India's ODI Finisher Crisis Back In Focus: Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube Or Rinku Singh? Who Can Fit The Role

IND vs SA 2nd ODI: India entered the second ODI in Raipur riding high on confidence. Star batters Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad complemented each other well and built a brilliant partnership of 195 runs and helped the hosts score 284/3 in 39 overs. The pitch was batter-friendly as the bowlers were seen struggling, and it would look like they would post a target of more than 370 runs.

However, the game did not go as assumed and team India was seen struggling towards the end of the innings. After Kohli and Gaikwad were dismissed, the Men-in-Blue only managed to score 74 runs more in the last 11 overs. It was a reminder of the problem team India has faced, arguably, since MS Dhoni's retirement -- the lack of a finisher in ODIs.

In the previous match against South Africa in Ranchi, India faced a similar problem with the batters only managing to score 70 odd runs in the last 10 overs.

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While KL Rahul proved his worth by scoring gritty fifties in both matches but his excellence seemed to be a lone battle with no support from the other end. With Hardik being unavailable and Axar Patel given rest for this series, the management was dependent on Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to play as finishers.

Washington faced 8 balls and scored 1 run in the second ODI, whereas Jadeja scored 24 off 27 balls. The host scored 41 runs in the last five overs. The team was slammed on social media even before the first innings ended.

India's top order has proved that it can take on the scoring load. But in Raipur, the gap between those who lay the platform and those expected to finish the story was once again spotlighted. Rahul’s recent form offers reassurance, but he alone cannot fill the void when the innings demands a surge.

As India looks ahead to a busy year and a World Cup cycle that will soon begin taking shape, it will need to revisit the finisher's role with urgency. That role is no longer a luxury or a tactical flourish. It defines modern ODI cricket. It dictates momentum and often decides games.

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Players Who Could Fit That Role

SHIVAM DUBE: POWER AND PRESENCE

Few batters in India's domestic circuit hit a cricket ball as cleanly as Shivam Dube. His transformation at Chennai Super Kings turned him into one of the most feared middle-order hitters in the IPL. He maintained a strike rate above 150 for three straight seasons, a remarkable stretch for someone in a specialised role. Dube may be more prominent in T20Is right now, but his ability to bully spinners and muscle pace bowlers gives him a strong claim to the No. 6 slot in ODIs.

RISHABH PANT: THE NATURAL DISRUPTOR

Rishabh Pant's return to elite cricket has been one of the feel-good stories of the last year, but his absence from ODIs remains puzzling. Across 31 matches, he averages more than 33 and strikes at over 106. Pant thrives in chaos, and the lower-middle order is often filled with it. Even with KL Rahul continuing as wicketkeeper, Pant's instincts, fearlessness, and ability to change momentum in a heartbeat make him tailor-made for finishing duties.

RINKU SINGH: CALM UNDER FIRE

Rinku Singh is already synonymous with finishing roles in T20 cricket. His control under pressure and his ability to find boundaries in the final overs have earned him that reputation. Though his ODI experience is limited to two matches, he has batted at No. 6 in both and produced a strike rate of 134.14. What sets Rinku apart is temperament. Pressure seems to settle him rather than rattle him, an invaluable trait in a format that often demands late-overs clarity.