How to Calculate Net Run Rate (NRR) in Cricket
Short answer
Net run rate = (total runs scored ÷ total overs faced) − (total runs conceded ÷ total overs bowled) across a tournament. Overs are converted to balls first, so 19.4 overs is 19 + 4/6 = 19.667 overs. If a team is bowled out, it is treated as having faced its full quota of overs. Our NRR calculator handles the conversions.
When two teams finish a league stage on the same points, net run rate (NRR) usually decides who goes through. It rewards winning big and losing narrowly. The formula is simple, but two details trip people up: how overs are written, and what happens when a side is all out.
What is the NRR formula?
NRR = (runs scored ÷ overs faced) − (runs conceded ÷ overs bowled)
All four totals are added up over every match counted in the table, not averaged match by match. That is why one heavy win can lift NRR for the whole tournament.
How do I convert overs like 19.4?
Cricket writes overs as "overs.balls", and an over has six balls. 19.4 means 19 overs and 4 balls, which is 19 + 4/6 = 19.667 overs, not 19.4. Convert every figure to balls (19.4 = 118 balls), add them up, then divide by 6. Getting this wrong is the most common NRR mistake.
What if a team is all out?
Under ICC playing conditions, if a team is bowled out before using its overs, the calculation counts the full quota (for example 20 overs in a T20 or 50 in an ODI), not the overs actually faced. This stops a side from benefiting by being dismissed quickly. In rain-reduced matches, the revised overs and targets set for that match are used.
Worked example: a single T20
Team A scores 180 in 20 overs; Team B replies with 170 in 20 overs. Team A's run rate for is 180 ÷ 20 = 9.00 and against is 170 ÷ 20 = 8.50, so its NRR from this match is +0.500. Team B's is −0.500.
Worked example: a tournament total
Suppose after several ODIs a team has scored 1,200 runs in 200 overs and conceded 1,100 runs in 198.4 overs.
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Runs for ÷ overs faced | 1,200 ÷ 200 = 6.000 |
| 198.4 overs in decimal | 198 + 4/6 = 198.667 |
| Runs against ÷ overs bowled | 1,100 ÷ 198.667 = 5.537 |
| NRR | 6.000 − 5.537 = +0.463 |
The NRR calculator gives the same +0.463 when you enter 198.4 in the overs box.
How much do I need to win by to pass another team?
Work out the new totals after the next match: add your planned score and overs to "for", and the opponent's score and overs to "against", then recalculate. Try a few scenarios, such as winning by 20 runs or chasing in 16 overs, until your NRR passes the rival's. The calculator also gives the required run rate for a chase. Live tables are on our live scores page.
Tip: to compare two teams’ scoring rates as a percentage difference, divide the gap by the smaller rate and check the result in the percentage calculator.
Why NRR is not a simple average
Because NRR uses tournament totals, a match where you bat 50 overs counts more than one where you chase in 25 overs. It behaves like a weighted average, weighted by overs, not like the plain mean in our mean, median and mode guide. For a recent series to practise on, see our Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20 guide.
This guide explains the standard ICC method for general understanding. Individual tournaments can publish their own tie-break rules, and ViralScopeHub is not responsible for official standings; always check the organiser's table.
Last updated: October 16, 2026, 9:04 AM ET. Reviewed against the sources listed below.
Frequently asked questions
What is net run rate in cricket?
It is a team's runs per over scored minus its runs per over conceded, using totals across the tournament. It is used to separate teams level on points.
How do you convert 19.4 overs for NRR?
19.4 overs means 19 overs and 4 balls, which is 19 + 4/6 = 19.667 overs.
What happens to NRR if a team is all out?
The team is treated as having faced its full quota of overs, such as 20 in a T20 or 50 in an ODI.
Can NRR be negative?
Yes. A negative NRR means a team has conceded runs faster than it scored them over the counted matches.
Does a no result count in NRR?
Usually not. Matches abandoned without a result are normally left out of NRR, but check the tournament's playing conditions.
