In cricket, discussions often revolve around the greatest batters and bowlers, but the art of finishing a match has its own pantheon of legends—MS Dhoni, Michael Bevan, AB de Villiers and more. Yet, as formats evolve, a new breed of finisher has emerged, one whose ability to close out games under pressure sets him apart. So who holds the mantle of the world’s best T20 finisher right now? Former India opener Aakash Chopra addressed this very question on his YouTube channel, naming Australia’s power-hitting middle-order batter as today’s preeminent match-winner.
Aakash Chopra names the best T20 finisher
Chopra lauded the way Tim David “plays at a different level,” highlighting his fearless strokeplay and unflappable temperament when the game is on the line. Chopra pointed out how Royal Challengers Bengaluru struck gold by backing David over Will Jacks in the IPL auction, describing it as a “steal deal.” The 29-year-old Singapore-born Aussie has since repaid that faith time and again, blasting bowlers all around the park to steer his teams to victory under duress. According to Chopra, David’s unique ability to absorb pressure, pick the right bowlers to target and clear the ropes at will makes him “probably the best finisher in T20 cricket right now”.
Dominant numbers and match-winning flair
The numbers back up Chopra’s claim. In 2025 T20Is, David has featured in five matches for Australia, amassing 265 runs at an astonishing average of 88.33 and a strike rate of 212.00, including one century and two half-centuries. His breakthrough knock came in Darwin against South Africa, where he smashed a match-winning 83 off 52 balls, launching eight sixes and setting Australia on course to a series-opening victory. In the IPL earlier this year, David played nine innings for RCB on their path to a maiden title, scoring 187 runs at a strike rate of 185.14 and delivering several late-innings cameos that tilted close encounters in his team’s favour.
What sets David apart is not merely his power but his cricketing intelligence—he chooses moments to accelerate with surgical precision, often turning the tide with a single over. His aerial assault, combined with a calm head and shrewd game awareness, has elevated him into that elite category of finishers who thrive under the brightest lights. As T20 cricket continues to push the boundaries of innovation, David stands at the vanguard—a modern-day maestro whose bat does the talking when it matters most.
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