Sports News : India has found a new and surprising T20I chase specialist, and his numbers are even better than legends like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. Following Kohli’s retirement from T20 Internationals after the T20 World Cup 2024 final, the much-discussed “chase master” slot was left vacant — but Tilak Varma has now firmly claimed it.
Statistically, Tilak Varma has emerged as the most reliable run-chaser in T20 International cricket among full-member nations. He currently boasts the highest batting average while chasing, surpassing both Kohli and Dhoni.
Among players who have scored at least 500 runs in T20I run chases, Tilak Varma leads the list with an impressive average of 68.0. Virat Kohli, long considered the gold standard in chases, follows closely with an average of 67.1, while MS Dhoni stands third at 47.71.
Best Batting Averages in T20I Run Chases (500+ Runs)
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68.0 – Tilak Varma*
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67.1 – Virat Kohli
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47.71 – MS Dhoni
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45.55 – JP Duminy
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44.93 – Kumar Sangakkara
*Only players from full ICC member nations included.
Tilak Varma has also found remarkable success at the No. 3 batting position. In T20 Internationals, he has already scored two centuries at this spot. Overall, batting at No. 3 in T20Is, Tilak has amassed 468 runs in 14 innings, averaging 58.5 with a blistering strike rate of 160.27, including 2 hundreds and 2 fifties.
With such consistency and composure under pressure, Tilak Varma is fast becoming India’s new finishing force in run chases, signaling a smooth transition in India’s T20 batting legacy.
