Highest Opening Partnerships in IPL History: Top 15 List

The Indian Premier League is arguably the most exciting T20 league in the world. With 10 teams participating for the title, the tournament sees major records made and broken every season. Here we will focus on the highest opening partnership in IPL history. Let’s delve into the list of highest-opening partnerships in IPL.

KL Rahul-Quinton de Kock

The Lucknow Super Giants opening pair of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock have the highest opening partnership in IPL all season. The pair added 210 runs while batting first against Kolkata Knight Riders at the DY Patil Stadium in 2022, which is the highest opening partnership in IPL. Quinton de Kock scored an unbeaten 140 in 70 balls with KL Rahul hitting 68 in 51 balls. The pair finished unbeaten with IPL's best opening partnership and LSG winning the close encounter by just 2 runs.

David Warner-Jonny Bairstow

Known as fierce rivals in international cricket, this Australia and England duo joined forces to add 185 runs for the first wicket against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2019 season. It was the highest opening partnership in IPL history for the next 3 years. Both the openers scored tons, Bairstow was dismissed for 114 in 56 balls but Warner remained unbeaten on 100 facing 55 balls. The 100-run partnership was brought up in just 58 balls with the stand lasting 16.2 overs.

Chris Lynn-Gautam Gambhir

It was a chasing masterclass for the Kolkata Knight Riders openers playing an away fixture against Gujarat Lions in the 2017 edition. KKR were asked to chase 184 runs in their 20 overs and the opening pair of skipper Gautam Gambhir and Australian import Chris Lynn was more than enough to take down the Lions bowling lineup. Lynn scored an unbeaten 93 in 41 balls hitting 6 fours and 8 sixes with Gambhir playing the anchor adding 76 in 48 balls. KKR won by 10 wickets and 31 balls to spare. It is the highest unbeaten opening partnership in the 2nd innings of an IPL match.

KL Rahul-Mayank Agarwal

The two openers from Karnataka joined forces batting first for Kings XI Punjab in the 2020 edition versus Rajasthan Royals at Sharjah. Mayank Agarwal played the aggressor scoring 106 runs in 50 deliveries with 10 fours and 7 sixes. KL Rahul meanwhile crawled to 69 off 54 balls hitting 7 fours and just 1 six. The duo added 183 runs in 16.3 overs. KXIP finished their innings at 223/2 but the score was chased down by Royals with 4 wickets and 3 balls to spare.

Ruturaj Gaikwad-Devon Conway

At the MCA Stadium in Pune during the 2022 IPL, local hero Ruturaj Gaikwad set the stage on fire scoring 99 in 57 balls with 6 fours and 6 sixes adding 182 runs for the first wicket alongside Kiwi batter Devon Conway. The duo helped CSK register 202/2. Conway also missed out on his century scoring an unbeaten 85 in 55 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes. Gaikwad was named the player of the match for his heroics.

Shane Watson-Faf Du Plessis

The experienced Chennai Super Kings openers took the side to victory against Kings XI Punjab during a league game played in Dubai in 2020. Chasing 179, Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis launched an attack in the powerplay scoring 60 runs and carried the momentum forward. Watson got to his first fifty of the season in 31 balls with du Plessis getting his half century in 33 deliveries. Both batters hit 11 fours each with Watson hitting 3 maximums and du Plessis just 1. CSK won by 10 wickets with Watson being adjudged the player of the match for his unbeaten 83.

Devdutt Padikkal-Virat Kohli

The Wankhede Stadium witnessed a spectacle unfold during the 2021 season when the Royal Challengers Bangalore openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli joined forces to take the team to a 10-wicket win. Chasing 178 against Rajasthan Royals, Padikkal took off getting to his 50 in 27 balls. Kohli moved to his half-century in 34 deliveries completing 6000 runs in the IPL. The target was achieved in the 17th over with Padikkal unbeaten on 101 in 52 balls and Kohli at the other end on 72.

Virat Kohli-Faf Du Plessis

Another chasing masterclass from RCB’s Virat Kohli and captain Faf du Plessis. Playing at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad against the Sunrisers, RCB were tasked to chase 187. The openers added 172 runs, the highest opening partnership in IPL 2023, in 17.5 overs before Kohli fell for 100 in 63 balls hitting 12 fours and 4 sixes. Du Plessis departed soon after hitting 71 in 47 deliveries. It was an easy win for RCB by 8 wickets with 4 balls to spare.

Chris Gayle-Tillakaratne Dilshan

The Gaylestorm was at its full display at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Batting first after losing the toss, the RCB opener smashed the Pune Warriors bowlers to all corners of the city smashing the highest individual score in T20 cricket. Gayle finished unbeaten on 175 off 66 balls adding 167 for the first wicket. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s contribution in the partnership was a mere 33 runs in 36 balls. RCB put 263/5 in the bank and won by a mammoth 130 runs.

Sachin Tendulkar-Dwayne Smith

At the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur during the 5th season of the league, Mumbai Indians defeated Rajasthan Royals by 10 wickets with the openers Dwayne Smith and Sachin Tendulkar adding 163 runs without a dent. The Caribbean opener Smith was on fire belting 10 fours and 3 sixes in his 87-run knock with Tendulkar playing second fiddle with a fluent 58 in 51 balls.

David Warner-Jonny Bairstow

After putting a record partnership in the 2019 edition, the Warner-Bairstow pair was back in 2020 with another stellar performance. Batting first against Kings XI Punjab at Dubai, Bairstow played the aggressor’s role hitting 97 in 55 balls with 7 fours and six sixes. Warner added 52 in 40 with 5 fours and a maximum. 160 runs were added for the first wicket in just 15.1 overs. Sunrisers got 201/6 and won by 69 runs.

Murali Vijay-Michael Hussey

It was the biggest stage for Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The two teams met each other in the final of the 2011 season in Chennai. Winning the toss, CSK elected to bat first and saw Murali Vijay as one of the greatest knocks in any IPL final. The right-hander scored 95 in 52 balls with 4 fours and 6 sixes adding 159 runs in just 14.5 overs alongside Mr. Cricket Michael Hussey (63 off 45). CSK posted a big total of 205/5 and won their second consecutive title.

VVS Laxman-Adam Gilchrist

The Indo-Australian pair teamed up at the top of the order for Deccan Chargers in the inaugural season of IPL. Chasing 155 against Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium, Gilchrist charged his way to 109 off 47 balls hitting 9 fours and 10 sixes taking the team to a 10-wicket win. Laxman remained unbeaten on 37 off 26 balls in the 155-run stand. Gilchrist’s 42-ball ton was the fastest ton of the tournament at that time.

Devdutt Padikkal-Jos Buttler

After a successful start in the IPL for RCB, Devdutt Padikkal featured for the Rajasthan Royals in the 2022 edition. Partnering Jos Buttler at the top, he added 155 runs for the opening stand in 15.1 overs against Delhi Capitals. Buttler hit 116 in 65 balls, an innings that included 9 towering sixes at the Wankhede stadium. Padikkal found form hitting 54 in 35 deliveries and was trapped in front by Khaleel Ahmed. Royals put 222/2 on board and won by 15 runs.