Ranking top 10 finishers ahead of IPL 2023

The Indian Premier League (IPL) will be back with its 16th edition to entertain avid supporters in March-April. In the tournament, nine teams will strive to snatch the trophy from the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), who are the defending champions. At the mini-auction in December, the franchises did some record purchases, spending an enormous amount to strengthen their sides. In the upcoming tournament, the teams will expect their players to be marvellous and deliver their best to win the title. However, these teams will have to bolster every department to make it possible. In the last 15 editions of the tournament, cricket fans have witnessed how the finishers have played an imperative role in their team’s victories. The most successful IPL sides, such as Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have reaped the benefits of having top finishers in their arsenal. In the 2022 edition, the current IPL champions Gujarat Titans (GT) also gained advantage of having some quality finishers. In the upcoming edition, the franchises will count on their players who could take them home with their sensational match-finishing abilities. Here are the rankings of the top 10 finishers ahead of IPL 2023 10. Rahul Tewatia

Rahul Tewatia. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

In 2020, Rahul Tewatia hit the headlines when the left-hand batter turned the match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Rajasthan Royals' favour. With his outstanding innings of 53 runs off 31 deliveries, the Haryana-born helped his team to chase a target of 224 with three balls to spare. The memorable innings soared Tewatia’s popularity as he became a household name. In the 2022 mini-auction, Gujarat Titans (GT) signed Tewatia at a hefty amount of INR 9 crore. Trusting his power-hitting abilities, the franchise assigned him the task of fortifying the batting line-up with his match-finishing skills. Batting in the lower order for GT, Tewatia looked impressive scoring 217 runs in 12 innings at a spectacular strike rate of 147.61. Against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Tewatia showed his brilliance again as he rescued his team from a defeat with his two back-to-back sixes. The talented left-hander took his team home against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as well, with his 43-run innings off 25 deliveries. Witnessing his batting displays last season, the team management will expect him to be efficient in the upcoming tournament too.

9. Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

In the IPL 2022 mega auction, Shimron Hetmyer was picked by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at INR 8.5 crore. Justifying his amount, the West Indies batter looked incredible, scoring 314 runs in 15 IPL matches of 2022 at a phenomenal strike rate of 153.92. In the competition, he relied on his range-hitting ability and came heavily on bowlers in a majority of games. As a finisher too, Hetmyer was excellent as he went against the bowlers with a gruesome approach in death overs. His best of the last edition came against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which was an unbeaten knock of 59 runs off 36 deliveries. In the contest against Punjab Kings (PBKS) as well, he helped his team achieve the colossal target of 190, giving the finishing touch with his 31 runs off 16 balls. So far, the Guyanese cricketer has racked up 831 runs in 46 IPL matches at a superb strike rate of 152.20. This year, he will look forward to showcasing his best with his bat and ending the trophy drought for Rajasthan Royals.

8. Nicholas Pooran

Before the mini-auction 2023, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) released Nicholas Pooran despite amazing batting numbers from him in IPL 2022. With 306 runs in 14 games, Pooran displayed confidence and strength. However, his performance didn’t convince SRH to retain him for the 2023 season. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) grabbed Pooran at INR 16 crore in the last auction. After spending a humongous sum on the fierce wicket-keeper batter, the franchise will expect him to justify his price tag. With his inclusion in the squad, LSG’s search for a match-finisher could also end as the Windies cricketer has the ability to plunder runs in the death overs of the match. In the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), he has shown his calibre as a match-finisher with some exquisite knocks. This year, he will look to do the same for his new IPL team and prove his worth. Talking about his overall record in the cash-rich league, the 27-year-old has amassed 912 runs in 47 IPL contests at a fine strike rate of 151.24.

7. Tim David

Tim David. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Mumbai Indians (MI) believed in Tim David to provide power to their batting line-up. The franchise fetched the Australian cricketer at INR 8.25 crore at the mega auction. In return, he notched up 186 runs in eight matches at an impeccable strike rate of 216.27. In the first two games, he failed to impress with his bat scoring only 12 and 1 against Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), respectively. Witnessing his flop shows, the team management dropped him for the next six matches. In the second half of the season, he returned to the playing XI and played some exquisite knocks with his bat. In the forthcoming competition, MI will expect him to be an ideal match-finisher for them. After Kieron Pollard’s retirement, David’s responsibility will be to fill the former MI stalwart’s shoes with his batting in the lower middle order.

6. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The explosive Australia batter Glenn Maxwell will be crucial for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) campaign in the forthcoming tournament. Playing for the franchise since 2021, the explosive Aussies batter has accumulated 814 runs in 28 matches at a strike rate of 152.43. In the last edition, he scored 301 runs in 13 matches at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 169.10. RCB will expect him to be a match-finisher for them as the 34-year-old possesses a hard-hitting capability with a variety of strokes. He is considered one of the best finishers in international cricket due to his magnificent record. Maxwell has performed the role of a match-finisher for his national team Australia perfectly with his aggressive game style.

5. MS Dhoni

Ms dhoni vs RR. (Photo Source: Twitter)

MS Dhoni will look to end his IPL career on a winning note as he looks forward to lifting another trophy for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In the 2022 edition, the veteran made heads turn with his decision to hand the franchise’s captaincy mantle to Ravindra Jadeja. However, the 34-year-old failed to show up with his leadership skills and gave back the reins of the team to Dhoni. The 41-year-old will strive to win the fifth title for the franchise with not just his captaincy but batting as well. In the 2022 edition, Dhoni scored 232 runs in 14 IPL matches at a strike rate of 123.40 and also his reputation as a finisher intact with his knocks against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI). Until now, the CSK stalwart has notched 4,853 runs for the franchise in 228 league games with 23 half-centuries at a strike rate of 137.09. With these batting figures, he is also the second-leading run-scorer for CSK.

4. Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingstone. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

In 2022, Punjab Kings (PBKS) roped in Liam Livingstone for INR 11.5 crore at the 2022 IPL auction. After getting signed at a huge sum, the English batter delivered extraordinary numbers to the franchise in the competition with 437 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 182.08. In the crucial contest against Gujarat Titans (GT), Livingstone went bizarre against bowlers. With his unbeaten innings of 30 runs off just 10 balls, the right-hander helped his team hammer the opponents comfortably. In the last group game of the league, Livingstone displayed his unprecedented match-finishing skills again with his 49-run innings off just 29 deliveries. Livingstone’s form will be vital this year for PBKS’s campaign to fare well in the forthcoming season. The 29-year-old has appeared in 23 IPL games so far, in which he has racked up 549 runs with four half-centuries at a strike rate of 166.87.

3. Andre Russell

Andre Russell. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Andre Russell is one of the most incredible Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players in the Indian Premier League. The fearless West Indies all-rounder has been associated with the franchise since 2014. In the 2019 installment of the tournament, Russell had his best season for the franchise as he chalked up 510 runs in 14 matches with four half-centuries at a terrific strike rate of 204.81. He also delivered a noteworthy batting performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the same season. Smashing 48 runs off only 13 balls changed the course of the match and helped KKR win the game with five balls to spare. In 2022, he also piled up 335 runs in 14 IPL matches at a strike rate of 174.48 and proved his worth to the team. In the sixteenth edition of the league, his match-finishing role will be imperative for the franchise to achieve the objective of winning the title after nine years.

2. Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik. (Photo Source: Twitter)

In the 2022 edition, Dinesh Karthik was phenomenal for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as he bagged victories in some emphatic fashom for the side. The wicket-keeper batter ended his season with 330 runs in 16 matches at an extraordinary strike rate of 183.33. In death overs, the 37-year-old looked more dangerous against fast bowlers, dominating with his hard-hitting capabilities. Earlier, Karthik was bought by the franchise for INR 5.5 crore at the 2022 mega auction. Following his performance in the IPL, the Tamil Nadu-born got a chance to make a comeback in the national team. The talented right-hander also represented India in T20 World Cup 2022 but couldn’t deliver according to the expectations. Despite his dismal show in the mega-international event, RCB retained him for their 2023 campaign. In 2023, Karthik will look to continue his last year’s form with his remarkable match-finishing talent.

1. David Miller

David Miller was a vital cog in Gujarat Titans’ (GT) title triumph in 2022. The left-hander scored 481 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 142.72. With these brilliant numbers, Miller became the third-highest run-scorer for the franchise in the marquee event. Against the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Miller scored a match winning knock of 94* from just 51 deliveries. In the colossal qualifier game in the playoffs, the Protea won it for the GT again with his mesmerising 68 runs (38 balls). The key contribution of the southpaw helped GT to reserve the spot in the final of the competition. Recently, the veteran in his top form as he has bagged a few games for South Africa with his stunning match-finishing talent. Going through that, his IPL franchise will also expect his support in the upcoming tournament to defend the title successfully.

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Ranking top 10 finishers ahead of IPL 2023

These players will play a key role in their respective teams due to their match-finishing capabilities.

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