Article
Top Five Finishers to look forward to in IPL 2018
By B Dixit - Apr 1, 2018 7:31 am
Views 54

The ideal definition of a finisher is a batsman who can use the long handle to accumulate those vital few runs without wasting much time during the slog overs. In a tournament like IPL, the role of a finisher becomes all the more vital for a team because it is a finisher who will convert a substantial total into a match-winning one.

In a format where teams tend to send their best batsmen as openers for they have the advantage of playing maximum balls, the role of finishers is to provide the final boost to the innings.

With the 11th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) set to start next month, here is a list of Top Five Finishers to look forward to in IPL 2018:

5. Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians) – Kieron Pollard, a regular face in the Mumbai Indians’ dressing-room, is the designated finisher them. Pollard is known for his ability to change the game within a span of a couple of overs. It is this ability of his which has won Mumbai several matches in the past. In the 123 IPL matches that he has played for the Indians, Pollard has scored 2,343 runs at an average of 28.92 and a strike rate of 146.52.

Kieron Pollard playing for the Indians.
Pollard will play a vital role for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

4. David Miller (Kings XI Punjab) – David Miller was bought by Kings XI Punjab through the ‘Right To Match’ card this auction. There is little debate over the importance and pedigree of David Miller and one his day, he can destroy any bowling attack. Although, he has not been as consistent in the recent past, he might well be the man for Punjab this season. Having played for the franchise since 2012, he has scored 1,563 runs in 66 matches at an average of 35.52 and a strike rate of 141.44.

David Miller.

 

3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) – MS Dhoni, one of the best finishers that cricket has ever seen, has not been in the best of touches for the national side. Not that he hasn’t been able to do so, but the frequency and the intensity with which he used to finish matches for his team in the past has been slightly missing. In 277 T20s, he has scored 5,577 runs at an average of 36.93 and a strike rate of 135.03. Fans of Chennai Super Kings would love for the talisman to churn out few match-winning finishes for them this season.

MS Dhoni.

 

2. Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians) – The swashbuckler that he is, Hardik Pandya has it in him to change the course of the match during the slog overs. He can pair up with Kieron Pollard to provide Mumbai Indians the much required shift in the approach towards the end of the innings. In the last three years, he has played 37 matches for the Indians, scoring 406 runs at an average of 21.36 and a strike rate of 142.45.

Pandya will have eyes on him in this season.

 

1. Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals) – Declared ‘Man of the Match’ thrice in the last season of the IPL, Ben Stokes proved as to why he was the most sought-after players during the auction. Apart from the three aforementioned matches, there were other occasions as well when Stokes contributed with both the bat and the ball. He ended up being the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the season as he scored 316 runs and picked up 12 wickets in his maiden IPL season. His tendency to play the big strokes at will is likely to come in handy for the Royals, especially during the slog overs of their batting innings.

Ben Stokes will play for Rajasthan Royals this year.