A perfect team cannot be called complete without a significant finisher. Yes, if the openers are the team’s heart, then the finishers should be termed as the team’s brain. Look at the history and you will find the most successful team have found the success due to the presence of the best finisher. It requires special skills to time the ball from the first ball and these players mastered this skill.
Here are 8 Best Finishers in International Cricket (ODI)
8) Lance Klusener
An unknown Proteas name to many due to the less credit he got in South Africa’s success in the winning moment. Lance Klusener was a South African all-rounder, who used to bat at number 7 in the batting order. He can be regarded as among the best finishers of ODI cricket.
His memorable knock came against New Zealand in 2000 when South Africa was chasing a 257 run total but a mini-collapse happened in between. South Africa was 65/4 and Lance Klusener went on to score 59 runs to take his team over the line and get the player of the match award for himself.
7) Shahid Afridi
One of the best all-rounders from Pakistan to ever play the sport and certainly the best finisher too. Afridi was better known by the name “Boom Boom Afridi” for his explosive approach in every format of the game. He could turn the game in his team’s favor on his day as per his wish. Shahid Afridi had a remarkable strike rate of 117 in his ODI career. He also scored the fastest century in ODI cricket in 37 balls which was later broken by AB de Villiers (31 Balls).
6) Ben Stokes
Another all-rounder on the list who is a prominent part of his team as a finisher. The English player is regarded as the best finisher among the present players to feature in international cricket.
No one can forget his magnificent knock in the 2019 World Cup final against New Zealand when England was chasing 241 runs. England was setback by early breakthroughs (81/4), but Ben Stokes played a fighting undefeated knock of 84 runs in 98 balls to take England into the super over and then lift their maiden World Cup trophy.
5) Sir Viv Richards
Sir Viv Richards can be described as a person who created the flow of aggressive batting or batting with a higher strike rate, that too, during the 1980s. Sir Viv Richard used to bat higher up the order but-” Who said finishers need to bat down the order?” Whenever Viv Richards used to step on the ground, he made sure West Indies won the match under uncountable circumstances. Sir Viv Richards had a 90 strike rate in ODIs with an average of 47.
4) AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers- “The Superman from South Africa”. If you think you can play all the shots in cricket, you should definitely try the ones played by this man (Mr. 360). What role does a finisher have? To score the runs at a quick pace and take the team out of the crucial moments. Undoubtedly, he has mastered that on numerous occasions.
AB de Villiers unforgettable ODI innings came against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup, where he came to bat in the 31st over of the match and scored the fastest ODI century in 31 balls. He scored 149 runs in this inning. It’s next to impossible to witness another batter with his kind of shots to play this game.
3) Virat Kohli
Who is called a finisher of the match? A player who takes their team to the winning platform. Undoubtedly, Virat Kohli or better known as Chase master has done the job of chasing the mammoth totals for India single-handedly.
Virat Kohli bats at the no.3 position for India. He is someone who balances the role of an anchor and a finisher near to perfection. His astonishing knocks could be taken from his initial days in 2013 when he scored 2 centuries in less than 60 balls against Aussies to chase 350+ total twice.
2) Michael Bevan
Australian legend Michael Bevan was the first to be termed as the best finisher in the world. Not for smashing bowlers all around the park but for his calculative approach and calm nature even in high tensed run chases. Back then, every team dreamt of having a finisher like him on their team. His calculative mind helped Australia to win numerous unthinkable chases. He averages more than 50 in ODI and remained not out on 67 outings.
1) MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni has to be on top of this list of best finishers in international cricket. Wicket-keeper batsmen and the captain of the Indian team from 2007 to 2017. He held the capability of turning the match in his favor whether from his super-quick wicket-keeping skills or pin-perfect field placement or his calculative run chases.
After Sachin, Dhoni was the one who created a sense of confidence and hope among Indian fans. No matter how critical the situation stands. If Dhoni is on the crease then there was always hope. Dhoni is the guy who will take the game as deep as possible. He will keep rotating the strike with 1s & 2s to keep up with the required run rate and fluently switches his gear from 1 to 5 for those huge muscular fours & sixes.
Without a doubt, Dhoni can be termed as the best finisher in ODI cricket history.
Also Read, The inspiring story of Mukesh Choudhary.
