Virat Kohli stands alone at the top of the list of batters with most runs in successful chases in the IPL. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star has scored 2784 runs in 70 innings when his team has batted second and won the match. His average in those innings is 63.27 and his strike rate is 142.69, with 3 centuries and 20 fifties. No other batter in IPL history has reached 2700 runs in winning chases.
Kohli moved to the top of this list in the opening match of IPL 2025, when his unbeaten 59 guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a seven wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. Shikhar Dhawan sits second with 2159 runs, while Rohit Sharma is third with 2127 runs. This article lists the top 10 batters with most runs in successful chases, along with their innings, strike rates and best scores.
IPL Stats: Batters with Most Runs in Successful Chases Overview
A successful chase means the team batting second reaches its target and wins the match. Only runs scored in those winning second innings count toward this record. Runs scored in chases that end in defeat do not count here.
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | Most runs in successful chases in IPL |
| Holder | Virat Kohli |
| Runs | 2784 |
| Innings | 70 |
| Average | 63.27 |
| Strike rate | 142.69 |
| Best score | 108 not out |
| Second placed | Shikhar Dhawan, 2159 runs |
Top 10 Batters with Most Runs in Successful Chases
| Rank | Batter | Innings | Runs | Strike Rate | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 70 | 2784 | 142.69 | 108 not out |
| 2 | Shikhar Dhawan | 53 | 2159 | 132.21 | 101 not out |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | 70 | 2127 | 130.73 | 85 not out |
| 4 | Gautam Gambhir | 56 | 1988 | 123.24 | 90 not out |
| 5 | Suresh Raina | 63 | 1825 | 137.32 | 84 |
| 6 | David Warner | 39 | 1778 | 154.34 | 109 not out |
| 7 | Robin Uthappa | 60 | 1686 | 143.73 | 87 |
| 8 | Shane Watson | 47 | 1626 | 151.25 | 117 not out |
| 9 | Shubman Gill | 42 | 1620 | 136.82 | 104 not out |
| 10 | Jos Buttler | 42 | 1598 | 157.43 | 107 not out |
Faf du Plessis sits just outside the top 10 with 1561 runs in 45 innings. Among the top 10, Jos Buttler has the best strike rate at 157.43, ahead of David Warner at 154.34 and Shane Watson at 151.25.
Record History
Gautam Gambhir held the lead in this list for a long stretch with 1988 runs, scored for Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders. Shikhar Dhawan later moved past him and finished on 2159 runs in 53 innings. Dhawan retired after the 2024 season, so his tally is now fixed.
Kohli passed Dhawan in March 2025. Before the IPL 2025 opener against Kolkata Knight Riders, Kohli needed only 14 runs to take the top spot. His unbeaten 59 took him past Dhawan, and he has stretched the lead to 2784 runs since then. Kohli also holds the wider record for runs in all chases, won or lost. He became the first batter to reach 4000 runs in IPL chases in March 2026, during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at Bengaluru.
Kohli added another chase milestone in IPL 2026. His unbeaten 105 off 60 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders at Raipur took Royal Challengers Bengaluru past a target of 193, and it was his third century in a run chase. That tied him with Jos Buttler for the most centuries in IPL chases.
The highest individual score in a successful chase belongs to Abhishek Sharma. He scored 141 for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings in 2025, in a chase of 246. That innings stands above every score in the top 10 table, where Shane Watson’s 117 not out is the best.
The retired batters on this list can no longer add to their totals. Dhawan, Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa and Shane Watson are all finished in the IPL, so their numbers are final. Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler are still active, so the order below Kohli can still change. Gill and Buttler are the closest active climbers, and both sit within 200 runs of the top five.
What This Record Tells Us
Chasing a target is a different skill from setting one. The batter knows the exact number needed, the balls left and the required rate at every stage. Kohli’s average of 63.27 in winning chases shows how often he has stayed till the end and finished the job himself, with 20 fifties and 3 centuries in those innings.
The table also shows two styles of chase batting. Buttler, Warner and Watson scored fast, with strike rates above 150, and often settled games early. Gambhir scored slower, at 123.24, but his 1988 runs came from steady innings that held chases together. Both styles worked, because a chase rewards the batter who reads the match situation best.
Rohit Sharma’s place in third shows the value of long service. He has played 70 innings in winning chases, the joint most with Kohli, and his 2127 runs came across many seasons with Mumbai Indians. For readers who follow big chases, our list of the highest successful run chases in IPL shows the team totals behind these individual efforts, and the fastest 200 plus run chases in IPL shows how quickly the biggest targets have been hunted down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most runs in successful chases in IPL?
Virat Kohli leads the list with 2784 runs in 70 innings in successful chases, at an average of 63.27 and a strike rate of 142.69.
Who is second on the list?
Shikhar Dhawan is second with 2159 runs in 53 innings. He retired after the 2024 season, so his total will not change.
What counts as a successful chase?
A successful chase is a match in which the team batting second reaches its target and wins the match. Only runs scored in those winning second innings count toward this record.
Who has the best strike rate among the top 10?
Jos Buttler has the best strike rate among the top 10 at 157.43, ahead of David Warner at 154.34. Buttler has scored 1598 runs in 42 innings in successful chases.
What is the highest individual score in a successful chase?
Abhishek Sharma holds that mark with 141 for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings in 2025, in a chase of 246. You can read more about big individual efforts in our list of the highest individual score while chasing.
When did Virat Kohli pass Shikhar Dhawan in this list?
Kohli passed Dhawan in the opening match of IPL 2025, when his unbeaten 59 helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
How many centuries has Virat Kohli scored in IPL chases?
Kohli has scored 3 centuries in run chases, which ties him with Jos Buttler for the most centuries in IPL chases. His third came against Kolkata Knight Riders at Raipur in IPL 2026, an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls.
Which other chase records are worth reading?
Readers who like this list often check the most 50 plus scores in winning cause list, which counts fifties in all winning matches, not only chases. The official IPL website and ESPNcricinfo stats pages are useful for checking season by season numbers.
Statistics updated through: 31 October 2026
