Closing out a game of cricket under pressure is an art – and not many have truly mastered it. From the poised and collected MS Dhoni to the relentless AB de Villiers, these players have transformed our perception of those final few overs in a match. In the current age of cricket with T20 game taking over, finishers have become yet more important.
So who is the best finisher in cricket? We dive into the history books and consider who are the top 10 best finishers in cricket (2025) – those players who have turned lost causes into memorable victories.
Top 10 Best Finisher in Cricket 2025
| Rank | Cricketer | Country | Birth Date | Test Highest Score | ODI Highest Score | T20 Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MS Dhoni | India | 07/07/1981 | 224 | 183* | 56 |
| 2 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 17/02/1984 | 278* | 176 | 79* |
| 3 | Michael Bevan | Australia | 08/05/1970 | 91* | 108* | N/A |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | England | 08/09/1990 | 152 | 162* | 101* |
| 5 | Michael Hussey | Australia | 27/05/1975 | 195 | 109* | 60* |
| 6 | Vivian Richards | West Indies | 07/03/1952 | 291 | 189 | N/A |
| 7 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 01/03/1980 | 156 | 124 | 54* |
| 8 | Hardik Pandya | India | 11/10/1993 | 108 | 92* | 71* |
| 9 | David Miller | South Africa | 10/06/1989 | N/A | 139* | 106* |
| 10 | Glenn Maxwell | Australia | 14/10/1988 | 104 | 201* | 145* |
MS Dhoni – The Best Finishers In Cricket
Any list, for any competition, must start with Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Cool, calm and collected in pressure situations: Dhoni is the master of finishing in world cricket.
Career Span: 2004–2019
Achievements: Took India to the title of 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ICC World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.
Key Innings:
- 183* vs Sri Lanka (2005)
- 91* vs Sri Lanka (first World Cup, 2011 Final)
Dhoni had scored 4027 ODI runs in the last 10 overs at a strike rate of 127.67, which is highest by any player and no other batsman even comes close to him. He survived not out 84 times to become the finest finisher in cricket.
AB de Villiers – The 360 degree magician
AB de Villiers changed the definition of modern batting. A batsman who could play shots all over the ground, “Mr. 360” would simply be unstoppable in the pressure-cooker situations.
World-record holder for Fastest 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls) in ODIs
- Key Innings: 149 off 44 vs West Indies (2015)
- Scores at 53+in ODIs and strikes at a rate of 101.09
When it was about finishing with flamboyance and creativity, the only one who came close to Dhoni was AB de Villiers.
Michael Bevan – The First ODI Finisher
Michael Bevan before Dhoni – Chasing under pressure looked so easy when he did it.
- ODI Average: 53.58
- Unbeaten Innings: 67 times
- Key Knocks: 78* vs West Indies (1996), 74* vs New Zealand (2002)
Bevan’s poise and smart decision-making made him the greatest finisher of the 1990s, and a pioneer of the role.
Jos Buttler – The English Powerhouse for the modern era.singleton
England captain and white-ball gun Jos Buttler has been a finisher nearly unparalleled in recent times.
Achievements:
- Member of the victorious 2019 ODI World Cup team
- Led England to T20 World Cup 2022 victory.
- Key Innings: 77* vs New Zealand (2019 WC Final)
Buttler, by virtue of his ability to switch gears whenever he wants and take the game away from the opposing team in a jiffy, is one of the most dangerous finishers in contemporary times.
Michael Hussey – Mr. Cricket Serene Control
It was only after retirement that Michael Hussey started showing signs of vulnerability by squandering Australian team’s victory chances through missed run out opportunities or other ways to get dismissed or out bowled etc.
“Mr. Cricket” – Michael Hussey – formed the backbone of many Australian wins. He frequently entered when the team was in strife and saw them home with ease.
- Key Innings: 60* vs Pakistan (2010 T20 WC Semifinal)
- A cc: Achievements: Played leading roles in Australia’s dominant 2007-13.
- Stat: More than 6,000 ODI runs with 44 innings of not out
He had that kind of consistency, and therefore was the best clutch shooter ever.
Vivian Richards – The First Game Changer
At a time when strike rate wasn’t even an idea, Sir Vivian Richards batted as if it already existed. His brand of fearless batting created the blueprint for successors.
- ODI Runs : 6721 SR : 90.20
- Test Average: 50.23
- Famous Innings: 291 v England (1976)
Richards was possibly the first real finisher that the game of cricket had ever known.
Shahid Afridi – The Boom power Finisher
Unreliable yet exciting – Shahid Afridi had the capability of turning a game on its head in a few deliveries. His big hits and aggressive intent had made him Pakistan’s go-to man in tight chases.
- Fastest ODI century – in 37 balls, stood for 18 years
- Achievements: Player of the Tournament – T 20 WC 2007; Player of the Match – T20 WC Final 2009
- ODI Runs: 8064 Strike rate: 117
Afridi was the consummate entertainer, one of the most exhilarating finishers in cricket history.
Hardik Pandya –The New Age Finisher Of India
Hardik Pandya has transformed into India’s go-to man in pressure situations over the last few years. The man with the stick or ball in his hand is a pressure player.
Key Knocks:
- 92* vs Australia (ODI)
- 71* vs England (T20I)
The highs: Part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025 winning sides
Hardik has the confidence and ability to finish making him Dhoni in the making.
David Miller – Known as “Killer Miller” in South Africa
Not many players close out games with the kind of brute force that David Miller wielded. After all, when Miller is there in the middle, no total seems safe.
- ODI Highest: 139*
- T20I Highest: 106*
- Best Line: “If it’s in the arc, it’s out of the park.”
He was known “Killer Miller,” one of the best and hardest hitters in T20s, for his ability to hit mammoth sixes in death overs.
Glenn Maxwell – The Big Show
Glenn Maxwell is both as unpredictable and as unstoppable on his day. His pressure-cooker ODI double century (201*)vs Afghanistan in 2023, chasing under serious pressure was probably a once-in-a-lifetime knock.
- Record: 201* while chasing? the highest by an Australian in ODIs, overall.
- T20I Highest: 145*
- Specialty: Unorthodox but effective – sweeps, reverse shots, switch-hits under pressure
Maxwell’s reckless bravery and creativity make him one of the most thrilling closers in history.
Evolution of Finishers in Cricket
From Vivian Richards in the 1970s to MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya in 2025, it has mutated beyond recognition. Previously, a strike rate was not even a measurable – but today it is the definition of a player’s effectiveness. Finishers are the new heroes; changing the course of every close contest.
Final Thoughts
The greatest finisher in cricket, the only person who comes to mind is MS Dhoni. It is his calmness, match-sense and knack of seeing games off that are the benchmark for any cricketer who desires of finishing under pressure.
He didn’t just win matches – he won hearts, respect and a legacy that is next to impossible to match.
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