Required Run Rate in Cricket
What required run rate means in cricket, how it is calculated during a chase, and how teams use it to plan their innings strategy.
What Is Required Run Rate?
Required Run Rate (RRR) is the number of runs per over a chasing team needs to score from the current point in their innings to reach their target. It changes with every ball bowled — increasing as boundaries are missed and decreasing when runs are scored.
How to Calculate Required Run Rate
RRR = Runs Still Required ÷ Overs Remaining. If a team needs 120 runs from 15 overs, RRR = 120 ÷ 15 = 8.00. If they then score 10 off the next over, the new RRR = 110 ÷ 14 = 7.86.
RRR Example
ODI chase: Target 287. After 30 overs, batting team has 140/3. Runs needed = 287 – 140 = 147. Overs remaining = 20. RRR = 147 ÷ 20 = 7.35. This is achievable but requires acceleration — the current run rate was 4.67 (140 ÷ 30).
When RRR Becomes Critical
- RRR below CRR: batting team ahead of the game — comfortable position
- RRR matching CRR: par situation — any wicket loss creates pressure
- RRR 2+ above CRR: batting team needs to accelerate significantly
- RRR above 12 (T20): extremely difficult — rare to achieve against quality bowling
- RRR above 15 (T20): essentially impossible without a major batting collapse by the opposition
RRR in Test Cricket
Required run rate has less relevance in Tests because teams rarely need to maintain a specific scoring pace — they have unlimited overs (within the day's play). However, when a team is set a fourth-innings target, the RRR is often discussed in terms of sessions needed rather than overs per run.
Frequently asked questions
What required run rate is considered too high to chase?
In T20 cricket, a required run rate above 12 is extremely difficult against top-level bowling. In ODIs, an RRR above 10 per over is very challenging and relies on the fielding side making errors or a truly exceptional batting performance.
Does required run rate account for wickets?
The RRR calculation does not directly incorporate wickets — it is purely runs needed divided by overs remaining. However, wickets lost affect the batting team's ability to score freely, making the same RRR harder to chase with fewer wickets remaining.