India‘s rise as a T20 force no longer happened by playing it safe. The mentality has changed – from steady build-up to all-round, fearless attacking cricket. What once felt like a daunting 200-plus target is now seen as another challenge thanks to a stacked batting line-up with power hitters shaped by the intensity of the IPL.
This fearless approach was evident in the second T20I against New Zealand in Raipur. India didn’t just score big; they broke up. Chasing out 209 with almost five overs in hand, the Men in Blue made a loud statement: no target is truly out of reach in this version of Indian T20 cricket. The chase highlighted how dangerous India are during the second innings and cemented their reputation as the most formidable chasing side in the shortest format.
History is written in Raipur
Notably, India were given a tough task as the Black Caps managed to post 208/6 in 20 overs and gave the hosts a huge target. Chasing 209, India faced an immediate crisis, collapsing at a precarious 6/2 after just seven balls. But this was followed by a historic counterattack Ishan Kishi and captain Suryakumar Yadav took the game away from the visitors with his explosive and match-winning partnership. India reached the target in an astonishing 15.2 overs, marking their joint most successful T20I chase. On that note, let’s take a look at 5 such instances where India managed to outscore the opposition with big chases.
5 most successful chases by India in T20I cricket
1. 209 vs New Zealand (Raipur, 2026)
It was the follow-up to the sheer clinical efficacy that redefined the powerful impact of T20. After being reduced to a nervy 6/2 in the second over, India counter-attacked to stun the Black Caps. Not only did Kisha’s fiery 76 and Suryakumar’s 82 not reach the 209-run target; They demolished it with 28 balls. By finishing the game in just 15.2 overs, India set a new record for the fastest 200-plus runs, proving that no total on a good deck is safe from this line-up.
2. 209 vs Australia (Visakhapatnam, 2023)
In a high-octane thriller just days after the final of the 2023 World Cup, India matched their most successful chase ever in dramatic fashion. after Josh English‘s century took Australia to 208, with captain Suryakumar replying by hitting 80 off 42 balls. However, unlike the Raipur cruise, this one went down to the last wire. When one run is needed from the last ball and the tail is revealed, Rinku Singh He smashed a 6—although it didn’t count on the scorecard as the bowler had not bowled a ball to secure a pulsating two-wicket win.
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3. 208 vs West Indies (Hyderabad, 2019)
This persecution is perpetuated by one Virat Kohli‘s most iconic and “animated” T20I innings. Chasing 208, Kohli initially struggled for timing but once he found his way, he was unstoppable and finished with a career-best 94* off 50 balls. The match was marked by Kohli’s repeated “notebook celebration”. Kesrick Williams after hitting him six times. supported by KL Rahul‘s elegant 62, the Indian skipper took the team home with eight balls, making the mammoth task a masterclass in controlled aggression.
4. 207 vs Sri Lanka (Mohali, 2009)
Long before the modern T20 era of 200-plus scores, India pulled off a miracle in Mohali to level the series. to pursue 207, Virender Sehwag He gave India a “flying start” with a 38-ball 64, but the night belonged to the birthday boy Yuvraj Singh. Playing at home, Yuvraj smashed 60* in just 25 deliveries, clearing the ropes five times. Next to it MS Dhoni‘s 46, Yuvraj ensured India crossed the finish line with five balls to spare, setting the world record for the highest successful T20I chase at the time.
5. 204 vs New Zealand (Auckland, 2020)
Playing at the uniquely shaped Eden Park, India proved their mettle away from home by chasing down 204 against a formidable Kiwi attack. After the openings fall, Shreyas Iyer announced himself on the world stage with a mature yet explosive 58* off 29 balls. Along with Rahul’s half-century, India easily overcame the short boundaries and the pressure of a big chase, reaching the target with caution. The win set the tone for a 5-0 series sweep, a feat never before achieved in a five-match T20I series.
