The Indian Premier League has produced some outstanding cricketers for the world T20 and has also provided us with some epic partnerships that have quickly taken the game away from the opposition’s hands.
Let us now take a look at the highest partnerships in IPL history that we were able to witness for each wicket.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Johny Bairstow and David Warner (185 runs) for 1st wicket
In every match, if the first wicket partnership remains strong and longer, the batting line-up will be less concerned and will be able to perform to their full potential. Bairstow and David Warner, one of the best opening pairs in the IPL, have laid the groundwork for a match between Bangalore and Hyderabad, both smashing centuries as openers. They held a 185-run opening partnership, which is still the highest and has yet to be beaten, and they looked like they were hitting boundaries for fun. They played sensibly in the first overs and then upped the ante so well that they hit 29 boundaries together in this partnership, posting a total of 230 runs. Bangalore had no answer to their wrath and were bowled out for 113, giving Hyderabad a 118-run victory.
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (229 runs) for 2nd wicket
For every RCB fan, 2016 provided some of the best memories, and this partnership is one of them. The match between Gujarat and Bangalore at Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy stadium that day sent the fans insane after they witnessed a phenomenal batting performance from their favourite batting pair ABD and Virat Kohli. In their 229-run partnership, they unleashed the beast within themselves and dominated the bowlers, making them one of the best IPL pairs. This included centuries from both of the game’s best players, and they made boundaries rain at the stadium, hitting 15 and 20 fours and sixes respectively. These two annihilated the bowlers, and RCB scored one of the highest totals of 248 runs. Gujarat was unable to recover from this devastation, and we were bundled out for 104, with RCB winning the match by a massive margin of 144 runs. Fans remember these two’s incredible knock, and it is still one of the fan favourites.
Robin Uthappa and Shivam Dube (165 runs) for 3rd wicket
The highest third-wicket partnership occurred this season and in an IPL classic, Chennai vs Bangalore. When RCB decided to bowl, they didn’t expect such havoc from Uthappa and Dube. Bangalore was on track in the powerplay, where they got two wickets, but after that it was all yellow from Uthappa and Dube, so they batted sensibly, settled, and then took Bangalore Bowlers to cleaners at the death. They had a 165-run partnership in the match, with Uthappa scoring 88 and Dube scoring a career-high 95. They both hit nine fours and seventeen sixes, and it was raining boundaries in the stadium. After a tough fight from Bangalore’s middle order, they posted a total of 216 and won the match by 23 runs.
Shimron Hetmeyer and Gurkeerat Singh (144 runs) for 4th wicket
The match between Hyderabad and Bangalore was a nail-biter, with Hyderabad scoring 175 runs thanks to a fine knock of 70 runs from Williamson and some valuable contributions from the top order. In response, Bangalore lost their power hitting pair for only 20 runs, and we were in trouble, but then came Shimron Hetmeyer and Gurkeerat Singh, who both turned the match upside down and built a crucial partnership of 144 runs, scoring 75 and 65 by hitting 12 fours and 6 sixes together. This was a special knock, and it helped RCB win the match with four balls remaining, stealing the victory from Hyderabad.
Shakib Al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan (134* runs) for 5th wicket
The match between Gujarat and Kolkata in 2016 provided us with the opportunity to witness the Supremacy of Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan. When Kolkata were given the opportunity to bat, the top order vanished and they were 24 for 4 within the Powerplay. When everyone thought Gujarat would win the game in the powerplay, these two had other ideas. On a pitch where others struggled, they both hit 16 boundaries, smashed 50s, and stitched a 134-run partnership, allowing them to post a total of 164 runs, which seemed unattainable at the end of the powerplay. Gujarat, on the other hand, took an attacking approach, and Dinesh Kartik scored a fiery 50 to help Gujarat win the match.
Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard (122* runs) for 6th wicket
Every time they play, the match between Mumbai and Bangalore is a nail-biter for fans. In 2012, Bangalore posted a total of 171 runs at their very own Chinnaswamy stadium, to which Mumbai didn’t start as well as expected and their half team was back in the stands for 51. Then came the Rayudu-Pollard show. The duo just played around with Bangalore Bowlers and smashed them. Their partnership gave fans a cherishable evening with their 122 runs stand with 11 fours and 7 sixes in which Rayudu scored 81 and with only two balls remaining in a nail-biting contest, Pollard hit a blistering 50 to put the team over the top.
J Suchith and Harbhajan Singh (100 runs) for 7th wicket
In the 2015 match between Mumbai and Punjab, Punjab batted first and posted a total of 177 for 5 with a blistering knock of 61 runs off 32 balls from Bailey. Mumbai expected their openers to come out firing. However, their top order collapsed to the spin web of Punjab bowlers. When Mumbai were 6 for 59, Jagadeesha Suchith and Harbhajan Singh partnered to almost clinch the victory from Punjab. They hit Punjab bowlers all over the ground and made a century partnership with 9 fours and 8 huge sixes, but were short of 18 runs to the victory.
B J Hodge and James Faulkner (69 runs) for 8th wicket
In this match between Rajasthan and Mumbai, Mumbai posted a mammoth total of 178 for 3 wickets and was already in the driver’s seat, to which Rajasthan didn’t start well, and lost all 6 batsmen except Karun Nair for scores less than 5, and we were in trouble, then Karun Nair and Hodge stitched a partnership which was looking good, but Nair fell when the ship was steadying. Then we got to see one of the most important knocks, which included sensible knocks from both Hodge and Faulkner in a 69-run partnership that included a four and five massive sixes, but the result was not in Rajasthan’s favour, and Mumbai won the match.
Sam Curran and Imran Tahir (43 runs) for 9th wicket
It was the El Classico of IPL and fans were waiting eagerly for the same thing as every other time, Chennai vs Mumbai. However, Chennai struggled with the bat and their top order collapsed with 6 for 30 runs. Then arrived the young Sam Curran and played a thoughtful knock of 52 runs from 47 balls. Sadly, he was supported only by tailenders. Finally, he and Imran Tahir partnered for 43 runs where they hit 6 fours and 2 sixes and posted a total of 114 runs. Mumbai easily chased the target in 12.2 overs and they won by 10 wickets.
Tom Curran and Ankit Rajpoot (31* runs) for 10th wicket
It was in the 2020 IPL, when Kolkata posted a big total of 176 against Rajasthan. However, Rajasthan’s batting line-up was not up to the mark and it collapsed badly against Kolkata’s bowling attack. RR was 42 for 5 with all their main batsmen back to the pavilion. It was then the field was lit up by all-rounder Tom Curran’s batting show. Curran smashed an important 54 runs off 36 and remained unbeaten. He was ably supported by 11th man Ankit Rajpoot who faced 5 balls to hit 7 runs. The duo tried their best but was not able to take Rajasthan to the winning line.
For each wicket, these were the best and highest partnerships seen in IPL history.
