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Top 10 Best Finisher in the World (2025 Updated)

15 min
Best Finishers in Cricket

Summary

MS Dhoni tops the list as the best finisher in cricket (2025), renowned for his calmness and match-winning knocks like the 2011 World Cup final. Close contenders include AB de Villiers (known for his 360-degree shot-making) and Michael Bevan (master of calculated chases). Hardik Pandya is highlighted as the current best finisher, excelling in T20Is with a strike rate of 174.23. Key stats for top finishers like Dhoni (10,773 ODI runs), de Villiers (fastest ODI century), and Pollard (explosive T20 performances) are provided. Ranking factors emphasize strike rates, successful chases, and clutch performances.
Table of content

Cricket is a sport that truly proves the saying, "If the end is well, everything is well. As it doesn't matter how a team has started their inning, it can be a good start or a bad start. The most important thing is how you finish the innings, and finishing an inning on a high note is one of the most difficult tasks in cricket. But how difficult can it be to finish an inning? It can be understood by the fact that there are very few players in the history of cricket who have done it consistently throughout their careers. Players like MS Dhoni, Indian star batsman Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Michael Bevan are among the greatest finishers in the history of cricket, but to be on this list wasn't so easy for them as well.

Over the period of time, the way of finishing an inning has changed drastically; however, the core meaning of finishing remained the same. The emergence of T20 cricket has influenced the way of finishing an innings. In this article, we will try to find the answer to who is the best finisher in the world? With the help of a statistical comparison among some of the best finisher in the world.

Top 10 Best Finisher in Cricket - Updated List

Finishing has been the toughest job for the batters. Most of the batters in cricket give the start and anchor the innings, but they fail to provide a proper finish to their innings, which leads to a 30-40 run deficit in the match. In world cricket, there have been some of the best finishers across the globe who have changed the course of the match with their match-winning finishing ability. We've listed the top 10 world best finisher in cricket.

RankPlayerMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
1MS Dhoni53817,26642.0890.9322416108
2AB de Villiers42020,01443.4296.92278*47109
3Michael Bevan2507,69741.3256.98108*652
4Hardik Pandya2194,24830.66108.81108120
5Kieron Pollard2244,27525.65114.77119319
6Andre Russell1412,11417.07105.1792*07
7David Miller3087,20237.75122.17139932
8Lance Klusener2205,48236.9874.85174627
9Mike Hussey30212,39845.8791.191952272
10Shahid Afridi52411,19626.00118.241561151

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Who is the Best Finisher in the World?

There have been many great finishers in the game who have amassed tons of runs in pressure situations to get their team over the line and win multiple matches for their nation. The role of a finisher is very important in a batting lineup, where runs scored by them could create a difference in the game. Here are some of the best finsher in the world.

10. Shahid Afridi | Pakistan

Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi for Pakistan (Image credits: Official X account of ICC | X/@ICC)

Shahid Afridi was a match-winner for the side. During his time, he was one of the most dangerous batters in the Pakistan lineup. His skill at playing shots from the first ball made him different from others. He has also contributed with the ball in the limited-overs cricket for the Men in Green. He remained a solid striker of the ball throughout his career.

Despite starting his career as an opener for the Men in Green, he later shifted to the middle order for the side. He was known for his explosive finishing ability and huge hits. He has been a sensational leg spinner as well. His match-winning ability has been seen in various games and competitions across the globe.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
Test271,71636.5186.9715658
ODI3988,06423.57117.00124639
T20I991,41617.92150.7554*04

9. Michael Hussey | Australia

Michael Hussey
Michael Hussey after finishing the game for Australia against Pakistan in T20 World Cup finals (Image Credits: Official X account of ICC | X/@ICC)

Mike Hussey, also known as Mr. Cricket, did not have a long career for Australia. But the time he played for the Aussies across formats, he excelled in every format for the Kangaroos. His match-winning innings against Pakistan in the 2010 World Cup is still one of the best knocks in T20 cricket and the 20-over World Cup as well.

Hussey has been a middle-order batter and came when the team needed to finish the game off quickly or set some big targets. He had the range of big hitting and thus set him apart from the rest of the Aussie batters who used to anchor the innings and could not finish the innings by scoring 70-80 runs towards the business end. His hard-hitting skills made him one of the best finishers of all time.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
Test796,23551.5250.131951929
ODI1855,44248.1587.17109*339
T20I3872137.94136.2960*04

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8. Lance Klusner | South Africa

top-10-best-finisher-in-cricket-all-time
Lance Klusner (Image Credits: ICC Official X Account/@icc)

Lance Klusener was known as one of the most brilliant finishers in the history of cricket for his skill at pressing the boundaries for runs and winning matches in all kinds of situations. He was South Africa’s go-to guy for winning matches at crunch times during the late 1990s and early 2000s; he delivered clutch innings full of courage and aggression - the perfect combination for winning an ODI match.

Klusener 's heroics during the 1999 Cricket World Cup are legendary, and he was voted Player of the Tournament for his outstanding all-round cricket. His ability to run up scores in the closing overs and to chase difficult targets with controlled aggression set him apart, and he was one of the dangerous batsmen of the lower order of that time. This made him one of the best finishers in cricket.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
Test491,90632.8659.8017448
ODI1713,57641.1089.91103*219
T20I

7. David Miller | South Africa

David Miller
David Miller celebrating after scoring century (Image Credits: official X account of ICC | X/@ICC)

South African batsman David Miller has been one of the finest batters for South Africa in limited-overs cricket. He has played some of the crucial knocks for the side during their batting collapse, and most of the knocks have come in losing causes. But he remains one of the best finishers in world cricket. Miller is one of the other South Africans who have been on the list. He has shown his power-hitting skills, where he is one of the Batsmen with Fastest Centuries in IPL, where he scored a century in just 38 balls playing for Kings XI Punjab (Now Punjab Kings) against RCB.

Miller also knows how to anchor the innings when required and finish the matches in style. He has been a match winner for the Proteas over several years and also the backbone of the middle order for the country. Despite not winning any trophies, his performance under pressure has been excellent. This is why he has been named in this list.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
ODI1784,61142.30103.68139724
T20I1302,59133.21140.66106*28
Test

6. Andre Russell | West Indies

Andre Russell
Image Credits: Official X Account of ICC/@ICC

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has been one of the hardest hitters of the ball. Even the bowlers are terrified by his hitting skills and nig muscles power. The Windies all-rounder has displayed match-winning knocks in the limited-overs format for the Island nation. He has changed the course of the game while playing some amazing knocks and won games from nowhere for the side. Even the umpires are scared if the ball comes straight and hits them; it's very dangerous.

He ranks among the most dangerous batters in T20 cricket and is one of the world best finisher in T20 cricket. The big Jamaican man also bowls at a pace of 140kph, and his all-round ability and consistent match-winning ability rank him among the best finishers in world cricket.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
Test121.0018.18200
ODI561,03427.21130.2292*04
T20I841,07822.00163.087103

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5. Kieron Pollard | West Indies

Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard for West Indies (Image Credits: Official X account of ICC | X/@ICC)

West Indies star Kieron Pollard has long been remembered for his impressive six-hitting ability that can change a game in one over. He always has a strike rate of over 175 in T20 internationals, a strong finisher who can do wonders with the bat. Pollard has won many matches for the West Indies and the Mumbai Indians at the right times. His excellent record and clutch exploits have helped his teams overcome crucial matches. Beyond the number aspect, his T20 international experience has been an invigorating factor in his finishing.

Whether it be setting or chasing objectives, Pollard's presence at the middle of the order ensures fireworks for all involved and makes him one of the world's best finishers. He has won T20 World Cups with the West Indies and played crucial roles in various T20 competitions. This is why he is one of the world best finisher in cricket and one of the world best finisher in T20 cricket.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
ODI1232,70626.0194.41119313
T20I1011,56925.30135.1475*06
Test

4. Hardik Pandya | India

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya for India (Image credits: Official X account of ICC | X/@ICC)

Hardik Pandya has been a clutch player for India and the Best All-Rounder in India. He has been the lucky charm for the Men in Blue. He has taken on the responsibility of scoring runs towards the business end of the innings and guided India to some massive totals. However, he can also play crucial knocks and anchor the innings if early wickets fall. Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been a consistent performer for the Men in Blue in recent years.

He earned himself as the main player in the side and showcased some brilliant hitting skills during the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy and previously in the T20 World Cup 2024 as well. He has also given 8-10 crucial overs for the side. This is why he is one of the best finishers in cricket.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
Test1153231.2973.8810814
ODI941,90432.82110.8992*011
T20I1141,81227.87141.6771*05

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3. Michael Bevan | Australia

top-10-best-finisher-in-cricket-all-time
Michael Beven (Image Credits: cricket.com.au Official X Account/@cricketcomau)

Michael Bevan has been widely accepted as one of the great finishers in the history of cricket with his astounding consistency, poise and ability to win match after match. Bevan – unlike today’s power hitters – used his strategic placement and quick running, combined with his accurate aim, to track down an amazing number of targets with such ease and to lead Australia to victory. The best part of Bevan's innings was his ability to remain calm under pressure.

He could bat from the start and finish the game. He helped to keep Australia unbeaten and eventually led them to victory. He was an important part of Australia’s middle order for several years. He was not the one to let anyone get away with batting after making them carry the load for long periods. This is the reason he stands as the best finisher in the world.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
Test1878529.0738.809106
ODI2326,91253.5874.16108*646
T20I

2. AB de Villiers | South Africa

AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers for South Africa (Image credits: official X account of ICC | X/@ICC)

AB de Villiers, known as ‘Mr.360’ of cricket, was a sensational batter across formats. He was named so because of his ability to play shots all around the ground and his unorthodox style of play. He dominated the white ball cricket like no one during his prime time. He has been better known for his unorthodox style of playing. De Villiers had numerous shots in his bag, and his hitting skills made him one of the best South African batters of all time.

He has the record for scoring the fastest century in ODI cricket. This showcases his ability to hit the balls hard and finish off the innings well. This ranks him in the top 3 best finisher in the world.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
Test1148,76550.6654.51278*2246
ODI2289,57753.50101.091762553
T20I781,67226.12135.1779*010

1. MS Dhoni | India

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni in ODI for Indian Team ( Image Credits: Official X account of ICC | X/@ICC)

The former India captain MS Dhoni has been one of the finest skippers of all time. He is the only captain to win all three ICC Trophies. He led the side for many years and built a legacy as a captain. Not only was he a leader during fielding, but with the bat as well. His match-winning ability with the bat has been unmatched till now. Dhoni's calm mind and his ability to take the game deep made him different. Dhoni, at the age of 43, continues to play cricket. He still can finish the innings for his side and win the games as well.

The wicket-keeper batter has played several match-winning knocks for the Men in Blue and taken them out of crunch situations single-handedly. His match-winning knock in the World Cup 2011 final remains his best finishing knock of all time. This is why he is the world no 1 best finisher in cricket and world best finisher in T20 cricket.

FormatMatchesRunsAvgSRHS100s50s
Test90487638.0959.11224633
ODI3501077350.5787.56183*1073
T20I98161737.60126.135602

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Who is the World Best Finisher 2025?

Who is the best finisher in the world? That's a tough question to answer; many players are in contention for this. However, hard-hitting Pandya stands tall above all. Hence, we can say Hardik Pandya is the world no 1 best finisher in cricket right now. He stands out as the premier finisher in world cricket, particularly in white ball cricket. His consistent performances under pressure, especially during the death overs, have made his reputation as one of the dangerous batters in the death overs. Recently, Pandya surpassed both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli to become India's top run-scorer in T20Is during the 16–20 overs phase, accumulating 1,068 runs at a great strike rate of 174.23. Here is the list of the best finisher in the world right now:

S. NO.PlayerCountryODI RunsT20I RunsBatting SR (ODI/T20I)
1Hardik PandyaIndia19041,812110.89 / 141.67
2Jos ButtlerEngland5196 3,535115.33 / 146.61
3Andre RussellWest Indies1,0341,063130.22 / 164.04
4David MillerSouth Africa4611 2591103.68 / 140.66
5Glenn MaxwellAustralia39902664126.70 / 154.97

How We Ranked the Best Finishers in Cricket- Ranking Factor

We will be ranking the best finisher in the world according to the ranking factors. We are taking their match-winning ability, consistency, and impact. In this article, we dive into the world best finisher in cricket.

  • Batting Average in Run Chases: As we have already mentioned, finishing is a very difficult task. It requires a huge amount of risk, which is why most of the finishers don't have a higher batting average, but those who are good at finishing remain not out and take the team to victory in the case of chasing. Players like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have an average of over 50 while chasing.
  • Strike Rate in Final Overs (Overs 40–50 in ODIs / 16–20 in T20s): The strike rate of finishers is generally higher than that of other players; however, the strike rate in pressure scenarios matters the most for any good finisher.
  • Successful Chases Finished: This would include the number of successful run chases by a finisher, and it is a very significant factor in determining the best finisher in the world.
  • Boundary% in death overs: The last three overs of the game are where the result of the match gets determined, and the higher the boundary percentage of a finisher, the better the chances of winning the match.
  • Finishing Record Against Top Teams: The success rate and finishing record against the top oppositions have been considered while ranking the world best finisher as it is against these strong teams when powerful finishing is required at its most.
  • Finishing Record in Knockouts & Finals: Delivering under the biggest pressure situations (e.g., World Cups, IPL playoffs) is one way to establish who is the best finisher in the world. When the pressure is at its highest, that is when such innings are needed the most.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the No 1 finisher in the world?

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MS Dhoni is the No 1 finisher in the world.

Why is Dhoni called the best finisher?

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Dhoni is called the best finisher because he stays calm during high-pressure situations and wins the match with his strategic mind.

Who is the master blaster in cricket?

+

Sachin Tendulkar is the master blaster in cricket.

Who is Mr finisher in cricket?

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MS Dhoni is Mr finsher in cricket.

Who is the best finisher in IPL history?

+

MS Dhoni is the best finisher in IPL history.

Who is the greatest finisher in T20?

+

MS Dhoni is the greatest finisher in T20.

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Edited by- Raghav Gupta
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