IPL 2019: Ranking each team based on its finishers

We all know that a limited overs game is more or less decided by how the team ends its batting innings and the momentum it carries while batting first. And the same goes for the team chasing down the target, how calculated they are till the very end.

This is where a player like MS Dhoni or Michael Bevan ruled the game on this facet in their respective generations.

The IPL 2019 is just around the corner and the teams will be looking to put their best foot forward for the two-month-long extravaganza.

The fact that the World Cup is just months away may have taken some importance out of this edition of the Indian Premier League but there is still excitement in the air as to which will be the best team coming out of this IPL.

One of the reasons why we still long for the IPL even after 11 editions is that the quality of cricket and the unpredictability it brings to the table. The IPL has over the years has seen many of the best finishing acts in the history of T20 cricket.

Also, Read- One match winner in each side

So we will look to rank the IPL teams based on their finishers.

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#8 Rajasthan Royals

Ben Stokes is the best available finisher for the Royals

Rajasthan Royals historically have won games defending low scores contrary to the T20 cricket as the Jaipur pitch suits bowlers more often than not.

The RR team have one of the weakest composition in terms of finishers available with them as they have a top-heavy batting order which scores the bulk of the runs led by Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane.

Ben Stokes is the only player in the side who is known to finish matches as his countrymate Buttler has been successful as an opener in the last season and Royals would not want to disturb the combination.

The other players who can be used as a finisher are Krishnappa Gowtham who is a hard hitter and the Aussie Ashton Turner.

Expected players who can don the role of a finisher and their T20 strike rates:

1. Ben Stokes: 133.75
2. Krishnappa Gowtham: 168.99
3. Ashton Turner: 138.72

#7 Sunrisers Hyderabad

Rashid Khan has been evolving as a great all-rounder

The only thing that can be said against the team selection of the SRH side is the lack of a finisher in their side.

They, like the Royals, are a top-heavy batting order which gets most of the things done with respect to scoring most of the runs.

The likes of Yusuf Pathan and Deepak Hooda are prominent Indian players who have with them the ability to play big shots at the fag end of the innings but they have not been consistent enough.

The experienced overseas players like Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Nabi are there, but we don't know how many games they might play given the players available with them.

Rashid Khan has been evolving as a great all-rounder, and it will be interesting to see if the Sunrisers make him a finisher for the side to go with the great bowler that he is.

Expected players who can don the role of a finisher and their T20 strike rates:

1. Rashid Khan-152.12
2. Yusuf Pathan- 140.84
3. Deepak Hooda- 135.18

#6 Kings XI Punjab

Miller will need support

One of the main reasons for the failure of the Kings XI Punjab despite starting strongly is the lack of contribution from its middle order.

The absence of a quality finisher to support David Miller hurt the team the most.

This year they have added some solidity to the middle order by bringing in Moises Henriques who has been tremendous in the BBL and a power hitter in Nicholas Pooran.

Apart from that Sarfaraz Khan who has been a hit and miss over the years for the Royal Challengers Bangalore is another option they would have for the role of a finisher.

But at this moment, they seem to lack a quality player who can seal the role and be a game changer apart from David Miller who has been a lone warrior for them in the past.

Expected players who can don the role of a finisher and their T20 strike rates:

1. David Miller: 139.12
2. Nicholas Pooran: 152.58
3. Sarfaraz Khan: 144.26

#5 Delhi Capitals

Chris Morris

Delhi Capitals have surprisingly quite a lot of power hitters in their side but have lost the plot in the last season of the IPL.

With a blend of experience and youth this time around, one might feel that they can go a long way in the tournament and win their maiden IPL title under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer.

The inclusion of Colin Ingram who has found a lot of success in T20 cricket in recent times and Axar Patel will do a lot of good in terms of middle order which has been their weak point last time around.

The top order comprising of Indian players like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, and Shikhar Dhawan will need support from the middle order and the Delhi team has a strong bowling attack with all the bases covered.

Expected players who can don the role of a finisher and their T20 strike rates:

1. Chris Morris- 154.8
2. Axar Patel- 130.16
3. Colin Ingram- 139.87

#4 Royal Challengers Bangalore

He could be a match winner for RCB

Royal Challengers Bangalore are one of the most exciting teams in the IPL.

It is quite surprising that they have not won the title even once in spite of having players such as Virat Kohli and Ab De Villiers in their ranks for many seasons along with many other stars in the world of cricket.

One of the main reasons for their inability to cross the finish line is because of their bowlers who have let them down in the past as well as the middle order who have not supported the top order on a regular basis.

The Challengers have added Marcus Stoinis who was brought in the IPL trade window, the youngster Shimron Hetmyer and also an exciting Indian player Shivam Dubey to their ranks. Colin De Grandhomme can be a dangerous player on his day.

Expected players who can don the role of a finisher and their T20 strike rates:

1. Marcus Stoinis- 123.89
2. Shimron Hetmeyer - 142.42
3. Colin de Grandhomme - 166.8
4. Shivam Dube- 147.65

#3 Chennai Super Kings

The likes MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo and Sam Billings came good with their finishing abilities last time around

The IPL season 11 saw the return of one of the most loved and dominant T20 franchises in the history, Chennai Super Kings, after a two-year-long absence and they did not disappoint the fans as they won their third IPL title.

The defending champions will be the team to beat in this season of the IPL, and they have a quite a lot of match winners in their ranks which made them champions in the last season of the IPL.

They didn't make too many changes to their team, and it is almost similar to the one we saw in the last season of the league.

The likes MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo and Sam Billings came good with their finishing abilities last time around, and CSK fans will hope that the fortunes don't change for their side.

CSK is one of the most balanced sides in the IPL with all the bases covered for this season of the IPL.

Expected players who can don the role of a finisher and their T20 strike rates:

1. MS Dhoni- 136
2. Dwyane Bravo - 127.3
3. Kedar Jadhav- 136.28

#2 Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya could play a huge role in Mumbai's quest for a fourth IPL title

Mumbai Indians have one of the dominant team combinations and are one of the early favorites to lift the trophy for a record fourth time.

They have solidified their top order by bringing in exciting Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton De Kock in the IPL trade window and bought legendary Indian allrounder Yuvraj Singh to further bolster the middle order which was already strong.

The likes of Kieron Pollard, the Pandya Brothers (Hardik and Krunal) will be the usual suspects for finishing the innings but the addition of Ben Cutting will prove to be a useful one for the team given Pollard's not so great showing in the last season of the IPL.

They have everything in their arsenal to stake their claim as the best team on paper at this point of time.

Expected players who can don the role of a finisher and their T20 strike rates:

1. Hardik Pandya- 132.26
2. Krunal Pandya- 146.46
3. Kieron Pollard- 150.5
4. Ben Cutting-150.4

#1 Kolkata Knight Riders

Andre Russell can cause havoc in any game with his batting

Arguably the best team in the IPL at the moment in terms of their batting, bowling, power hitters, finishers and everything put together.

They have one of the most dangerous opening combinations in Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn. At the same time, they have a lot of Indian youngsters in the top and the middle order to support them.

KKR is blessed to have a captain such Dinesh Karthik who as rose in the ranks to be called one of the best finishers in the game of cricket at the moment and the Carribean duo of Carlos Braithwaite and Andre Russell have the capability to demolish any opposition in a matter of overs with the bat.

They have variety in all the departments of the game and KKR fans will hope that they have a strong showing to make them three-time champs in the IPL.

Expected players who can don the role of a finisher and their T20 strike rates:

1. Dinesh Karthik- 132.72
2. Andre Russell - 167.4
3. Carlos Brathwaite - 146.