The Indian Premier League (IPL) has shown some terrible batting in its history. The shortest format of the game, T20, is said to be more batsman-friendly. Even the best bowlers have gone out of the park many times in the tournament. It is the batsmen and their ability to accelerate that play a key role in T20 cricket.
But one man cannot carry the team. Unique brilliance has rarely been known to win trophies. It won the match, yes. But it takes a team to win the trophy. So every good batter needs someone to complement or match him. That’s why partnership is important. Partnerships decide the outcome of a game.
Highest partnership in IPL history
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A common feature on the partnership record list is the name of Virat Kohli. The Indian captain has been included in three of the top four on the list. He added 229 for the second wicket against Gujarat Lions in the IPL 201 game with AB de Villiers. The duo hit 129 off 52 balls with 12 sixes and 10 boundaries against the centenarian Protea batsman. RCB posted a total of 248/3 with a huge 55 off 109 runs. Gujarat could not compete as they lost by 144 runs and were all out for 104 runs.
The same pair added 215 runs for the second wicket against Mumbai Indians in early IPL 2015. AB de Villiers scored 139 runs in that match, 139 runs including 19 boundaries and four sixes. Virat played a strong tip of 822 runs from 50 balls. RCB won the match by 39 runs as they limited MI to 196/7 after scoring 235/1 in the first innings.
In IPL 2011, in a match against RCB, Punjab captain Adam Gilchrist scored a great century off 55 balls with ten runs. He added 79 for 49 and added 206 for the second wicket with Shaun Marsh. Punjab posted 232/2 in their first innings and won the match by 111 runs in the end.
1. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers – 229 (Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Lions)
It was another demonstration of the perfect dominance of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, but this time it was against the Gujarat Lions. RCB lost to Gayle before batting in the fourth over of the innings. That’s when the show got better and started. With Gujarat and De Villiers at the crease, the Gujarat Lions bowlers could not help.
Despite playing in hot conditions in Bangalore, they both broke a sweat as they sent bowling attacks all over the field. Crowds of people flocking to watch their favorite team play were considered a final spectacle. Kohli and de Villiers scored 109 and 129, respectively, as the Indian captain was dismissed in the last over of the innings.
The Lions had to chase a total of 249 runs to win. Their morale was shattered after the first innings performance from the RCB, as the Bangalore-based team won by 144 runs, and they were bowled out for 104 by Poultry.
2. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers – 215* (Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians)
At their final top, there is no better batter than Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. What’s even worse is when they’re at the crease together. They have repeatedly shown the whole world that they are the worst nightmare of every bowler. From scintillating shots to quick runs between wickets, these two greats put every weapon in their arsenal.
The game against Mumbai Indians in Mumbai is proof of this fact. For once, Chris Gayle failed to play big innings, but Kohli and de Villiers delivered well. Kohli and de Villiers scored 72 and 133 runs, respectively. Harbhajan Singh and Hardik Pandya combined for 71 runs in five overs.
Chasing a strong total of 235 runs, Mumbai Indians have never been in the game as Rohit Sharma and teammates. Harshal Patel, bowled by RCB for two wickets, was limited to 196 runs.
3. Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh – 206 (Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore)
After Paul Valthaty’s wicket, Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh came down to post a competitive total for Punjab against a strong RCB batting lineup. And they did. There was absolute anarchy from the Australian pair as it paid for every RCB bowler in the menacing mood.
With two left-handers at the crease, it was as aesthetically pleasing as it could be. Don’t forget the perfect dominance, though Gilchrist hit 100 off 55 balls with nine highs, including a 122-meter six against Charles Langvelt. Shaun Marsh continued his great form and remained unbeaten on 79 runs.
Piyush Chawla took four wickets for Kings XI Punjab, beating the RCB batting lineup by 121 runs, including Chir Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers.
4. Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli – 204* (Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils)
Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle hold the record for the fourth-highest partnership in the history of the IPL. It came in a match against the Delhi Daredevils, where Delhi won the toss and decided to allow Royal Challengers Bangalore to bat first. This proved to be a wrong decision as RCB would have to post a huge score of 215 for an unbeaten 204-run partnership between Kohli and Gayle.
That year Gayle was the whole nation in the storm, and Gayle delivered again to Delhi. The Daredevils roared after opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed early. Confidence was running high, but then Virat Kohli came to the crease and could no longer look back at RCB’s Stallworth with Gilly. The economy rate was more than 9.5, with six sixes in each region of every Delhi bowler’s stadium.
Gayle and Kohli are unbeaten on 126 and 73, respectively. Ross Taylor was the only Delhi batsman to score 50 runs after defeating the hosts by 21 runs. Zaheer Khan picked the bowlers for the team with three wickets for Bangalore.
5. David Warner and Naman Ojha – 189* (Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers)
After setting a target of 188 for the performance of Shikhar Dhawan and Cameron White for the Deccan Chargers, the Delhi Daredevils batsmen were instrumental in guiding the team to victory. The Delhi-based team like Virender Sehwag, David Warner, Andre Russell, Naman Ojha and others had the firepower to do the job.
David Warner appeared in the second season for the Daredevils and opened the innings with Virender Sehwag. Ryan Harris dismissed Virender Sehwag in the second ball of the innings when the Chargers had no hope. But was immediately squashed. Warner and Ojha separated the Duncan Chargers bowlers as they scored their second century for the former franchise.
It was a show of devastating batting as Delhi chased the score to save more than three overs. Naman Ojha scored an unbeaten 64 in the second Fidel game in Warner’s incredible innings.
6. Jonny Bairstow and David Warner – 185 (Sunrisers Hyderabad vs RCB)
During IPL 2019, Sunrisers Hyderabad openers Johnny Bairstow and David Warner have registered their names in the IPL record book after playing centuries of centuries against RCB.
Warner hit an unbeaten 100 off 54 balls with four fours and five sixes. So second, Johnny Bairstow made 114 off 11 fours and six sixes off 56 hits in the stormy innings of his first IPL century. Hyderabad recorded the highest score in the IPL and scored 231-2 in 20 overs. By the end, the RCB team was all out for 113 runs and lost by 118 runs.
7. Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn – 184* (Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Lions)
In IPL 10, the duo of Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn has set a new record between Gujarat and Kolkata. Both shared 184 runs for the first wicket. Both of them shot around the stadium while batting. Lynn scored 93 not out and Gambhir 76 not out. Gambhir and Lynn also shared 168 for the first wicket with Bangalore’s Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chris Gayle.
8. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul – 183 (Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals)
The pair of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal set a new record for the first wicket partnership for Punjab by batting brilliantly against Rajasthan Royals. Both the batsmen have shared 183 runs in the highest partnership in the T20 IPL. This is the 53rd pairing in IPL history, both opening players with half-centuries. Mayank Agarwal scored a great century (106); Mayank hit six sixes and ten boundaries in his innings. Captain KL Rahul scored 79 off 54 balls with four fours and a six.
9. Shane Watson and Faf Du Plesis – 181* (Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings)
In IPL 2020, Chennai Super Kings opener batsmen Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson shared 181, the highest opening partnership in IPL, for the first wicket. This proved to be CSK’s biggest partnership in the IPL. Shane scored an unbeaten 83 off 53 balls with 11 boundaries and three sixes, and Duplessis scored an unbeaten 87 off 53 balls with 11 boundaries and 1 six.
10. Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson – 176* (Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals)
Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson have the record for the largest partnership in IPL-11. The pair put on an unbeaten 176 for the second wicket against the Delhi Daredevils in Delhi on May 10. Dhawan scored 92 (unbeaten), and Williamson scored 83 (unbeaten).
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