Chasing is an art and we have seen absolutely ridiculous chases from these top performers in world cricket; the never giving up attitude and ruthless striking! Simply The Best finishers Of the current era
Cricket is a game of pressure. When playing big matches, and when team in a critical situation, and you are on strike, it is so important to calm down the nerves perform till the end and finish the game
Less players can actually seek in the pressure and perform for their sides till the end.
Therefore the main logic about playing is to win games for your sides, and if you are scoring and your team is losing, then it’s never worth it.
Just like The Current India Team Captain Rohit Sharma says, personal milestones don’t matter to me. We are here to play and, most importantly, to win. “A selfless opinion from a selfless captain”
So, finishing the match is the ability fewer players have, which is a real asset for any squad in world cricket.
You can say Sachin Tendulkar is known as the God of cricket and world no 1, but if you see his records, you’ll not find him sticking to the last overs and taking the Indian Side Home.
Therefore, when taking about the Best finishers in the world, there are only some names who have created history by ticking till the last overs and grabbing the win for their side.
Today, we are going to mention the top players who are the real finishers and have created a massive impact with their cricketing abilities, chasing the unpredictable.
Top 5 Best Finishers in the world
1. AB De Villiers
Who can forget the best finisher batsman Mr. 360 Abd? He might have retired from world cricket, but his records are still in the history of cricketing books, unmatchable and, hence, simply unbreakable.
ABD has contributed many runs for his South African side, but his best-chases came in the IPL against several teams.
The best inning of ABD cricket history remembers was playing against Kolkata Knight Riders at Sharjah. RCB was going well, but suddenly, they lost wickets in quick succession also lost their inform captain.
ABD came in, and the moment he stepped in, he was totally in a different mood. He took the bowlers in charge, and 76 was needed in 6.5 overs when he exploded.
In 2 overs, 35 was needed, and the 360 produced a masterclass innings, hitting the balls all around the ground, showing nightmare to the KKR bowlers. He was only 8 of his first nine deliveries, and from there, he Smashed Archer and Jayden and finished the game in 19.4 overs.
What a man! The crowds were shocked, so were the commentators and opponents. It was a quality innings. Nevertheless, he has played so many more innings like this for any of his squad.
The best part about his batting is his 360° abilities. He can play anywhere, and no fielding change can stop him. Hence, ABD is surely one of the best finishers of all time.
Batting Stats:
M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s | |
Test | 114 | 191 | 18 | 8765 | 278 | 50.66 | 16076 | 54.52 | 22 | 2 | 46 | 1024 | 64 |
ODI | 228 | 218 | 39 | 9577 | 176 | 53.5 | 9473 | 101.1 | 25 | 0 | 53 | 840 | 204 |
T20I | 78 | 75 | 11 | 1672 | 79 | 26.12 | 1237 | 135.17 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 140 | 60 |
IPL | 184 | 170 | 40 | 5162 | 133 | 39.71 | 3403 | 151.69 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 413 | 251 |
Bowling Stats:
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
Test | 114 | 5 | 204 | 104 | 2 | 2/49 | 2/49 | 3.06 | 52 | 102 | 0 | 0 |
ODI | 228 | 9 | 192 | 202 | 7 | 2/15 | 2/15 | 6.31 | 28.86 | 27.43 | 0 | 0 |
2. MS Dhoni
When talking about the world’s best finisher, who can forget the greatest finisher of all time, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. A typical Ranchi boy that Created chaos with his bat in the world cricket.
MS Dhoni is the ideal example of how to perform in pressure situations. His fans are most fond of his last-ball finishes! He has been doing this since the moment he stepped into international cricket.
Who can forget the day India lifted the 2011 trophy? “Dhoni finishes off In style, India lifts the World Cup,” the day every Indian shed similar tears.
He not only played the 2011 World Cup innings in his career but also played several roles in high-pressure matches and finished them. One of his best innings was when India was playing against Sri Lanka in the Celkon Cup.
India required 15 of 5 balls with just one wicket in hand! He hit two balls for a long six and then a four. Now, Sri Lankan is in deep deep trouble. The Sri Lankan captain feels anxious and sets his field again, talking to his bowlers and comforting.
The next ball he bowls is a half-volley. Dhoni launches it out of the ground over covers for a flat six and takes India home. Everyone is delighted. The commentator calls the moment unbelievable. It was the greatest ninth wicket chase in world cricket.
There was one more situation when India was playing against Australia: 13 needed six balls! Ashwin and Dhoni in crease. Ashwin gives Dhoni a single, and in the 3rd ball, Dhoni hits a monstrous hit and clears the biggest part of the ground. What a launch it was; he absolutely smashed it Commentators can’t believe he actually cleared that part of the ground
Lastly, India needed 3 of 3 balls, and Dhoni took a three to take India home. There have been numerous times when Dhoni performed under pressure and took India home. Undoubtedly he is the best finisher of all time in world and in cricketing history
Batting Stats:
M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s | |
Test | 90 | 144 | 16 | 4876 | 224 | 38.09 | 8248 | 59.12 | 6 | 1 | 33 | 544 | 78 |
ODI | 350 | 297 | 84 | 10773 | 183 | 50.58 | 12303 | 87.56 | 10 | 0 | 73 | 826 | 229 |
T20I | 98 | 85 | 42 | 1617 | 56 | 37.6 | 1282 | 126.13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 116 | 52 |
IPL | 264 | 229 | 95 | 5243 | 84 | 39.13 | 3812 | 137.54 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 363 | 252 |
Bowling Stats:
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
Test | 90 | 7 | 96 | 67 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 4.19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ODI | 350 | 2 | 36 | 31 | 1 | 1/14 | 1/14 | 5.17 | 31 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
3. Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya has made a name for himself in quite a few years, now people calling him as world best finisher. The great batsman with his batting abilities and exceptional bowling skills, he is no less than any player in the squad.
We have seen so many contributions from him, and a recent one came just a few months ago at the ICC 2024 Cricket World.
Also, we need to understand that batters are not only the best finishers, but Bowlers also just like Hardik Pandya, who can forget the ruthless last over he bowled against South Africa and won his side recent t20 World Cup.
Hardik that day took three key wickets and gave the trophy in team India’s lap. What a champ, what a hero
Also, he played an incredible innings with his bat against Australia. 23 was needed from 9 balls, which goes to 14 of 6.
It’s a tour decider! High pressure. Now 12 needed off four balls. Pandya hits two successive six and takes his side home.
It was only Pandya’s power that made India seal the series’ against Australia in Australia.
Indeed, after MSD, Pandya has the only potential for most finishing success at the number 6 spot.
Batting Stats
M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s | |
Test | 11 | 18 | 1 | 532 | 108 | 31.29 | 720 | 73.89 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 68 | 12 |
ODI | 86 | 61 | 9 | 1769 | 92 | 34.02 | 1603 | 110.36 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 132 | 67 |
T20I | 102 | 79 | 22 | 1523 | 71 | 26.72 | 1078 | 141.28 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 111 | 79 |
IPL | 137 | 128 | 40 | 2525 | 91 | 28.69 | 1734 | 145.62 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 189 | 136 |
Bowling Stats
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
Test | 11 | 19 | 937 | 528 | 17 | 5/28 | 6/50 | 3.38 | 31.06 | 55.12 | 1 | 0 |
ODI | 86 | 80 | 3199 | 2960 | 84 | 4/24 | 4/24 | 5.55 | 35.24 | 38.08 | 0 | 0 |
T20I | 102 | 91 | 1619 | 2205 | 86 | 4/16 | 4/16 | 8.17 | 25.64 | 18.83 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 137 | 93 | 1418 | 2150 | 64 | 3/17 | 3/17 | 9.1 | 33.59 | 22.16 | 0 | 0 |
4. Virat Kohli
Undoubtedly, Virat Kohli is the greatest player and currently the world best finisher and world no 1. Not only did he score runs, but he chased the scores and got his team home.
He is called the run machine king Kohli and also the chase master. The greatest batsman in the top order to have so many chase records to his name
Most players feel pressured and underperform in big matches, and they fail, but Kholi is the rare one who looks for big matches and performs the best.
When Talking about his greatest chase, who can forget the Mohali innings when he single-handedly outperformed Australia? Key players were out, including Yuvraj Dhawan and Rahane, but Kholi stood there like a king with Ms Dhoni.
He was not just dependent on scoring boundaries; he looked for gaps, ran singles and doubles, and hit boundaries with the middle of his bat.
That day was unbelievable. Everyone lost faith, but Kholi was just on a different level that day. He Smashed Maxwell, Coulter Nile, and Faulkner for an unbeatable 82 of 53 balls, taking India home.
We were not over from the innings, and Kholi set one more record for his best chase currently, which was against Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup. Nobody can forget the front-foot six, and the flick to the fine leg was the moment.
The match was completely lost, but Kohli didn’t lose hope. He stayed, he performed, and he conquered the Pakistanis. The best pressure seeker the best chaser in the cricket world of all time.
Batting Stats
M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s | |
Test | 114 | 193 | 11 | 8871 | 254 | 48.74 | 15967 | 55.56 | 29 | 7 | 30 | 993 | 26 |
ODI | 295 | 283 | 44 | 13906 | 183 | 58.18 | 14866 | 93.54 | 50 | 0 | 72 | 1302 | 152 |
T20I | 125 | 117 | 31 | 4188 | 122 | 48.7 | 3056 | 137.04 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 369 | 124 |
IPL | 252 | 244 | 37 | 8004 | 113 | 38.67 | 6065 | 131.97 | 8 | 0 | 55 | 705 | 272 |
Bowling Stats
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
Test | 114 | 11 | 175 | 84 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 2.88 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
ODI | 295 | 50 | 662 | 680 | 5 | 1/13 | 1/13 | 6.16 | 136.0 | 132.4 | 0 | 0 |
T20I | 125 | 13 | 152 | 204 | 4 | 1/13 | 1/13 | 8.05 | 51.0 | 38.0 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 252 | 26 | 251 | 368 | 4 | 2/25 | 2/25 | 8.8 | 92.0 | 62.75 | 0 | 0 |
5. Ben Stokes
English player Ben Stokes, the current England test captain, has given England the value it deserved for years in international cricket
We all know the dark night for Ben stokes and the England fans the 2017 T20 World Cup when England was winning well and definitely with a great margin
Stokes was given the last over, and Carlos Braithwaite, the unorthodox player, smashed Stokes for four consecutive sixes and took west indies to become the champions of the 2017 T20 cricket World Cup.
Stokes was shattered, shocked, and discouraged, and cricket fans couldn’t believe what they had just seen. The match was easy on the England side, but now England was no more the contender for the trophy
Hence, Stokes came back stronger in 2019, making England win the crucial Headingley test in the ashes against Australia! With nine wickets down, england needed 50 more runs. Hence, from that situation, he made England win with his remarkable knock, finishing the game with a four.
Then comes his ideal redemption moment in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where England was facing New Zealand in the finals. Stokes scored a crucial 83 and leveled the score in the finals, and after another super over, England won the World Cup, and it was only Ben Stokes who inevitably made England the World champions.
Both the innings were unbelievable and high class, and truly, both the chases were remarkable in world cricket and Stokes ultimately had his redemption moment.
Batting Stats
M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 200 | 50 | 4s | 6s | |
Test | 105 | 190 | 8 | 6508 | 258 | 35.76 | 10933 | 59.53 | 13 | 1 | 34 | 759 | 131 |
ODI | 114 | 99 | 15 | 3463 | 182 | 41.23 | 3619 | 95.69 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 282 | 109 |
T20I | 43 | 36 | 9 | 585 | 52 | 21.67 | 457 | 128.01 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 22 |
IPL | 45 | 44 | 6 | 935 | 107 | 24.61 | 698 | 133.95 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 81 | 32 |
Bowling Stats
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
Test | 105 | 152 | 11795 | 6507 | 203 | 6/22 | 8/161 | 3.31 | 32.05 | 58.1 | 4 | 0 |
ODI | 114 | 88 | 3110 | 3137 | 74 | 5/61 | 5/61 | 6.05 | 42.39 | 42.03 | 1 | 0 |
T20I | 43 | 36 | 612 | 856 | 26 | 3/26 | 3/26 | 8.39 | 32.92 | 23.54 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 45 | 38 | 689 | 992 | 28 | 3/15 | 3/15 | 8.64 | 35.43 | 24.61 | 0 | 0 |
Conclusion
Cricket is a game of contributions, and real contributors are only those who stick to the last and finish the game
These are the best finishers in our list. The players we mentioned have the most potential, and their efforts for their respective sides are just unmatchable.
If there is any kid who plays professional cricket reading the article, I have some advice for you! Don’t just score Stick to the last and finish the game. That is how you make a name for yourself and your country, cause that’s the real art and the real deal.
FAQs
Q1. Who is the best finisher in the world of all time?
A. “Captain Cool,” often known as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is one of the all-time great finishers. He stands out for his ability to remain composed under duress and his astute gaming technique.