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Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma recently ranked the greatest finishers in IPL history. He was playing a blind-ranking format. In a blind-ranking format, contestants are asked to rank players in a given number of slots (in this case, 10) without knowing who the next player on the list would be.
In a typical ranking system, all options are placed on the table at once, and then they are ranked. In a blind ranking, there is no knowledge of who will show up next. Jitesh was speaking to Cricbuzz when he was asked to rank the greatest finishers in the IPL.
Blind Ranking Finishers ft. Jitesh Sharma 🏏
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— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 13, 2026
Greatest finishers in the IPL as ranked by Jitesh Sharma
David Miller – #4
The South Africa and Delhi Capitals batter David Miller was ranked in fourth place by Jitesh. Over the years, Miller has cultivated a reputation for being a hard-hitter in the death overs and closing out quite a few chases by himself.
Even in IPL 2026, Miller’s death prowess has been on display in a few matches, even if the Delhi Capitals are barely alive in the tournament. Miller’s crowning glory was inarguably the time he made a 38-ball century after coming in to bat at No. 5
AB de Villiers – #1
Miller’s fellow South African and RCB legend AB de Villiers was at the top of Jitesh’s list. ‘ABD’ didn’t always play as a finisher, but his exploits are legendary.
De Villiers took up a place in the top order when asked to in his heyday, but having the highest number of Player of the Match Awards out of any player in IPL history cements his status as a legend.
Tim David – #3
Jitesh Sharma ranked his current RCB teammate Tim David at the third position. David has been a relatively recent entrant to the IPL, having made his debut only in 2021.
But even in his short time in the league, David has managed to become an extremely feared name across his stints with both the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Shashank Singh – #9
Even though Shashank Singh was in and around IPL squads since 2017, it took until 2022 for him to get an IPL debut. Even when he did, he had to spend the first five matches not batting, but he impressed with a 25-run over when he was finally called to the crease.
His real recognition, though, came in the 2024 season. That year, despite a name confusion, he became a household name with his death-over exploits for the Punjab Kings, and his ability to seemingly finish impossible chases.
That ability has stayed with him through his career, and in 2025, PBKS trusted him enough to retain him as an uncapped player prior to the mega auction.
Andre Russell – #7
Before the 2026 season, Kolkata Knight Riders legend Andre Russell had decided to hang up his boots. KKR wasn’t Russell’s first franchise, but it was the one where he made his name as a power-hitter and a handy bowler.
He also won two IPL titles with the team to go alongside all his feats in the death overs. Russell is currently part of the KKR dugout as a ‘power coach’.
Kieron Pollard – #5
Pollard spent his entire IPL career at the Mumbai Indians, having joined them in 2010, and played 189 matches until 2022. He is one of two players to be involved – as a player – in all five of MI’s IPL trophies. Pollard at MI went from a scrawny 19-year-old with potential to a bona fide IPL and T20 legend.
Just like his fellow Caribbean teammate Andre Russell, Pollard too developed a reputation as a big-hitter who could and would turn games in a matter of a few minutes. He now serves as the Mumbai Indians’ batting coach.
Dinesh Karthik – #6 first, then #8
Karthik’s reputation as a dashing finisher was moulded only later in his career. He used to be a constant presence behind the stumps, no matter what team he played for.
He was also tried for middle and top order roles earlier, but in the last chapter of his career, he was an out-and-out finisher. His finishing skills helped him earn a recall to the Indian T20I team in 2022. After retiring in 2024, ‘DK’ now serves as RCB’s batting coach.
Hardik Pandya – #6
When Jitesh Sharma was asked to rank the current Mumbai Indians skipper, he demoted his own team’s batting coach to #8 on the ranking instead.
Hardik, along with his elder brother Krunal and Pollard, formed what they termed the Mumbai Indians’ engine room. Hardik Pandya was a crucial part of MI winning most of their IPL titles in the late 2010s, especially in 2019. Hardik, too, was a finisher extraordinaire who would blast off in the death overs.
Jitesh Sharma – #10
When asked to rank himself, RCB wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma placed himself at the bottom. Although he has been struggling for form this year, Jitesh Sharma does have some currency in the bank as a finisher.
His first stint as a finisher was at Punjab Kings between 2022 and 2024. That stint had convinced RCB that Jitesh Sharma was the right choice for them in 2025. That year, Jitesh repaid RCB’s faith in him by making small but vital contributions to the franchise’s maiden IPL title.
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