The best finishers in IPL history have a remarkable ability to turn the tide in high-pressure situations. With nerves of steel and a knack for scoring runs when it matters most, these players have given fans unforgettable moments. In this article, we’ll explore the top five finishers who have consistently delivered match-winning performances and solidified their legacies in the league.
Player
Matches
Innings
Runs
Average
Strike Rate
50s
100s
Sixes
Teams
MS Dhoni
240
223
5184
40.73
136.89
38
1
252
Chennai Super Kings
AB de Villiers
184
140
5162
40.73
151.68
39
2
251
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Andre Russell
112
87
2449
34.84
177.56
11
1
101
Kolkata Knight Riders
Ravindra Jadeja
255
236
2854
29.85
126.46
10
0
47
Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions, Kings XI Punjab
Dinesh Karthik
244
232
5868
29.34
135.32
32
1
98
Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Gujarat Lions, Chennai Super Kings
Top 5 Best Finishers in IPL History
1. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni leads the pack. He has the most runs and sixes in the death overs. With 250 matches played and 226 as captain, he also holds records for the most dismissals, catches, and stumpings by a wicketkeeper in IPL history. Dhoni is fourth overall for career sixes with 239, making him the best finisher in IPL.
AB de Villiers ranks second, despite having fewer runs and sixes than Kieron Pollard. His 133 not out against the Mumbai Indians in 2015 is the fourth-highest individual score in IPL history. He has the fifth-best strike rate and shares the record for the third-most sixes in a single innings (12), totaling 251 sixes overall. De Villiers also has a record 23 Player of the Match awards.
3. Andre Russell
Andre Russell holds the third position, boasting the second-most runs and sixes in IPL death overs history. However, due to De Villiers’ numerous individual records, Russell remains in third.
4. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja ranks fourth, even though he scored fewer runs than Karthik in the death overs. His outstanding performance in the 2023 final cements his place as one of the best finishers in IPL history.
5. Dinesh Karthik
Finally, Dinesh Karthik secures fifth place with the fourth-most runs in IPL death overs. He has an IPL strike rate of 132.81 and has played 243 matches, just seven fewer than Dhoni, establishing himself as one of the best finishers.