From Mr. 360 to Dre Russ, listing down the all-time great finishers in the history of IPL, batsmen who’ve pulled out victory from the depths of defeat single-handedly, year after year.
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Over the years, the IPL has witnessed some of T20’s most celebrated strokemakers exhibit their finishing skills, commandeering incredible chases with brazen strokeplay, all while maintaining a cool, calm head. We look at some of the competition’s greatest finishers over the years.
Stats updated till April 27, 2021
Hardik Pandya 8/10
IPL career strike-rate: 156.67
Pandya started his IPL career in 2015 but has rapidly grown into one of the most integral components in Mumbai’s success. A big part of it has to do with his blitzes down the order, using his big-hitting skills to bolster their middle order. He reads the line well, uses his crease smartly and manages to create room and garner power even from the tightest of angles.
Best finish: 29* (11) v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2017
Chasing 179, Mumbai had fallen way behind the required rate, needing 60 off the last four overs. Hardik walked in at Kieron Pollard’s dismissal and instantly made an impact, smashing 12 runs off his first four balls. He fired a further 17 runs off five deliveries to wrap up an incredible chase, showcasing his credentials as a top-drawer finisher.
Kieron Pollard 8.5/10
IPL career strike-rate: 148.96
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Arguably Mumbai’s most valuable overseas player, Pollard has been a rock in their middle order and has often breathtakingly commandeered chases with his uninhibited hitting, backing himself to clear the ropes even in the trickiest of situations. Pollard has hit three fifties in 20 balls or fewer deliveries and continues to be a vital presence in their middle order, having hit over 200 sixes in his career.
Best finish: 66* (33) v Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2013
Mumbai Indians were as good as done against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL 2013 game, needing 62 off the last four overs in their chase of 179. Pollard, on 9 off 10 then, smashed eight sixes off the last 27 balls, smacking Thisara Perera for 28 runs in the 17th over.
MS Dhoni 8.5/10
IPL strike-rate: 136.64
The quality of finisher in him might have dropped down a few rungs in the last few years, but he’s still very much up among the best when considering his overall records. In his prime, Dhoni would absolutely batter the opposition, churning sixes with ease in his familiar unconventional manner, and would manage to produce bits of batting brilliance out of nowhere. Consistency was key to his success – from 2008 to 2019, he scored at least 250 runs every season (along with at least one fifty), and has remained not out in 70 times of his 116 innings.
Best finish: 54* (29) v Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2010
Struggling to stay afloat in their chase against KXIP, CSK needed 44 off the last three overs to progress to the semi-final. Dhoni, 22 off 18 then, switched on his destructive mode, bludgeoning five fours in the next 11 balls, along with two sixes of the last two balls to seal the incredible chase. An uncharacteristic roar and fist slap to his own face showed how much it meant to him.
Another special knock from Dhoni came for Rising Pune Supergiant against Kings XI Punjab in 2016. From 23 needed off the last over, the equation came down to 16 off 3 before Dhoni smashed Axar for a four and two sixes off the last two balls to take Pune home.
Andre Russell 9/10
IPL strike-rate: 179.67
A batsman whose ferocity is unmatchable, Russell is virtually impossible to stop when on song. Named Wisden T20 Cricketer of the Year in 2020, Russell has probably had one of IPL’s best career turnarounds and has gained cult popularity in the last half-a-decade at KKR. He comfortably sits atop the strike-rate charts in all IPL and has hit a fifty within 23 balls as many as four times.
Best finish: 48* (13) v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2019
It was exactly the kind of contribution that makes Russell irrepressible in the format. With KKR requiring 206 to win, Russell walked in at 139-4 in the 16th over. He faced 11 of the last 13 balls, looting 47 runs (42 out of which were in sixes), and took them over the line with five balls to spare. Just Dre things.
AB de Villiers 9.5/10
IPL strike-rate: 152.37
The undisputed king of T20 chases, AB de Villiers has been at the center of some of IPL’s most memorable finishes. Even at 37 and three years into international retirement, he’s continued the trend in IPL 2021 with a blazing 34-ball 76 in RCB’s opening game. To have a career strike rate of 152.37 is remarkable, more so if you have played over 170 matches and also hit three centuries. Few can pace their T20 innings as brilliantly as him, and fill it with audaciously elegant sweeps, ramps, drives…the whole set.
Best finish: 79* (47) v Gujarat Lions, Qualifier 1, 2016
Difficult to choose one, but this one probably trumps the rest given the situation of the game.
RCB had been reduced to 29-5 in their pursuit of 159, but de Villiers managed to unleash a plucky counter-attack, batting with the tail while keeping the tempo up in the chase. He ended with five sixes and as many fours (63 per cent of his runs), blasting 67 runs off his last 37 balls.
