Highest Run Chase in T20 by India

When it comes to explosive batting firepower, the Indian cricket team is second to none. This has been demonstrated over the years by India successfully gunning down massive targets in T20 cricket through fearless and innovative batting.

In this article, we recap some of the highest and most thrilling run chases in T20s by Team India.

India’s Batting Might in T20 Cricket

Before looking at specific run chases, let’s examine what makes India such a dominant T20 batting unit:

Strength and depth of the batting order – loaded with aggressive stroke makers from top to bottom.
Power hitters who can clear any boundary with ease like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav etc.
Game changers like Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja who can switch gears dramatically.
Skilled players of spin like Suryakumar Yadav which is crucial on Indian pitches.
Ability to keep up with steep run rates by using unorthodox shots like the ramp, reverse sweep etc.
Having a never-say-die approach no matter how huge the target.

These attributes have enabled India to regularly chase down colossal targets at rapid scoring rates. Let’s revisit >>>

211/4 vs. Sri Lanka, Mohali, 2009

Match Between: India vs. Sri Lanka
Toss: India won the toss and elected to field
Players:
- India: Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, Ashish Nehra
- Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara
Date and Venue: 12 December 2009, Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali
Key factors:
- India’s opening partnership of 138 runs between Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir was the foundation of the chase.
- Yuvraj Singh’s unbeaten 53 off 27 balls was the icing on the cake.

This is the highest run chase in T20 cricket history, and it was achieved by India against Sri Lanka in 2009. India needed to chase down 211 runs, and they did it with 19.1 overs to spare. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir put on a brilliant opening partnership of 138 runs, and Yuvraj Singh finished the job with an unbeaten 53 off 27 balls.

196/7 vs. England, Cape Town, 2020

Match Between: India vs. England
Toss: England won the toss and elected to bat
Players:
- India: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah
- England: Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills, Mark Wood
Date and Venue: 19 October 2020, The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Key factors:
- England scored a mammoth 222 runs, but India’s bowlers kept them in the game.
- KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma’s opening partnership of 70 runs set the tone for the chase.
- Hardik Pandya’s 31 off just 12 balls was the match-winning knock.

India chased down 196 runs against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2020. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma scored 70 and 60 respectively, and Hardik Pandya hit 31 off just 12 balls to help India win with 5 wickets to spare.

192/4 vs. West Indies, Hyderabad, 2019

Match Between: India vs. West Indies
Toss: India won the toss and elected to field
Players:
- India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav
- West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Oshane Thomas, Keemo Paul
Date and Venue: 11 October 2019, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Key factors:
- India’s bowlers did a great job of restricting West Indies to 192 runs.
- Rohit Sharma’s 94 off 58 balls was the top score for India.
- Shikhar Dhawan’s 40 off 29 balls was also crucial in the chase.

India chased down 192 runs against West Indies in 2019. Rohit Sharma scored 94 off 58 balls, and Shikhar Dhawan scored 40 off 29 balls to help India win with 6 wickets to spare.

186/1 vs. Sri Lanka, Kolkata, 2022

Match Between: India vs. Sri Lanka
Toss: India won the toss and elected to field
Players:
- India: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
- Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Chandimal, Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara
Date and Venue: 20 October 2022, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Key factors:
- India’s bowlers kept Sri Lanka to a modest 155 runs.
- Rohit Sharma’s 85 off 53 balls was the top score for India.
- Ishan Kishan’s 56 off 27 balls was also crucial in the chase.

India chased down 186 runs against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022. Rohit Sharma scored 85 off 53 balls, and Ishan Kishan scored 56 off 27 balls to help India win with 7 wickets to spare.

182/1 vs. Pakistan, Dubai, 2016

Match Between: India vs. Pakistan
Toss: India won the toss and elected to field
Players:
- India: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz
Date and Venue: 21 March 2016, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Key factors:
- Pakistan scored a competitive 182 runs.
- Virat Kohli’s 72 off 52 balls was the top score for India.
- Rohit Sharma’s 56 off 34 balls was also crucial in the chase.

India chased down 182 runs against Pakistan in 2016. Virat Kohli scored 72 off 52 balls, and Rohit Sharma scored 56 off 34 balls to help India win with 8 wickets to spare.

Conclusion

These thrilling run chases demonstrate why India remains one of the most feared T20 batting units. Their bench strength is so solid that even without their main stars, young Indian batsmen have the firepower and skills to chase down any formidable target.

With the growth of aggressive batting mindsets and arrival of innovators like Suryakumar, one can expect India to continue accomplishing more such monster T20I chases in the future.