Top 8 best finisher in the world in cricket (Updated as of 2025)

Cricket is evolving with time, and so are the middle-order batters whose job is to finish the game for the team. Being a middle-order batter in times of run-chases isn't an easy job, but there are players like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Ab de Villiers, and many others who make the job look easy. In today's times, watching any format is interesting if the target is set and the team is trying to chase it. 

Top 8 best finishers in the world

There are some world's best finishers in cricket who have not only helped their team win matches, but have also made a name for themselves. In this article, we'll talk about the best finishers in the world and how they reached their height in their cricket careers. There are players from all around the world in the list. 

8. Shahid Afridi

Pakistan's former cricketer Shahid Afridi is known for his wonderful batting performance in death overs. The cricket fraternity will never forget his knock against Ravichandran Ashwin in the Asia Cup 2014. Shahid Afridi (34 off 18) played a solid cameo to help Pakistan get a win over India in a must-win match. 

Similarly, there are many instances when the player picked up the bat and decided to thrash the bowlers during major tournaments. His aggressive batting style has helped him win matches for his team. 

7. Hardik Pandya

India's one of the best all-rounders, Hardik Pandya, has shown the world on multiple occasions what he is capable of. He plays in white-ball cricket and in the IPL and has smashed some of the best knocks in his career so far. 

His role in helping India win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025 will remain etched in the minds of cricket fans. In T20Is, he has scored 904 runs in the death overs, which speaks volumes about the player and his potential. 

6. Jos Buttler

England's former captain Jos Buttler has many accolades under his name, and one of them is being the best finisher in the world. He has scored a century in all formats of the game, making him a brilliant cricketer. 

He was a part of England's World Cup-winning squad in 2019 and then went on to captain the side in 2022. Moreover, Buttler is quite popular in the IPL as well, where he played some of the best innings in his T20 career. The cricket world is quite aware of his chasing skills and the strike rate he maintains during his innings. 

5. Vivian Richards

Sir Viv Richards is an infamous name in the cricket world for his numerous accolades. He is known as one of the best finishers during his career. Richards has amassed 8540 runs in 121 Test matches at an average of 50.23. In the ODIs, he has scored 6721 runs and has a strike rate of 90.20. 

The West Indies' legendary batter has played many crucial knocks, helping the team win the match on multiple occasions. Hence, even after years of retirement, he is still regarded as one of the best cricketers in the world. 

4. AB de Villiers

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, also known as ‘Mr. 360’, is indeed one of the greatest finishers ever to grace the game of cricket. He was one of those cricketers who had every cricket shot in their books and could hit anything, anywhere, at any pace.

He has guided South Africa to numerous victories in all forms of cricket. Even in the franchise leagues, he has played the role of a finisher multiple times. Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League is the prime example.

3. Michael Hussey

Former Australian cricketer, Michael Hussey, popularly known as ‘Mr. Cricket’ had a knack for turning games around with his elegant batting style. The legendary left-handed batter had scored 5,442 runs in 185 matches at an impressive average of 48.15. His ability to take his team to victory and play responsibly is the best thing about him.

Not just that, he has also played in multiple positions for his team. Opening the innings to batting in the middle-order, Hussey has done it all during his playing days for the Kangaroos.

2. Michael Bevan

Another former Australian cricketer, Michael Bevan, has been one of the most talked-about finishers of cricket. The ‘Bevan of the Day’ was Australia’s secret weapon in the 90s and early 2000s. Australia had won numerous games when Bevan used to step onto the field and save his team when wickets fell all around him.

The left-handed batter featured in 232 ODI matches and scored 6,912 runs at a magnificent average of 53.58. The average is enough to speak volumes about his consistency and finishing abilities for the team.

1. MS Dhoni

No discussion about finishers is complete without the Captain Cool himself. The former India captain and legendary finisher, MS Dhoni, is known for his powerful hitting irrespective of the situation of the game. From the 2007 T20I World Cup to the 2011 ODI World Cup, the cricket world witnessed the carnage of Dhoni.

Even after that, he continued his dominance till 2019 and is still wreaking havoc in IPL. The star wicketkeeper-batter played 350 ODIs and scored 10,773 runs at an impressive average of 50.57. Even in the shortest format of the game, he scored 1,617 runs in 99 matches at a strike rate of 126.13.