Better than Virat Kohli? Tilak Varma emerges as new T20 chasemaster with 26 wins in 26 chases

Better than Virat Kohli? Tilak Varma emerges as new T20 chasemaster with 26 wins in 26 chases

Tilak Varma’s Perfect T20 Chase Record Grows After Match-Winning Fifty Against New Zealand

Tilak Varma strengthened his reputation as one of India’s most dependable young batters in a chase with a composed, unbeaten half-century in the second T20I against New Zealand. His performance at Hagley Oval in Christchurch helped India secure a four-wicket victory, take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series and extend a remarkable personal record: every successful T20 chase in which he has featured has ended in victory for his team.

According to the figures highlighted after the match, Varma has been involved in 26 successful T20 run chases and has won all 26. He has also remained not out in 20 of them, a striking measure of his ability to stay at the crease while his side pursues a target. The latest result adds another high-pressure international finish to a record built across domestic cricket, the IPL and matches for India.

Unbeaten 51 puts India in control of the series

India were chasing 181 for victory when the innings became a test of patience as well as power. New Zealand had set a competitive target, and the visitors needed a calm response after losing wickets during the pursuit. Varma supplied it, scoring 51 not out from 26 deliveries and guiding India across the line in the final over.

His innings was not simply a late burst of boundaries. Varma had to judge the required rate, manage the pressure of a tightening chase and keep the innings moving without exposing India to unnecessary risk. The left-hander’s ability to combine control with acceleration proved central to the result. He also contributed in the field, taking two catches before making his mark with the bat.

The four-wicket win gave India a commanding advantage in the series. More importantly, it offered another example of Varma’s growing value in the middle order: he can adapt to the situation, remain composed when wickets fall and take responsibility for finishing the job.

Why Tilak Varma’s chase record stands out

A perfect win record across 26 successful chases is an impressive headline, but the context makes the statistic more meaningful. T20 run chases can change quickly. A couple of quiet overs, a lost wicket or a shift in the required rate can place a batting side under pressure. Players who remain unbeaten at the end often have to balance two competing demands: protect their wicket and score quickly enough to keep the target within reach.

Varma’s unbeaten record suggests he has frequently been present when his team crosses the finish line. His contributions have ranged from brief cameos to substantial innings, showing that he can play different roles depending on the match situation. A short, timely partnership can be as important as a larger score when the team needs to regain momentum or reduce the pressure on a partner.

His record also spans a varied set of opponents and competitions. The listed performances include matches against international sides such as England, Pakistan, the West Indies, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and New Zealand, alongside domestic and IPL fixtures. That breadth points to experience in different conditions and team environments, although each innings should still be judged in the context of its match, target and role.

Selected unbeaten innings in successful T20 chases

Varma’s listed not-out scores include 61 from 29 balls against Chandigarh, 55 from 26 against Bangladesh, 72 from 55 against England and 69 from 53 against Pakistan. He has also produced explosive finishes, including 75 from 33 balls against Punjab Kings, as well as smaller but valuable contributions such as 2 not out from two deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

His latest entry—51 not out from 26 balls against New Zealand—fits the broader pattern: Varma has repeatedly contributed to winning chases without being dismissed. The figures do not mean that every innings has carried the same level of difficulty or importance, but they do underline his consistency in remaining available until the result is decided.

Is Varma the next great chase specialist?

Varma’s growing record has naturally prompted comparisons with Virat Kohli, whose reputation as a chase batter was built over many years of high-profile performances for India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Kohli set an exceptional standard through his consistency, match awareness and ability to pace an innings across a wide range of targets.

It is too early to place Varma alongside a player with Kohli’s extensive career achievements. A run of successful chases is an encouraging sign, but long-term comparisons require a much larger body of work across different opponents, venues and pressure situations. The more useful conclusion is that Varma is developing traits associated with accomplished finishers: composure, adaptability and confidence in his own game.

For India, that development is valuable. A dependable middle-order batter can provide balance in T20 cricket, particularly when the top order has not laid a perfect platform. Varma’s left-handed batting also gives the team a different angle in the middle overs and can disrupt a bowling side’s preferred matchups.

What the record could mean for India

The next challenge for Varma will be to sustain this form as expectations rise. Opponents will study his scoring areas, vary their pace and look for ways to prevent him from settling into a chase. His continued growth will depend on how effectively he responds to those adjustments, as well as how he performs when India are chasing larger totals or face difficult conditions.

Still, the New Zealand match offered a strong prediction of the role he could play in India’s T20 plans: a calm, flexible batter capable of anchoring an innings and accelerating when the moment calls for it. His unbeaten 51 was more than a personal milestone; it helped India move closer to a series victory and reinforced his reputation as a player who can be trusted in a chase.

With 26 wins from 26 successful T20 chases, Varma has created an extraordinary early benchmark. The statistic alone does not guarantee future success, but paired with his latest match-winning performance, it gives India plenty of reason to be optimistic about the young left-hander’s potential as a finishing force.

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