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A batter who is specialized in opening the innings is a very important part of any team, and the batters who are specialists in finishing are even more important. Because scoring runs in the final overs can become hard because a batter doesn’t have many balls to face and they need to go after the bowling from the word go.
That is why the role of a finisher in the team becomes crucial. Former Indian captain MS Dhoni made the word “finisher” famous for his ability to score runs when it matters most. Apart from him, players like AB de Villiers and Kieron Pollard were also some of the finest finishers in Indian Premier League history. However, here we will talk about the top ten finishers in the Indian Premier League. Notably, the final four overs in a T20 game between 17 and 20 are considered death overs.
Top Run Scorers in Death Overs (17-20) in the IPL
| Batter | Runs | Inns | SR | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 2632 | 161 | 187.33 | 162 |
| Kieron Pollard | 1708 | 117 | 181.50 | 127 |
| AB de Villiers | 1421 | 75 | 232.56 | 112 |
| Dinesh Karthik | 1412 | 107 | 183.58 | 76 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 1320 | 124 | 158.27 | 63 |
| Rohit Sharma | 1149 | 74 | 196.07 | 78 |
| Hardik Pandya | 1097 | 74 | 186.56 | 79 |
| Virat Kohli | 1045 | 66 | 202.51 | 68 |
| Andre Russell | 1013 | 58 | 206.31 | 91 |
| David Miller | 906 | 71 | 175.58 | 55 |
5. Ravindra Jadeja
Veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja comes into bat when the last overs are left. He has always played a similar role, but on odd occasions, he has batted in the top order. However, in his IPL career, Jadeja has played for RR, CSK, and GL. Overall, he has played in 124 innings in the final four overs and has scored 1320 runs at a strike rate of 158.27 with 63 sixes.
4. Dinesh Karthik
Veteran Indian wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik has batted from top to no. 7 in his entire career. However, he has reserved the role of finisher for him now. He mainly bats when the last few overs are left to play. In his IPL career since 2008, DK has batted in the final four overs 107 times. He has scored 1412 runs at a strike rate of 183.83 with 76 sixes.
3. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers played as a top-order batter throughout his career, but he was so successful that he still features on this elite list. The IPL legend, who played for DC and RCB, batted in 75 innings in the final overs. De Villiers scored 1421 runs at an unbelievable strike rate of 232.26 with 112 sixes. His strike is the best among the other batters on the top ten list.
2. Kieron Pollard
Former MI star Kieron Pollard was one of the biggest strikers of the ball that the IPL has seen. Pollard spent his whole IPL career for Mumbai Indians, from 2010 to 2022. He won all five titles with them, and it was his power-hitting that won many matches for the team. Pollard played 117 innings in the final four overs, and it was his role to score runs in the death overs. He scored 1708 runs at a strike rate of 181.50 and hit 127 sixes.
1. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is probably the best finisher that the game has seen in the last two decades or so. His numbers at the international and IPL levels are incredible, and it was him that showed why a finisher’s role is important in the game. Dhoni played 161 innings at this position and scored a total of 2632 runs at a strike rate of 187.33. He smashed 162 sixes in the final four overs, which is the most by any batter.
