more often than not. You’re kidding yourself if you think he shouldn’t have played in Abu Dhabi, so there’s precedent for some ridiculous finishes. Not that those blokes should forget that ODI double century, for example. Unreal stuff.

Hardik Pandya

 India’s new finishing machine. Calm, strong, and maturing fast. He’s got that Dhoni-like aura without the helicopter shot yet.

Andre Russell

 He finishes games, and not only that, he often ends them early. Forgetting his historic failure on the previous occasion, Dhoni is equally adept at dynamism as he is with stridency — a batsman for all occasions. If he’s at the crease in the last five overs, good luck bowling to him.

David Miller

 Crashing to the end, Killer Miller’s reputation has grown, and he is known for staying to the very end. He’s done big chases and has all the power to subdue any bowling attack.

So… Who Is the Best Finisher in the World?

As someone who pretty much does it all, this is a cop- out but truly, it relies on what you value.

He was Dhoni, if you wanted calmness and consistency.

 If you like flair and fireworks — AB de Villiers.

 Bevan is brain over brawn.

 Buttler, Russell or Pandya if you’re looking for carnage in this day and age.

But if we had to win a World Cup final tomorrow and choose 15 runs from the last over, all those players would still hand over the bat to MS Dhoni.

Why Does Finishing Matter So Much in Cricket?

Cricket has changed. Finishers have become more important than ever. You can have a good start, but if nobody closes the game, then that amounts to nothing.

Those last over-thrills are what fans live for. A good finisher becomes the basis of the team’s strategy. And betting markets? They do the damage in the death overs.

It applies to T20S or ODIS — the player who can stay on and consequently win the game is pure gold.

Which is why the question of who is the best finisher in the world will always be relevant.

Also Read on Exchmarket : Most Man of the Match in International Cricket

That is but just one side of the story. If you understand the passionate thrill of watching bowlers rule, our list of the top wicket takers of International cricket will be the list for you to see.

The one that is filled with stats, legends and game changers.

Final Thoughts

A finisher has a hard job. It’s lonely. High pressure. One little mistake here, and the game is gone.

But the best ones? They rise. Again and again.

Next time someone asks who the best finisher in the world is, you will have much to say.

Finishing isn’t a skill. It’s because it’s not. It’s an art. However, it requires a special type of player to learn.

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