5 future finishers for India after Dhoni

India need to find someone who can replace MS Dhoni as the “finisher”Even though MS Dhoni has played a superlative knock in the second ODI against South Africa and won the match almost single-handedly, some of the speculation surrounding Dhoni refuses to go away. More than the speculation, there is a growing worry over who will take over the role of a finisher for India in limited-overs cricket once Dhoni decides to hang up his boots.Make no mistake about it -- India has never had a finisher like MS Dhoni. Nor are the potential finishers who can succeed Dhoni half as good at the moment. But Dhoni himself has said that some serious thought needs to be put into looking for India's next best finisher.Let us look at 5 future finishers for India who can take over from Dhoni.

#5 Gurkeerat Singh

Gurkeerat performed well for India A lower down the order

While it may be still premature to dub Gurkeerat Singh as the ideal finisher that India are looking for, he has certainly displayed his credentials in two invaluable innings against Australia A and Bangladesh A where he led his team to victories with enviable poise and calmness.

Gurkeerat had a superb Ranji trophy season where he finished with 677 runs from 14 innings at an average of 56.41. In the game against Bangladesh A where he had scored a 58-ball 65, he had also bowled beautifully picking up five wickets for 29 runs. He was rewarded for his performances and picked in the ODI squad for the first three matches against South Africa.

Gurkeerat Singh might just be the answer to India's long-term search for an all-rounder if he does justice to his talent. His calm head and his ability to finish off matches will be an added bonus. He has also said that he loves batting under pressure. "I've been playing for Punjab also at number six or five. So, you can say I'm used to it. I need to bat at these situations, when you have pressure on yourself."

#4 Suryakumar Yadav

Yadav has finished many games for his IPL team KKR

It is baffling to think that Suryakumar Yadav is still not in the national scheme of things given the number of matches he has finished for KKR in the IPL. In the KKR camp, Yadav has made a name for himself as a finisher as he has time and again batted his team out of trouble under pressure.

The team management exudes faith in him and he has been rewarded for his performances by being appointed the vice-captain of the KKR. Over the last couple of seasons, Yadav has shown his propensity to improvise to comfortably clear the boundary and score at a fast rate.

His flicked sixes through square leg are sometimes a treat to watch. The best thing about him is admirable calmness under pressure which might make it possible for him to take over the mantle as a finisher for India at some stage.

#3 Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav has expressed desire to finish games for India, if given the chance

Kedar Jadhav announced himself with a big ton against Zimbabwe in the third ODI at Harare in the recently concluded series. Jadhav had walked out to the middle when India were in a precarious state at 82 for 4. But he calmly consolidated and then unleashed a wide array of strokes some of which were an absolute treat to watch.

Having scored heavily at the domestic level for years, many believe that it's high time Jadhav got his fair share of chances. He can take up the wicket-keeper's gloves if needed which is an added bonus for the team. And Jadhav has emphasised on his desire to play the role of a finisher for India.

Jadhav said, "In whatever opportunities I get, I want to establish myself as a finisher. What I want to do is win games for India. I don't want to be someone who scores a flashy 70-80, like I did in the Quadrangular series and get out when the team needs just 30-odd runs. I want to finish games."

#2 Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson has batted at No. 6 while playing for India A

Many believe that Sanju Samson is the best wicket-keeper batsman to succeed Dhoni in the future. Samson has batted a lot at Number 6 for India A where he has scored heavily and successfully guided the team to victory while chasing on numerous occasions.

Samson has been praised by his teammates and pundits alike for some of his brilliant performances while representing the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Jonty Rhodes who was effusive in his praise for Samson said of him, "I like Samson’s intensity. He has got a great array of strokes and hits the ball to the boundary. I have seen him in action during the IPL. He works the ball through the gaps and is prepared to take on the fielders. think his batting partners should realise that, when he walks to the crease, they need to have their running spikes on because he is going to take on the fielders."

Thus, Samson's ability to run well between the wickets combined with his ability to hit the big shots make him a valuable asset to any team. And he has on quite a few occasions shown his ability to finish off games while batting lower down the order for India A. All things considered, Sanju Samson might just be the ideal man to replace Dhoni in the long run.

#1 Suresh Raina

Raina looks set to be the one taking over the role that Dhoni has shouldered for so lon

After Dhoni retires, the most likely candidate to shoulder the responsibility of playing as a finisher for India in limited-overs cricket is Suresh Raina. Ever since Dhoni mentioned his desire to bat higher up the order to enjoy more freedom, Raina has automatically slid down the order beneath him. The indications are very clear -- Raina is already being groomed as India's next finisher after Dhoni.

Raina has a lot going for him to play this role as he has been around for a long time and his ability to go after the bowling without getting his eye in suits him in this role. The only problem with Raina is that he is too rash in his shot selection at times and lacks the calm head that is required to flourish under pressure. But all things considered, Raina remains the chosen one and he will most certainly be the batsman to take over the role of a finisher from Dhoni in the years ahead.