India’s sensational five-wicket win over West Indies at the Eden Gardens on Sunday not only sealed their semi-final berth at the T20 World Cup 2026, but also etched its name in the record books for the country with the most successful run-chase in T20 World Cup history. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson Helped the defending champions overcome the challenging target of 196Beating India’s previous best chase set a decade ago.
Top three highest run-chases by India in T20 World Cup history
1. 196 vs West Indies, Eden Gardens, Kolkata (2026)
Target: 196 | Score: 199/5 in 19.2 overs. Margin: 5 wickets
India’s record-breaking chase unfolds at the iconic Eden Gardens on March 1, 2026, in what was effectively a virtual quarterfinal for both the teams. West Indies were asked to bat first, Made a strong score of 195/4Powered by late fireworks from Jason Holder (37 not out off 22 balls) and Rovman Powell (34 not out off 19 balls), whose unbeaten 76-run partnership off just 35 balls took the Caribbean side to a challenging total.
India had a slow start and were reduced to 41/2 after losing the wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in the powerplay. However, Sanju Samson, playing his third match of the tournament, carried the innings with great composure. He stitched a crucial 58-run partnership with skipper Suryakumar Yadav (18), followed by Tilak Verma (27 off 15) and Hardik Pandya (17) before Shivam Dubey completed the chase with four balls to spare.
Samson’s unbeaten 97 off 50 balls – which included 12 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 194 – rewrote the record books. it became:
- The highest individual score by an Indian in a successful T20 World Cup chase, surpassing Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 82 against Australia (2016) and Pakistan (2022).
- Second highest individual score for India in any T20 World Cup innings, behind Suresh Raina’s 101 against South Africa in 2010
- First example of India chasing 180+ target in T20 World Cup history
This target ranked as the third most successful run-chase in overall T20 World Cup history, behind England’s 230 against South Africa in 2016 and South Africa’s 206 against West Indies in 2007.
2. 173 vs South Africa, Mirpur (2014)
Target: 173 | Score: 176/4 in 19.1 overs. Margin: 6 wickets
For almost 12 years, India had the most successful run-chase in T20 World Cup history against South Africa at Mirpur in 2014. In a match played on 4 April 2014 during the Super 10 stage, South Africa scored 172/4, with Quinton de Kock scoring 52 and JP Duminy contributing 39 not out.
India’s response was orchestrated by the peerless Virat Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 72 off 44 balls, an innings that combined classical strokeplay with calculated aggression. Kohli got full support from Suresh Raina, who played a quickfire 27 off 18 balls as India won with five balls to spare.
This chase remained a benchmark for India for over a decade, showcasing Kohli’s remarkable ability in the run-chase – a legacy that later saw him register two identical 82* scores in the next World Cup.
3. 161 vs Australia, Mohali (2016)
Target: 161 | Score: 161/4 in 19.1 overs. Margin: 6 wickets
Equaling India’s 160-run target against Pakistan in Melbourne (2022), the chase against Australia in Mohali in 2016 is India’s joint-third highest successful run-chase in T20 World Cup history.
Also read: Top 5 highest team totals in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history
On 27 March 2016, India faced a strong Australian team in a crucial group-stage encounter at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. Australia scored 160/6, with Aaron Finch making 43 and Glenn Maxwell making 31. In reply, India lost early wickets, before Virat Kohli produced one of his most famous T20 innings – an unbeaten 82 off 51 balls with nine fours and two sixes.
Kohli’s innings and Yuvraj Singh’s quickfire 21-run innings gave India victory with five balls to spare. The innings became synonymous with Kohli’s reputation as the world’s best chaser and remained the highest Indian score while chasing in the T20 World Cup until Samson’s heroics in 2026.
Honorable Mention: 160 vs Pakistan, Melbourne (2022)
Target: 160 | Score: 160/6 in 20 overs. Margin: 4 wickets
India’s target of 160 runs against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 23, 2022 deserves a special mention as it almost matches the target of 161 runs in the record books. In front of a packed stadium of over 90,000 fans, India were struggling at 31/4, but Virat Kohli (82 not out off 53) and Hardik Pandya (40) made a miraculous comeback to seal the win on the last ball of the innings. The chase has been one of the most dramatic in T20 World Cup history.
Also read: Top 3 biggest defeats for India in T20 World Cup history