Stills from 2 of the most iconic Run Chases in T20 World Cup by India (AFP)
On Sunday, Team India needed a miraculous innings to chase West Indies’ 195 in the virtual quarter-final played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Riding on Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue chased down the humongous target 4 balls to spare. In the pursuit, they recorded their highest run chase in the T20 World Cup history.
After being asked to bat first, West Indies smashed 195/4 in the 20-over quota. In reply, India achieved the target with 199 on 5 wickets, recording the remarkable feat.
Sanju Samson, who wasn’t even India's first-choice opener in the lead-up to the tournament, played an incredible knock of 97, which included 12 boundaries and four sixes, guiding the team to victory and booking a berth to the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals.
Previously, India’s highest run chase in a T20 World Cup was 176/4 against South Africa in the 2014 edition at Mirpur. That being said, below is a detailed list of the defending champion’s biggest run chases in the ICC T20 tournament since its inception.
India’s highest run chases in the T20 World Cup history
1. 196 vs West Indies in T20 World Cup 2026
In India’s last T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 game against West Indies, Sanju Samson held his nerves and led his side home in a trademark style. Chasing 196 in a do-or-die clash, India were not just playing for a semi-final spot; they were playing to avoid a collapse at home. And in the end, they pulled off their highest successful run chase in their T20 World Cup history.
2. 173 vs South Africa in T20 World Cup 2014
In the T20 World Cup 2014 semi-final played between India and South Africa, Virat Kohli, in a classic manner, took his side home, chasing down 173 with 5 balls remaining. Kohli scored 40 of his 72 runs in singles and twos, and had only three dots. In the post-match interview, he went as far as saying that during the chase, a single was as important as a six.
This remained India’s biggest run chase in the ICC events until Sanju Samson proved what he can do in the 2026 edition.
3. 161 vs Australia in T20 World Cup 2016
Asked to chase 161 against the mighty Australia, India saw their required run rate balloon up past 10 an over, up towards 12 an over by the 15th over. However, Virat Kohli was always poised to prick the balloon.
Also read: Sanju Samson Rewrites History Books To Shatter Virat Kohli's T2O World Cup Record
Coming in to bat in the fourth over, Kohli chased the target down single-handedly with ease and perfection. With 47 needed in 4 overs, Kohli and Dhoni brought 19 runs off the 18th over from James Faulkner and then 16 off the next from Nathan Coulter-Nile. In the end, India got home with five balls to spare, thanks to Virat Kohli’s 82 off 51.
4. 160 vs Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2022
Eight balls and 18 to get, Virat Kohli does what a Virat Kohli is known for! On a day when only something extraordinary was allowed into the Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of India's greatest batters played an innings that may be their greatest ever in T20 cricket. It has to be because, in the end, they beat Pakistan, and it brought a tear to his eye.
The last-ball thriller once again saw Virat Kohli at his best, chasing down 160 against the arch-rivals. Out of India’s total, Kohli himself made an unbeaten 82 off 53.
5. 139 vs Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2014
Match 24 in the 2014 T20 World Cup, played between India and Bangladesh, was just another day, another masterclass chase by the ‘chase master’ Virat Kohli. However, the chase was set with ease after a blistering 56 off 44 by opener Rohit Sharma.
In the first innings, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin were key with the ball, with Mishra taking 3 wickets and Ashwin taking 2. Though Bangladesh tried to go hard at India, taking 13 off the first over, India’s spin duo soon dismissed Bangladesh’s top order, eventually halting their run at 139.
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