IPL 2024: TOP 5 Best Finisher in IPL History

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been graced by numerous talented players, but when it comes to the most dangerous finisher in IPL, one name stands out: Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Widely regarded as the best finisher in IPL, Dhoni’s ability to steer his team to victory in high-pressure situations is unparalleled. Known for his exceptional cricketing acumen and composure, he has proven time and again why he is considered the greatest finisher in IPL.

Dhoni’s title as the no. 1 finisher in IPL is backed by his impressive records and match-winning knocks. His unyielding determination and ability to handle pressure make him the best finisher in IPL, earning him admiration from fans and fellow cricketers alike. Dhoni’s finishing skills are not limited to the IPL; he is also recognized as one of the world’s best finishers in the sport.

An important role of a finisher is as important as what a player doing in the top order is, who is trying to adjust to the pace and bounce of the wicket. It is often a matter of the ability to deal with the pressure that determines whether a player can bat well in the death overs. There is also difficulty in hitting in the death overs, since the bowlers are always looking out for ways to keep the game as short as possible. 

As much as we have seen the likes of Andre Russell, AB de Villiers, and Kieron Pollard all demonstrate their finishing skills, the best finisher in IPL history is without a doubt former India limited overs captain, MS Dhoni.

1. Best Finisher in IPL history: MS Dhoni

One of the most successful captains in the IPL, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is also known for his finishing skills. He has led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to three IPL titles and has a reputation for being able to chase down big targets with ease. His calm and composed demeanor under pressure has helped him finish many close matches for CSK.

Despite the fact that he is no longer the finisher he used to be during his prime, the Chennai captain is still one of the greatest finishers in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international cricket. There is no doubt that Dhoni appeared to hit the bowlers for boundaries during his heyday, especially with his trademark helicopter shot.

It has been a particularly successful season for Dhoni in the IPL, scoring 70 of his 186 innings without losing a wicket – the most by any batsman in the tournament, and having a career strike rate of 136.64. Dhoni has scored 2,303 runs in the death overs at a strike rate of 189, and ranks third for sixes with 216.

It is one of the many instances in Dhoni’s career in which he achieved what he excelled at most – finishing the match as he did against Punjab Kings in 2010. CSK, chasing 193, needed 16 runs to win in the final over bowled by Irfan Pathan. However, Dhoni needed just three balls to give the team victory. In this match, he scored one four, two sixes, and helped his team reach the semi-finals.

M.S. Dhoni has been one of the best number 1 finishers in World Cricket and is undoubtedly the best finisher in the Indian Premier League.

2.AB de Villiers – Best finisher in IPL

A South African cricketer, AB de Villiers is known for his explosive batting style and has been a key player for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL. He is a natural finisher and has the ability to turn a game around with his quick scoring. His innovative strokeplay and ability to hit the ball all around the ground make him one of the best finishers in the IPL.

AB de Villiers has been a regular feature in the Indian Premier League since the season that he got into the league. It was with Delhi Daredevils (later renamed Delhi Capitals) that he started playing cricket, a team that he stayed with for three seasons. After his stay with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011, he became a mainstay of their batting, taking up multiple roles in the line-up with his batting along the way. 

However, with the top-order in place, ABD found himself more often than not in difficult situations during the final few overs of the innings, due to having a solid top-order in place.

 The Indian Premier League has seen him at the forefront of many of these situations in the past ten seasons and he has successfully intervened on many occasions to help them out. And, perhaps most importantly, during the last season in the UAE, he showcased his impressive versatility. 

It is AB de Villiers’ batting that has been crucial in forming the core of the RCB lineup. With 169 matches under his belt, he has scored 4849 runs with an average of 40.40. He has played at a strike rate of 151.91 during these matches. He is a player who is able to play on all sides of the wickets, making him a true 360-degree player who is capable of taking the game to death with counter-attacking innings. 

3. Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard is a professional cricketer who is known for his aggressive batting style and his ability to hit big shots in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been a key player for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, helping them win five titles.

While Pollard is not necessarily considered the best finisher in the IPL, he is certainly one of the most explosive batsmen in the tournament and has the ability to take the game away from the opposition in the final overs. He has scored over 3,500 runs in the IPL and has a strike rate of over 150, making him a dangerous player for any team to face.

There is no doubt that Pollard is one of the world’s most powerful batsmen, and this season in the IPL he has played some of his best cricket.

Over the course of his career, and with nearly 1,500 at the Indian Premier League, the West Indies international has racked up over 3,500 runs in the death overs.

Specifically, his strike rate in the final four overs is 199 overall, while his 185 in the IPL puts him in the sixth spot all-time for sixes in the competition.

In addition to being able to help the Indians chase down several extremely difficult totals, Pollard also comes in at No. 3 on our list.

4. Andre Russell

As one of the most dangerous batsmen in the modern game, Andre Russell has proven to be one of the most explosive players and he has demolished bowling attacks around the world in the various leagues he has played in. In terms of his six-hitting ability, he is simply outstanding. Even his mishits seem to go far.

In 38 innings at the end, he has scored 665 runs with a fantastic strike rate of 218 and an average of just a hair over 24. 

There has never been a better time for the West Indies international on the international stage than now. He is some distance ahead of second place Nicholas Pooran on the leaderboard for the highest strike rate in IPL history and averages 182.33 runs every 100 balls.

As a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders, Russell has had several memorable innings for the club and has often been credited for getting them out of tricky situations without any external help. In addition to this, the player has also won the MVP Award on 2 occasions and is without a doubt one of the best finishers in the IPL’s history.

5. Hardik Pandya

The Mumbai Indians have a young player known as Hardik Pandya, who has emerged as one of the key players for them. The fact that he is one of the most powerful players out there is a sign of how quickly he can get to work. His Mumbai Indian fans have always had great expectations from him and he has always been able to deliver them every now and then.

It is surprising to note that Hardik Pandya’s best performance came in the same match as Andre Russell’s. As he chased the over 230, he kept the hopes alive for a Paltan season. It was a strike rate of over 267 that made him score 91 points in just 34 balls. At the start of the game, he scored and he carried this form throughout the game. 

Hardik’s innings ended in a great way, although unfortunately Mumbai Indians were not able to win that game. Hardik truly deserves to be remembered as one of the best finishers in the history of the Indian Premier League.

Conclusion of Best Finisher in IPL

There is little doubt that MS Dhoni is the most successful finisher in the history of IPL, even though the topic of the best finisher is one of contention among fans.