Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul’s 210 run-stand against Kolkata Knight Riders in Indian Premier League 2022 became the third-highest partnership in IPL history. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers 229-run stand is still the highest partnership in tournament history.
The T20 brand of cricket is one where batsmen go slam-bang, not too concerned about their wickets. With only 20 overs at their disposal and 10 players to bat, teams don’t really consider building partnerships in the T20 formats. But, even in the shortest format of the game, partnerships play a key role.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), we have time and again seen important partnerships been built. While these might not be as frequent or as big as we see in ODIs or Tests, they are equally important. Here, we take a look at the record partnerships in the IPL.
Highest partnership in IPL: Top 10 list
Rank Batters Partnership Scoring Team Vs Opponnent IPL edition
1 Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers 229 Royal Challengers Bangalore Gujarat Lions 2016
2 Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers 215 Royal Challengers Bangalore Mumbai Indians 2015
3 Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul 210 Lucknow Super Giants Kolkata Night Riders 2022
4 Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh 206 Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bangalore 2011
5 Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle 204 Royal Challengers Bangalore Delhi Capitals 2012
6 David Warner and Naman Ojha 189 Sunrisers Hyderabad Deccan Chargers 2012
7 David Warner and Jonny Bairstow 185 Sunrisers Hyderabad Royal Challengers Bangalore 2019
8 Gautam Gambhir 184 Kolkata Knight Riders Gujarat Lions 2017
9 KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal 183 Punjab Kings Rajasthan Royals 2020
10 Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway 182 Chennai Super Kings Sunrisers Hyderabad 2022
AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli (2nd wicket)- 229 runs in 96 balls
It is no secret that Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are the best of friends, and their friendship has extended on to the cricket field. The duo holds the record for the top two partnerships in IPL history. This one that tops the list came against a beleaguered Gujarat Lions attack in 2016. In match 44 of IPL 2016, RCB batting first lost Chris Gayle early. But little did they envisage the onslaught that was about to arrive their way. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers got together for the second wicket and obliterated the Gujarat bowlers. The duo forged a stand of 229 runs for the 2nd wicket, off just 96 balls, which was the highest stand for any wicket in T20 cricket as a whole. Kohli finished on 109 off 55 balls while de Villers finished 129* off 52 balls as RCB racked up a towering 248/3 in their 20 overs. Gujarat never had a chance. This is the highest IPL partnership in history.
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (2nd wicket) – 215 runs in 105 balls
Before they stitched a 229-run stand against Gujarat Lions, Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers were already ruling the charts for the highest partnership in IPL. In IPL 2015, these two put together a 215-run stand for the 2nd wicket against Mumbai Indians. Batting first at the Wankhede Stadium, RCB once again lost Chris Gayle with just 20 runs on the board. But Kohli and AB de Villiers made sure Mumbai did not get another chance to celebrate. The two added 215 unbeaten runs off just 105 balls, with de Villiers scorching his way to a magnificent 133* off 59 balls, including 19 fours and 4 sixes. Kohli finished on a 50-ball 82*. RCB piled on 235/1 in their 20 overs, and there was no way back for Mumbai.
Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh (2nd wicket) – 206 runs in 96 balls
Before the Kohli- AB de Villiers pair, Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh were scorching the bowlers all over the park. The Australian duo, in 2011, launched an attack of the fiercest order against Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers. Adam Gilchrist smoked 106 off 55 balls, his innings studded with 8 fours and 9 sixes while Marsh hit 79* off 49 balls. The pair added 206 runs in 96 balls for the 2nd wicket as Kings XI Punjab raced to 232/2. As is the case with the other matches on this list, Punjab won the match quite convincingly.
4) Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli (2nd wicket) – 204 runs in 110 balls
Virat Kohli has a penchant for huge runs and makes sure he builds crucial partnerships on the way. It comes as no surprise that he features thrice in the list for the top five highest partnerships in IPL history. Kohli also loves scoring runs against his state side, Delhi. In 2012, he got together with Chris Gayle, and the two pulverized the Delhi bowling attack. The Kohli-Gayle stand for the 2nd wicket was worth 204 runs and took only 110 balls. While Gayle blazed his way to 128* off 62 balls, Kohli was equally effective as he scored a 53-ball 73. The pair helped RCB to a towering 215/1 before the Delhi side was restricted to 194/9. Even after so many years, this remains one of the highest partnerships in the IPL.
Naman Ojha and David Warner (1st wicket) – 189 runs in 98 balls
Before captaining Sunrisers Hyderabad to glory, David Warner was part of the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) unit. It was here that he put on 189 runs for the second wicket with Naman Ojha, in Match 55 of IPL 2012 against Deccan Chargers. Batting first the Chargers would have been relatively happy having put up 187/4 in their innings. They would have been even happier seeing the back of Virender Sehwag for 4. But Warner and Ojha had other ideas. They stitched together an unbeaten stand in 98 balls and saw the Delhi side home unscathed. Warner finished on 109* while Ojha played the perfect hand scoring 64*.
There are few more pairs in the IPL such as Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who have been doing really well. Do you think either of these pairs will be able to break the record for the highest partnership in IPL history?