NEW DELHI: Chasing a target in T20 cricket is often described as one of the toughest assignments in the sport. The players who consistently deliver under pressure are usually the ones talked about as true match-winners. In that conversation, Virat Kohli—regularly nicknamed a “chasemaster”—is a name that stands out. The Indian batter has frequently taken games away in the final overs, piling up runs while chasing and building an enviable record in pursuit of totals.
The Indian Premier League adds another layer to that legacy. Kohli currently leads the IPL charts for most runs scored in chases, with 4,027 runs from 125 innings. That haul is just shy of half of his overall IPL tally of 8,758 runs. However, when it comes to the toughest metric—best batting average while chasing—Kohli does not appear inside the top five among the 231 batters who have faced at least 10 chase opportunities. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star is positioned 10th on the list, boasting an average of 41.51 in such situations.
While Kohli’s chase average doesn’t place him near the summit, the elite benchmark in the league is being set by David Miller. The South African finisher came under the spotlight on Wednesday night after refusing to take a run off the penultimate delivery, a decision that ultimately contributed to Delhi Capitals falling short by a single run against Gujarat Titans. Even with that heartbreak, Miller’s reputation as a finisher has not taken a hit, and his chase numbers continue to reflect why he’s so trusted when the required rate spikes.
Miller has produced 1,816 runs in 67 chase innings at an average of 49.08, striking at 142.54. His record in this role includes 12 half-centuries and one century, underlining how often he converts pressure situations into match-winning innings.
Delhi Capitals’ KL Rahul is next on the same list. His 92 off 52 deliveries against Gujarat Titans ended without the desired result, but his overall chase consistency remains evident. Rahul has racked up 2,636 runs across 66 innings while chasing, at a strike rate of 138.22. That tally also features 25 half-centuries.
RCB’s Phil Salt follows in third place, with a chase average of 46.92 from 16 innings. Salt has made 657 runs at a sensational strike rate of 178.04, including eight fifties, showing a high-impact style even in fewer opportunities.
Former Mumbai Indians batter Lendl Simmons is fourth. He owns a chasing average of 46.22, having scored 416 runs from 11 innings. His conversion rate includes one century and three fifties.
Sai Sudharsan completes the top five with a chasing average of 45.40 from 22 innings. He has accumulated 908 runs in those chases at a strike rate of 141.43, with one hundred and five fifties to his name.
Best batting average while chasing in IPL
- David Miller: 67 innings, 1,816 runs, average 49.08, strike rate 142.54, with 12 fifties/1 century
- KL Rahul: 66 innings, 2,636 runs, average 47.92, strike rate 138.22, with 25 half-centuries/0 centuries
- Phil Salt: 16 innings, 657 runs, average 46.92, strike rate 178.04, with 8 fifties/0 centuries
- Lendl Simmons: 11 innings, 416 runs, average 46.22, strike rate 132.90, with 3 fifties/1 century
- Sai Sudharsan: 22 innings, 908 runs, average 45.40, strike rate 141.43, with 5 fifties/1 century
- Rinku Singh: 22 innings, 874 runs, average 45.15, strike rate 156.53, with 4 fifties/0 centuries
- Matthew Hayden: 14 innings, 904 runs, average 44.54, strike rate 137.64, with 4 fifties/0 centuries
- Kevin Pietersen: 26 innings, 640 runs, average 42.66, strike rate 134.73, with 3 fifties/1 century
- Shaun Marsh: 29 innings, 1,060 runs, average 42.40, strike rate 137.48, with 11 fifties/0 centuries
- Virat Kohli: 125 innings, 4,027 runs, average 41.51, strike rate 134.90, with 28 fifties/2 centuries
Note: The figures above are for batters who have taken part in at least 10 IPL chases.
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