Virat Kohli holds the record for most runs while chasing in IPL history. Through the completed 2026 season, Kohli has scored 4,375 runs while batting second. No other batter has crossed 3,500 runs in IPL chases. That gap shows how long Kohli has stayed at the top of this list, and how often Royal Challengers Bengaluru have trusted him to lead a run chase.
Chasing is a different test from batting first. The target is already on the board. The required run rate is always visible. A batter must judge when to attack, when to rotate the strike, and when to stay calm after a quiet over. The batters on this list have done that job again and again, in small chases and in huge chases, in league games and in playoffs.
This article lists the top 10 batters with most runs while chasing in IPL history. It also looks at the leaders in successful chases, the biggest individual scores in a chase, and the biggest team chases ever completed in the IPL.
Most Runs while Chasing Overview
Virat Kohli leads the list with 4,375 runs in 133 chase innings at an average of 42.89. Rohit Sharma is second with 3,449 runs. David Warner is third with 3,285 runs, even though he has played far fewer chase innings than Kohli or Rohit. KL Rahul is fourth with 2,888 runs and the best average among the high volume chase batters on this list.
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record holder | Virat Kohli |
| Runs while chasing | 4,375 |
| Chase innings | 133 |
| Chase average | 42.89 |
| Second placed batter | Rohit Sharma, 3,449 runs |
| First batter to 4,000 chase runs | Virat Kohli, IPL 2026 |
| Highest individual score in a chase | Abhishek Sharma, 141 against Punjab Kings in 2025 |
Super Over runs are not counted in these chase totals. The numbers cover all IPL seasons from 2008 through the completed 2026 season. The official IPL site and ESPNcricinfo stats pages publish season and career totals that readers can use to check these numbers.
Top 10 Batters with Most Runs while Chasing
The table below ranks batters by total runs scored while batting second in the IPL. The average shows how consistent each batter has been, while the innings column shows how much chase cricket each batter has actually played.
| Rank | Batter | Teams | Runs while Chasing | Chase Innings | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 4,375 | 133 | 42.89 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians | 3,449 | 135 | 29.99 |
| 3 | David Warner | Delhi and Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3,285 | 97 | 39.11 |
| 4 | KL Rahul | Multiple teams | 2,888 | 72 | 47.34 |
| 5 | Shikhar Dhawan | Multiple teams | 2,843 | 94 | 36.45 |
| 6 | Robin Uthappa | Multiple teams | 2,832 | 115 | 27.50 |
| 7 | Sanju Samson | Rajasthan Royals and others | 2,643 | 103 | 29.37 |
| 8 | Ajinkya Rahane | Multiple teams | 2,605 | 97 | 30.65 |
| 9 | Gautam Gambhir | Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders | 2,460 | 89 | 33.70 |
| 10 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans | 2,410 | 74 | 39.51 |
MS Dhoni is just outside the top 10 with 2,336 chase runs, followed closely by Suresh Raina with 2,334 runs. Dhoni still leads a different chase list, the list of most unbeaten finishes in successful chases, with 31 such finishes.
Kohli has scored 30 fifties and 3 centuries while chasing. His chase centuries came against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016, Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023, and Kolkata Knight Riders in 2026. Warner has scored 34 fifties and 1 century while chasing. Rahul has scored 28 fifties while chasing without a century, which shows that a big score in a chase does not always need to reach three figures.
Record History
Kohli became the first batter to score 4,000 runs while chasing during the IPL 2026 season opener. He scored an unbeaten 69 from 38 balls as Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased 202 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in only 15.4 overs. At that point his chase total stood at 4,027 runs. He added more runs during the rest of the 2026 season to reach 4,375.
Rohit Sharma moved ahead of David Warner into second place during the 2026 season. Rohit started that season with 3,238 chase runs, behind Warner on 3,285 runs, and finished the season with 3,449 runs. Rohit has also played more chase innings than any batter on this list, with 135 second innings appearances.
KL Rahul moved into fourth place during the 2026 season as well. His chase average of 47.34 is the best among batters with at least 60 chase innings on this list. That average is built on long, controlled innings at the top of the order, often in chases where his team needed him to bat deep into the innings.
Warner remains the most efficient high volume chaser on the list in terms of runs per innings. He scored 3,285 runs in only 97 chase innings. Much of that total came as an opener for Sunrisers Hyderabad, where his fast starts in the powerplay often set the shape of the whole chase.
Most Runs in Successful Chases
Total chase runs include chases that end in defeat. A separate list counts only runs scored in chases that the batting team wins. Kohli leads that list too, but the order below him changes. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma both pass 2,000 runs in winning chases, while David Warner has the best average among batters with at least 1,500 runs in successful chases.
| Rank | Batter | Runs in Successful Chases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 2,784 |
| 2 | Shikhar Dhawan | 2,159 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | 2,127 |
| 4 | Gautam Gambhir | 1,988 |
| 5 | Suresh Raina | 1,825 |
| 6 | David Warner | 1,778 |
| 7 | Robin Uthappa | 1,686 |
| 8 | Shane Watson | 1,626 |
| 9 | Shubman Gill | 1,620 |
| 10 | Jos Buttler | 1,598 |
Readers who want the other side of this record can also check the list of most runs while batting first, and the list of batters with most runs in successful chases. A chase that fails still counts in the main table above, which is why some batters rank higher for total chase runs than they do for winning chases.
Highest Individual Scores in a Chase
Abhishek Sharma holds the record for the highest individual score in an IPL chase. He scored 141 from 55 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings in 2025, while chasing 246. Sunrisers reached 247 for 2 in 18.3 overs. That innings passed Marcus Stoinis and his unbeaten 124 for Lucknow Super Giants against Chennai Super Kings in 2024.
| Rank | Batter | Score | Team | Opponent | Season | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | 141 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Punjab Kings | 2025 | Won |
| 2 | Marcus Stoinis | 124 not out | Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai Super Kings | 2024 | Won |
| 3 | Paul Valthaty | 120 not out | Kings XI Punjab | Chennai Super Kings | 2011 | Won |
| 4 | Virender Sehwag | 119 | Delhi Daredevils | Deccan Chargers | 2011 | Won |
| 5 | Sanju Samson | 119 | Rajasthan Royals | Punjab Kings | 2021 | Lost |
Samson and his 119 in 2021 is the reminder that a great chase innings does not always end in victory. Rajasthan needed a six from the final ball against Punjab Kings, and Samson was dismissed trying to hit it.
Biggest Successful Team Chases
Individual chase runs sit inside team chases, and the biggest team chases in IPL history show how far targets have grown. Punjab Kings hold the record after chasing 265 against Delhi Capitals in 2026, reaching 265 for 4 in 18.5 overs. That chase passed their own earlier record, the chase of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024.
Sunrisers Hyderabad chased 246 against Punjab Kings in 2025, helped by Abhishek Sharma and his 141. Rajasthan Royals chased 224 against Punjab Kings in 2020 in Sharjah, a game remembered for Rahul Tewatia and his five sixes in one over from Sheldon Cottrell. For the full team list, see the highest successful run chases in IPL history.
For readers tracking captaincy records, many of the batters above also feature on the list of most runs as captain. For the opposite outcome, the list of most runs in losing cause shows batters whose big innings still ended in defeat. For squad planning ahead of the next season, see the IPL 2027 retention deadline rules and purse guide.
What This Record Tells Us
Total chase runs reward longevity first. Kohli and Rohit lead because they have batted second more than 130 times each and have stayed productive for many seasons. Warner shows the other side of the same record. He reached third place in far fewer innings, which points to a higher scoring rate and a bigger impact in each chase he played.
Average tells a different story from total runs. Rahul leads the top 10 on average, at 47.34, ahead of Kohli on 42.89 and Warner on 39.11. That gap matters because an average in chases is helped by unbeaten finishes. A batter who stays not out when the target is reached does not add a dismissal to his record, so finishers and deep batting openers often hold stronger chase averages.
The successful chase list adds a third view. Dhawan rises to second when only winning chases count, which fits his role as an opener who set up many successful pursuits. Gambhir also rises, from ninth on total chase runs to fourth on winning chase runs. That shift shows that some batters scored a larger share of their chase runs in games their team actually won.
Modern chases have also changed what a big target means. Teams now chase 240 plus totals with real belief, as Punjab Kings did in 2026 and Sunrisers Hyderabad did in 2025. That change makes the old chase totals even harder to match, because the next generation of openers will start their careers in an era of much higher targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most runs while chasing in IPL?
Virat Kohli has scored the most runs while chasing in IPL history, with 4,375 runs in 133 chase innings through the completed 2026 season.
Who is second on the list of most runs while chasing in IPL?
Rohit Sharma is second with 3,449 runs in 135 chase innings, ahead of David Warner on 3,285 runs in 97 chase innings.
Who has the best average while chasing in IPL?
Among the leading high volume chase batters, KL Rahul has the best average at 47.34, from 2,888 runs in 72 chase innings. David Miller has a higher career chase average of 49.08, but from a smaller total of 1,816 runs.
Who has scored the most runs in successful IPL chases?
Virat Kohli leads successful chases too, with 2,784 runs in winning chases. Shikhar Dhawan is second with 2,159 runs, and Rohit Sharma is third with 2,127 runs.
What is the highest individual score in an IPL chase?
Abhishek Sharma scored 141 for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings in 2025, while chasing 246. Sunrisers won the game by 8 wickets.
What is the highest successful team chase in IPL history?
Punjab Kings chased 265 against Delhi Capitals in 2026, scoring 265 for 4 in 18.5 overs. That is the highest successful run chase in IPL history.
How many centuries has Virat Kohli scored while chasing in IPL?
Virat Kohli has scored 3 centuries while chasing in IPL: 108 not out against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016, 100 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023, and 105 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2026.
Statistics updated through: 4 November 2026
