Cricket has produced some exceptional finishers in all formats, and today, we will rank the Top 10 Best Cricket Finishers. From international to domestic cricket formats, a lot of players have shown what a finisher is. A player who ends the game for his team with a win when they need it the most.
A finisher is usually recognised as the player who pulls through towards the end of the innings, often with the last defining strike in the final overs. This is probably the most accurate description of a finisher. However, to be a finisher, a player does not have to be the one to actually finish the game; He needs to change the direction of the game in favour of the team.
Top 10 Match-Winning Cricket Finishers
We bring to you some of the best cricket finishers that the world has ever seen. These players have been game changers for the team in crucial times. Some of these players may seem unusual as finishers given their positions in the batting lineup.
10) Shahid Afridi – Pakistan
Shahid Afridi is the only Pakistani player on the original finishers list who was the captain of the Pakistan team and one of the most prolific players of his time.
If you remember, his best finish was back in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 against Sri Lanka in the final, where he scored 54 runs from 40 balls and won the game.
9) Kieron Pollard – West Indies
Kieron Pollard is a professional cricketer who represented the West Indies team in ODI and T20 formats. Pollard has consistently finished games for the West Indies team.
Pollard is also regarded as one of the best finishers in the IPL, playing for the Mumbai Indians franchise. One of his best finishes was in the 2013 IPL finals against CSK, when he scored 60 runs from 34 balls and helped MI win their first IPL title.
8) Michael Hussey – Australia
Michael Hussey is a former cricketer, now a cricket coach and commentator. Michael is one of the most successful cricketers in terms of his contribution to the ODI and T20 formats.
Some of his best finishes were against Pakistan in the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals in 2010. Hussey scored 60 runs from 24 balls, pushing their team through the match and into the finals.
7) Virat Kohli – India
Virat Kohli is known by many names, but Chase Master is the one that describes him the best as a finisher.
His last and best finisher was against Pakistan in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The target was 241, and Virat came in after the first wicket and was not out at the end. The last ball was the winning ball and his century.
6) Andre Russell – West Indies
Andre Russell is a West Indies cricketer. He is part of the power-hitter club to finish matches with his former WI partner, Pollard.
In the World Twenty20 Super 10 stage semi-finals in 2016 against India, Lendl Simmons made the most runs in that match, but Russell’s finishing six was the winner, and they made it to the finals.
5) Jos Buttler – England
Jos Buttler who is an English cricket player with an attacking style of batting. He is among the middle order cricketers who bats at No. 4.
Also Read: Top 5 Cricketers Who Scored the Most Hundreds Against India
Joss is a finisher and a multiplier of the team score, and a main player in the 2019 World Cup. He contributed 59 runs and reduced the deficit, and ensured that the team managed to draw the match. He made seven runs in Super Overs, and this highly contributed to their victory.
4) Lance Klusener – South Africa
Lance Klusener was an international cricketer who represented South Africa, as well as an international cricket coach. He was an all-rounder and was also a very good batting and bowling finisher.
In the 6th ODI of the New Zealand tour of South Africa 2000, Lance Klusener was selected as Player of the match. Lance scored 59 in 42 balls, helping his team to win the ODI match.
3) AB de Villiers – South Africa
AB de Villiers is an ex-South African cricketer who is regarded as one of the best finishers in international and domestic tournaments like the IPL.
ABD’s performance in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup was phenomenal, where he scored 162 of 408 runs against West Indies, enabling his team to lead by a long way.
2) Michael Bevan – Australia
Michael Bevan is a former international cricket player who played for Australia. He was the best finisher in the ODI format during his era.
His most iconic finish is from the Benson & Hedges World Series in 1999 against the West Indies. He scored 78 runs in 88 balls, which included the final boundary at the last ball.
In the 2002 VB Series, Bevan came in after four wickets. He smashed a 102 in 95 balls against New Zealand. It was one of his best clutching performances.
1) MS Dhoni – India
MS Dhoni is a former international cricket player and one of the best skippers of the Indian national team. He is considered to be a synonym for the best finisher in the cricket world.
There are many occasions that have proved why he is the best finisher. The most iconic finish was in the 2011 Cricket World Cup against Sri Lanka. Dhoni came in to bat earlier than usual. By the end of the match, he had scored 91 runs off 79 balls, which obviously included the final ground-breaking six.