IPL 2025: Who can be the top 5 finishers in 2025 IPL?

Finishers are an integral part of the modern cricket team and are needed to provide impetus to a team's innings coming lower down the order. Their necessity is high in the limited overs formats where one has to target the bowlers in the last 20% of a team's innings to maximize a team's total. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has some of the best finishers in the world featuring in the league.

With the introduction of the impact player rule, there is no room for errors from the finishers. As an extra batter can make a difference for the side, the accuracy in shot-making and the precision in execution are key. Not many batters have been able to nail their role in the last few overs. However, some have been able to take down the bowlers for fun.

Also check: Top 5 best finishers in IPL history till 2024

Here are the five batters who could be the best finishers of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

5. Andre Russell

Andre Russell has been one of the greatest finishers in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has the highest Strike Rate for a batter with a minimum of 50 appearances in the league. The star batter can smash the best bowlers in the world. He needs no time to settle and hit the ball from the word go.

As Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the likes of Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and Ajinkya Rahane in the IPL 2025 who can bat above him, he will be asked to finish the innings as a designated finisher. This time around, he will be expected to deliver a bit more than he did in the last few seasons.

4. Shashank Singh

Shashank Singh had a breakthrough season in the IPL 2024 with Punjab Kings (PBKS). The middle-order batter played 14 matches and scored 354 runs at a batting average of 44.25, at a batting SR of 164.65, including 2 fifty-plus scores to his name. His performance was rewarded by Punjab Kings (PBKS) as he was retained by them ahead of the IPL 2025.

Shashank was retained for a price of INR 5.5 crores, which could have been much more if his name featured in the IPL Auction 2025. Hence, he will not have the pressure of the price tag and can perform without any expectations on his shoulders. That could help him to be the best version of himself.

3. Tristan Stubbs

Tristan Stubbs had his greatest IPL season to date in 2024 with Delhi Capitals (DC). The star batter played 13 innings and scored 378 runs at a batting average of 54.00, at a batting strike rate of 190.90, including 3 fifty-plus scores to his name. He was arguably the best finisher of the season and commanded a great price in the IPL 2025.

Stubbs was retained by Delhi Capitals (DC) for a price of INR 10 crores ahead of the IPL 2025. In the South African team, he has been batting up the order. But in DC, he could continue to be the designated finisher. Moreover, he can bowl a bit and keep the wickets if required. Given his form, Tristan can be trusted to deliver the goods yet again.

2. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is known for his performances in big matches. The 2024 season of the Indian Premier League was undoubtedly the worst period in his cricket career. Pandya was trolled and booed by some of the fans of Mumbai Indians (MI) supporters who felt he had taken the place of Rohit Sharma.

However, Hardik stood up for himself and the team. While the season did not go well for him, Hardik stepped up for India and won the T20 World Cup 2024. Throughout 2024, Pandya did well for India as a designated finisher. He can carry forward the same form and shine as a batter for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2025.

1. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is arguably the greatest finisher in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The legendary batter is still going well in the league despite being well past his prime. In the last couple of seasons, he has been among the top 3 best finishers of the league. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is treated as an uncapped batter in the IPL 2025.

The new rule enabled the 5-time champions to retain MSD at a way too lower price than they otherwise would have. Dhoni is someone who performs well irrespective of the pressure factor. The key for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would be to bat him higher in the order. Dhoni could bat at 6 or 7 as keeping him lower might not make sense in 2025.

The 2024 season had some of the flattest pitches in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Things could change in 2025 as there might be a preference for a balance between the bat and the ball. But these players are capable of performing even if the conditions are not favorable for finishing. Hence, one can expect them to step up for their respective teams.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) -

Who are the best finishers in the IPL history?

AB De Villiers is arguably the best finisher in the IPL history with a Strike rate of 232.57 in the last 4 overs. Andre Russell boasts of a terrific batting strike rate of 203.63 in the death overs in the IPL history. MS Dhoni has 2786 runs in the last 4 overs, the most for a batter in the league. Kieron Pollard had the ability to win matches in difficult situations and in big matches.

Why is MS Dhoni still considered a top finisher in the IPL 2025?

MS Dhoni has the most number of runs at the death overs in the history of the IPL (2786). Despite playing half of his matches on slow surfaces like M Chinnaswamy stadium in Chepauk, Dhoni had a Strike rate of 192.45 and 223.19 respectively in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

How do finishers impact a team's success in the IPL?

Finishers help their team to add some valuable runs in the last few overs of the game. When the bowlers try to save some runs for their team with variations, bouncers, and yorkers, the finishers counter them with aggressive batting. A few runs added at the end of an innings can boost a team's morale.

Who is the Number 1 finisher in the IPL?

AB De Villiers is arguably the Number 1 finisher in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mr.360 has 1421 runs at a terrific batting SR of 232.57 in the last 4 overs of the IPL at an average of 38.41. He smashed 106 fours and 112 sixes in the death overs.