India’s rise as a T20 force hasn’t happened by playing safe anymore. The mindset has flipped—from steady accumulation to all-out, fearless attacking cricket. What once felt like an intimidating 200-plus target is now treated as just another challenge, thanks to a batting lineup stacked with power-hitters shaped by the intensity of the IPL.
That fearless approach was evident in the second T20I against New Zealand in Raipur. India didn’t merely chase a big total; they tore it apart. Running down 209 with almost five overs still in hand, the Men in Blue made a loud statement: in this version of Indian T20 cricket, no target is truly out of reach. The chase underlined just how dangerous India have become while batting second, reinforcing their reputation as the most formidable chasing side in the shortest format.
History scripted in Raipur
Notably, India were handed a daunting task as the Black Caps managed to post 208/6 in 20 overs, giving the hosts a massive target. Chasing 209, India faced an immediate crisis, slumped at a precarious 6/2 after just seven balls. However, what followed was a historic counter-attack as Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav joined hands and took the game away from the visitors with their explosive and match-winning partnership. India reached the target in a staggering 15.2 overs, marking their joint-highest successful T20I chase. On that note, let’s have a look at 5 such occasions where India managed to outplay opposition with tremendous chases.
5 highest successful chases by India in T20I cricket
1. 209 vs New Zealand (Raipur, 2026)
This was a chase of sheer clinical efficiency that redefined T20 power-hitting. After being reduced to a nervous 6/2 in the second over, India unleashed a counter-attack that left the Black Caps stunned. Kishan’s fiery 76 and Suryakumar’s unbeaten 82 didn’t just reach the 209-run target; they demolished it with 28 balls to spare. By finishing the game in just 15.2 overs, India set a new record for the fastest 200-plus chase, proving that on a good deck, no total is safe from this lineup.
2. 209 vs Australia (Visakhapatnam, 2023)
In a high-octane thriller just days after the 2023 World Cup final, India matched their highest-ever successful chase in dramatic fashion. After Josh Inglis’s century propelled Australia to 208, captain Suryakumar responded with a blistering 80 off 42 balls. However, unlike the Raipur cruise, this one went down to the very last wire. With one run needed off the final ball and the tail exposed, Rinku Singh smashed a six—though it wasn’t counted on the scorecard because the bowler had delivered a no-ball, sealing a pulse-pounding two-wicket victory.
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3. 208 vs West Indies (Hyderabad, 2019)
This chase is immortalized by one of Virat Kohli’s most iconic and “animated” T20I innings. Chasing 208, Kohli initially struggled for timing, but once he found his groove, he was unstoppable, finishing with a career-best 94* off 50 balls. The match is famously remembered for the “notebook celebration” Kohli mimicked back at Kesrick Williams after hitting him for a six. Supported by KL Rahul’s elegant 62, the Indian captain steered the team home with eight balls to spare, making a mammoth task look like a masterclass in controlled aggression.
4. 207 vs Sri Lanka (Mohali, 2009)
Long before the modern T20 era of 200-plus scores being common, India pulled off a miracle in Mohali to level the series. Chasing 207, Virender Sehwag gave India a “flying start” with a 38-ball 64, but the night belonged to birthday boy Yuvraj Singh. Playing on his home ground, Yuvraj smashed 60* off just 25 deliveries, clearing the ropes five times. Alongside MS Dhoni’s 46, Yuvraj ensured India crossed the finish line with five balls remaining, setting what was then a world record for the highest successful T20I chase.
5. 204 vs New Zealand (Auckland, 2020)
Playing at the uniquely shaped Eden Park, India proved their mettle away from home by hunting down 204 against a formidable Kiwi attack. After the openers fell, Shreyas Iyer announced himself on the world stage with a mature yet explosive 58* off 29 balls. Combined with Rahul’s half-century, India navigated the short boundaries and the pressure of a big chase with ease, reaching the target with an over to spare. This win set the tone for an eventual 5-0 series whitewash, a feat never before achieved in a five-match T20I series.
