Understanding Net Run Rate (NRR) in Cricket: How It’s Calculated

Fido Sir
Apr 11
2 min read

Updated: Apr 12

In T20 tournaments like the IPL, teams fight for points to qualify for the playoffs. But when teams end up with the same points, the Net Run Rate (NRR) becomes the tie-breaker.

So, what is NRR (Net Run Rate)?

Net Run Rate (NRR) shows how good (or bad) a team has been across all matches — not just whether they won or lost, but how fast they scored runs and how well they stopped the other team from scoring.

How is Net Run Rate (NRR) Calculated in IPL?

Simple Formula for One Match:

The formula for calculating Net Run Rate (NRR) for a single match is:

NRR = (Runs Scored / Overs Faced) - (Runs Conceded / Overs Bowled)

One Match Example:

Imagine your team scores 160 runs in 20 overs.

Your opponent scores 150 runs in 20 overs.

You win the match — so your NRR improves.

Now, calculate it:

NRR = (160 / 20) - (150 / 20) = 8.00 - 7.50 = +0.50

So, your team’s Net Run Rate after this match is +0.50.

But What About the Tournament?

In a tournament like the IPL, NRR isn’t just calculated for one match; it’s cumulative across all the matches played by the team.

Tournament-Level NRR Formula:

The formula for calculating cumulative NRR is:

NRR = (Total Runs Scored / Total Overs Faced) - (Total Runs Conceded / Total Overs Bowled)

Explanation:

Total Runs Scored: Total runs the team has scored across matches.
Total Overs Faced: Total overs faced by the team in those matches.
Total Runs Conceded: Total runs the team has conceded across matches.
Total Overs Bowled: Total overs the team has bowled in those matches.

KKR's Net Run Rate (After 6 Matches in IPL 2025) – Explained Simply

Few Rules You Should Know:

1. Bowled out early? Overs still count as 20.

If your team is all out in 18 overs, it's still counted as 20 overs for NRR.

2. Matches with no result?

If a match is abandoned or has no result (rain, etc.), it doesn't count in NRR.

3. Chasing team finishes early?

If a team chases 160 in 16 overs, only 16 overs are counted — not 20.

This helps boost their NRR!

Why Does NRR Matter in IPL?

NRR decides the rankings when teams have equal points.

2015 ICC Cricket World Cup – Sri Lanka vs. England: Sri Lanka and England both finished with 8 points. Sri Lanka's better NRR allowed them to advance to the quarter-finals over England.
2014 ICC T20 World Cup – South Africa vs. Pakistan: South Africa and Pakistan had the same points, but South Africa's superior NRR helped them advance to the semi-finals.
2020 Indian Premier League – Mumbai Indians vs. Delhi Capitals:
MI and DC had the same points, but MI's better NRR secured the top spot in the points table at the end of the group stage.