IPL 2018: Best finishers in each franchise

The competition between the bat and the ball is getting heftier by the day as the bowlers are trying every way to overcome the batsmen and vice-versa.

The pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Dwayne Bravo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Andrew Tye are widening their arsenal with knuckle-balls, slower bumpers, back of the hand slower balls whereas spinners like Sunil Narine, Kuldeep Yadav, Rashid Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal and others adding the flavour of mystery in their tank.

In T20 cricket, especially the Indian Premier League, more often than not the matches go till the last over, and the need for a specialist finisher becomes substantial to take the team over the line at the crux.

Here are the best finishers from each IPL franchise ahead of the 2018 season.

---

#8 Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals)

Buttler is a 360-degree player and likes to play his favourite 'ramp' shot.

The English wicket-keeper Jos Buttler is a clean-striker of the cricket ball and one of the modern-day limited overs specialist, who started playing IPL only a couple of years ago. He opened the batting for Mumbai Indians, where he tasted success in an unfamiliar position.

The role in Rajasthan Royals will be different for Buttler, which might be the one he plays for England. Having established openers in the squad already including Ajinkya Rahane, D'Arcy Short, and youngster Rahul Tripathi, RR will pass down the act of rounding off the action on the 27-year-old.

Buttler was signed for ₹ 4.4 crores after a bid-war with his former franchise.

IPL stats:

Inns - 24 | Runs - 527 | SR - 145.98 | HS - 77

#7 Glenn Maxwell (Delhi Daredevils)

Maxwell is in sublime form since the international return

An unorthodox & influential batsman Glenn Maxwell returns to the Delhi Daredevils, signed for ₹ 9 crores, after representing them in 2012. With unique tricks up his sleeve, the swash-buckler never fails to entertain fans with his creative hitting all around the park.

A heavy top-order consisting of Colin Munro, Gautam Gambhir, Jason Roy & a mix of youngsters like Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra will put the squeeze on DD to rely on the experienced Big Show to finish games in their favour in the forthcoming season.

The 29-year-old has rocked the IPL in the past, though he mostly batted at 3, by winning the 'Player of the series' award in the IPL 2014, taking KXIP to the finals.

IPL stats:

Inns - 56 | Runs - 1228 | SR - 164.39 | HS - 65

#6 Yusuf Pathan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

He was bagged in by SRH for ₹ 1.9 crores

For the top-order dependent Sunrisers Hyderabad, Yusuf Pathan is a much-needed addition to their setup. They always lacked the firepower towards the end of their innings with Deepak Hooda, Naman Ojha, Yuvraj Singh, Ben Cutting and others disappointing more often than not.

The 35-year-old has been consistent for Kolkata Knight Riders over the years. He was out of touch in the last season, but SRH would bank upon his experience and what he can pass on to a youngster like Hooda will be vital for their future.

IPL stats:

Inns - 133 | Runs - 2904 | SR - 145.49 | HS - 100

#5 Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Russell was retained by KKR ahead of the IPL auctions

The Caribbean star has previously set the IPL on fire with his all-around performances for Kolkata Knight Riders. Skipper Dinesh Karthik will put the significant onus of finishing the innings on Andre Russell, who has managed to complete the task on multiple occasions in the past.

In the earlier editions, if acceleration was the utmost necessity for KKR, the West Indian had to walk in all guns blazing, no matter how many wickets had fallen. That is the reason why he has batted everywhere from No.3 to No.6 and even 7 for KKR.

The 29-year-old won the 'Most Valuable Player' award in 2015 and will be crucial for his side, returning after a one-year ban for the doping violation.

IPL stats:

Inns - 25 | Runs - 574 | SR - 173.41 | HS - 66

#4 Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

KP was pulled back by MI using a right-to-match card

The hulking Trinidadian all-rounder, who made his debut for Mumbai Indians way back in 2010, Kieron Pollard has been a stellar performer in the IPL and MI has never taken the risk of letting him go to another franchise since then.

He has rolled-in on many occasions for his team with his blistering batting during the crux & turned the tables upside down.

The absence of an experienced Indian batsman, barring their captain, puts a lot of weight on the 30-year-old's shoulders to build the firepower for MI along with the Pandya brothers.

IPL stats:

Inns - 113 | Runs - 2343 | SR - 146.53 | HS - 78

#3 David Miller (Kings XI Punjab)

KXIP snatched him from the jaws of MI using the RTM card

The South African left-hander is a powerful middle-order batsman having the ability to turn the tables upside down in a matter of deliveries. David Miller is a prolific run-scorer, who has been a mainstay of the Kings XI Punjab's setup for many years now.

The 28-year-old is a calm customer and is considered cool as a cucumber when it comes to the pressure cooker situations, which was evident in 2013 run-chase against Royal Challengers Bangalore where he scored a match-winning 101* off just 38 balls.

Bringing him back for ₹ 3 crores, KXIP will continue to depend on the batsman whom they've never let off the hook.

IPL stats:

Inns - 64 | Runs - 1563 | SR - 141.45 | HS - 101*

#2 AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

AB de Villiers batted mostly at 3 for RCB in recent times

His inclusion on the list is a no-brainer and irrespective of form & consistency, AB de Villiers is an automatic choice for Royal Challengers Bangalore to take up the crucial role. An alluring but ferocious batsman, Mr. 360 can even make the opposition team relish his performances on the field.

Coming to the IPL, AB has been a consistent entertainer for years now, having three centuries under his belt.

The inclusion of top-order batsmen like young Manan Vohra, Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum, and even Parthiv Patel for that matter would mean AB has to bat lower than what he did of late and give finishing touches to the RCB innings.

IPL stats:

Inns - 118 | Runs - 3473 | SR - 148.17 | HS - 133

#1 MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

Dhoni is set to return as CSK captain after giving up the Indian captaincy last year

Do we need to mention the capabilities that the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni possesses? The captain cool is one the best finishers in world cricket who has closed it down for Chennai Super Kings a zillion times.

Yes, it is agreeable that the 36-year-old has gone past his peak and isn't that sharp anymore, but his involvement can never stand overlooked. CSK still has the same core and will try to replicate the success they had before they were banned for 2 years.

Likes of DJ Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Billings, Kedar Jadhav don't seem trustworthy as the onus will continue to remain on MSD.

IPL stats:

Inns - 143 | Runs - 3561 | SR - 136.75 | HS - 70