The initial phase of this year’s ICC T20 world cup has already commenced with the top 2 teams from the two groups will go forward into the Super 12s. The matches have succeeded in maintaining the high standards of cricket in world cups. Scotland has pulled a heist by beating a top-rated Bangladesh while Namibian cricket would probably have its biggest day yesterday after they miraculously won against the Netherlands.
For all of the teams to do well in this format of the world cup, it is pertinent to ensure that the team has a quality bowling line-up and batsmen with the fortitude to chase any score down. The teams that have done well over the years, like the Windies and England, have all quality batters who back themselves to chase down any score on the board. Without these two parameters met, a team would find it increasingly difficult to perform in the world.
Over the years, there have been brilliant innings played by batsmen while chasing. Jason Roy against South Africa, Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite against England, and many other great chases. We look at the top 5 players who have scored the most number of runs while chasing in the world cups.
1. Virat Kohli
It is no surprise that this man leads the list of best chasers. He has made a distinct name for himself in the cricketing books by chasing big totals innumerable times. It all started in 2012 in Hobart when he smashed prime Malinga all around the park to chase down 320 in under 37 overs. In the T20 world cups, he scored 457 runs while chasing at an ungodly average of 228.50. His most memorable chasing innings in the world Cup have to be in Amritsar in 2016 when he trumped the Aussies in the semi-finals to chase down 161 with close to an over to spare. The team was in a precarious position but Kohli played 82 runs from 51 balls blinder to win the game.
2. Chris Gayle
The “Universe Boss” is a legend in this format. The first player to have scored 10,000 runs in this format. He has scored a lot of them while chasing. In ICC’s t20 world Cup, he has scored 392 runs at a healthy average of close to 36. He has been part of two campaigns that the Windies won. In both 2012 as well as in 2016, he played an important role as a senior and experienced batsman. His talismanic batting and on-field tactics have entertained fans across the world.
3. Rohit Sharma
Another veteran of the format and the sweetest timer of the ball, Sharma stands third on the list. In a format dominated by big-hitting, Sharma relies on his ability to simply play classical shots and score at a brisk pace. He is instrumental in making India a world-class chasing side. He has scored 367 runs while chasing in ICC world cups at a fantastic average of over 40 runs. With a few more years of cricket still left in him, he would like to take that tally significantly higher.
4. Tillakaratne Dilshan
Dilshan has been a Sri Lankan great and a veteran of the game. Part of the legendary troika, his hard work and perseverance finally paid off in 2014 when they lifted the world cup. Dilshan was part of the 2014 squad as well as the squads that came runner-up in 2009 and 2012. While chasing, Dilshan has scored 348 runs at a healthy average of 35 runs. He invariably gave Sri Lanka solid starts at the top of the order and anchored innings from one end.
5. Shane Watson
Arguably one of the best white-ball cricketers that Australia has produced in recent years. Watson could hit the ball hard and long. He was also a handy medium pacer and could curtail run flow. Australia surely has not faced much success in this format but Watson has been a veteran and regular performer for Australia. While chasing, he has scored 309 runs in various ICC world cups at a solid average of 28. At the top of the order, he was a reliable batsman.
