India’s biggest win in T20I by runs: 168-run triumph at Ahmedabad tops list

The Indian cricket team’s 168-run victory against New Zealand in Ahmedabad in 2023 is their biggest win in T20I by runs.

On the back of Shubman Gill's rampant unbeaten 126, which is the highest individual T20I score for India, Hardik Pandya and Co. posted 234/4 on the scoreboard. Rahul Tripathi's quickfire 44 was a catalyst in the powerplay.

In the run chase, New Zealand succumbed to the pressure. A flurry of wickets from the first over itself derailed the Kiwi innings even before it got started. Hardik's four-for ensured the visitors were bowled out for 66 in just 12.1 overs, giving India their biggest T20I win by runs.

Meanwhile, a win by 148 runs against Ireland in Dublin held the record for more than four years. Put to bat first, India posted a first innings score of 213/4. KL Rahul (70 runs) and Suresh Raina (69 runs) were the top run-getters, with Hardik Pandya playing a strong cameo towards the end with a nine-ball 32.

Three-wicket hauls from Yuzvendra Chahal (3/21) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/16) helped the Men in Blue bowl out Ireland for 70 in 12.3 overs. With this, Virat Kohli and Co. secured a 2-0 series win. 

The result bettered their previous best, which came against Sri Lanka at Cuttack in 2017.

The first T20I game of Sri Lanka’s tour of India in 2017, which marked Rohit Sharma’s first outing as India captain in 20 overs cricket, saw the Men in Blue pick up a 93-run win.

After being asked to bat first, India hit 180/3 in 20 overs with KL Rahul (61 runs) anchoring the batting department.

The hosts would comfortably defend their score, as Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4/23 set the tone for a commanding start to the three-match series. Hardik Pandya (3/29) also shone with the ball as the Men in Blue reduced the Lankans to 87 all out in 16 overs.

While these results emphasized India’s eventual growth as a force to reckon with in T20 cricket, it is worth noting that until 2017, the record for India’s biggest win in T20I by runs was the 90-run triumph at Colombo against England. The record was set at the T20 World Cup in 2012.

England opted to field first when they won the toss. However, their bowlers were on the receiving end of some hammering by Gautam Gambhir (45), Virat Kohli (40) and Rohit Sharma (55 not out).

Harbhajan Singh tormented the English batters in the fixture, grabbing four wickets for just 12 runs.

India’s next biggest win in T20I by runs came once again in the 2017 series against Sri Lanka.

After claiming a 93-run win in the series opener, India got an 88-run victory in the second fixture.

Rohit Sharma hit his highest individual score in T20Is (118) to help the Men in Blue register a score of 260/5 - their highest team score in T20I.

In reply, Sri Lanka could manage 172. Yuzvendra Chahal (4/52) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/52) were the leading wicket-takers for India in the contest.

India would match this result in 2022. In the fifth and final T20I against the West Indies, the Men in Blue rode on Shreyas Iyer’s 40-ball 64 and Ravi Bishnoi’s 4/16 to beat the Men in Maroon by 88 runs at Lauderhill.

India’s biggest win in T20I by runs

Photo credits: AFP / LINDSEY PARNABY