What is the highest partnership in the IPL?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most exciting cricket leagues in the world. 

Over the years, the league has seen some incredible performances, with many records being broken by emerging talent as well as established players. 

One such record is the highest partnership in the history of IPL. In this blog, we will look at the top 5 highest partnerships in IPL history and find out which players were able to create these high scoring partnerships.

Highest Partnerships in IPL

Here is a table of the top 5 highest partnerships in the Indian Premier League:

Partners	Partnership	Runs	Balls	Team	Against	Year
AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli (2nd wicket)	1st	229	96	Royal Challengers Bangalore	Gujarat Lions	2016
Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers (2nd wicket)	2nd	215	105	Royal Challengers Bangalore	Mumbai Indians	2015
Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (1st wicket)	1st	210	156	Lucknow Super Giants	KKR	2016
Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh (2nd wicket)	2nd	206	96	Kings XI Punjab	Royal Challengers Bangalore	2011
Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli (2nd wicket)	2nd	204	110	Royal Challengers Bangalore	Delhi Daredevils	2012

1. AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli (2nd wicket) – 229 runs

The highest partnership in IPL history was recorded in the 2016 season when Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli put on a massive partnership of 229 runs against the Gujarat Lions. 

The duo came together after RCB lost their opener, Chris Gayle, early and then went on to decimate the opposition bowlers. De Villiers scored an unbeaten 129 runs off just 52 balls, while Kohli scored 109 runs off 55 balls. 

Their partnership was so dominant that RCB won the match by a whopping 144 runs, which remains the biggest victory in IPL history.

2. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (2nd wicket) – 215 runs

The second-highest partnership in IPL history was also recorded by the same pair: Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. 

This time, they scored 215 runs against Mumbai Indians during the 2015 season. Kohli scored a brilliant 82 off just 50 balls, while de Villiers remained unbeaten on 133 off 59 balls. 

Their partnership helped RCB post a mammoth total of 235 runs, which proved to be too much for the Mumbai Indians, as they were bowled out for 196.

3. Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul- 210 runs

In the 2022 season, Lucknow Super Giants Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul put on a massive partnership of 210 runs against KKR.

De Kock scored a brilliant 108 off 51 balls, while Rahul scored 89 runs off 49 balls. 

Their partnership helped LSG post a massive total of 189 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders fell short of the target by 3 runs and could only manage 208 runs in 20 overs.

4. Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh (2nd wicket) – 206 runs

The fourth-highest partnership in IPL history was recorded during the 2011 season when Kings XI Punjab’s (KXIP) Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh put on a mammoth partnership of 206 runs against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). 

Gilchrist was at his destructive best, scoring 106 runs off just 55 balls, while Marsh supported him with an unbeaten 79 off 49 balls. 

Their partnership helped KXIP post a total of 232 runs, which remains the highest team total in IPL history. Although RCB tried their best, they could only manage 121 runs in their allotted 20 overs, losing the match by 111 runs.

5. Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli (2nd wicket) – 204 runs

The fifth-highest partnership in IPL history was recorded during the 2012 season when RCB’s Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli put on a partnership of 204 runs against the Delhi Daredevils. 

Gayle was at his destructive best, scoring 128 runs off just 62 balls, while Kohli scored 73 runs off 53 balls. 

Their partnership helped RCB post a total of 215 runs, which proved to be too much for the Delhi Daredevils, as they were bowled out for just 194 runs.

Conclusion

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed some remarkable partnerships over the years. These partnerships not only provide entertainment for the fans but also play a crucial role in the team’s victory. 

It is worth noting that partnerships are not just about individual scores but also about the way players support each other on the field. They are able to take the pressure off each other and work towards a common goal of scoring runs and winning matches.

We can only wait and see if any new partnerships will emerge in the upcoming IPL seasons and if any team will be able to break the existing record of 229 runs.

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