The Indian Premier League (IPL) has experienced many great T20 performances. While this format is popular for batting dominance, we have experienced many great partnerships between popular batters.
In this article. we are going through the top five highest partnerships in the IPL history. The partnership between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers has dominated this list twice.
Top five highest partnerships in IPL history
5. Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans): 210 vs Chennai Super Kings
During the IPL 2024, Gujarat Titans’ openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan set up a 210-run first-wicket partnership against the defending champions Chennai Super Kings at Ahmedabad. While Sai Sudharsan scored 103 off 51 balls (five fours and seven sixes), skipper Gill scored 104 off 55 balls (nine fours and six sixes). Their giant partnership helped Gujarat to score 231/3 in 20 overs. GT won that match by 35 runs after CSK only managed to score 196/8 in 20 overs.
4. KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock (Lucknow Super Giants): 210* vs Kolkata Knight Riders
It was a historic IPL match, where a team finished the innings without losing a wicket. DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai hosted the IPL 2022 match, where Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul chose to bat first after winning the toss. KKR bowlers couldn’t dismiss both the openers as they set a 210-run partnership for the unbroken opening wicket. While Rahul scored 68 not out off 51 balls with three fours and four sixes, the wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock scored 140 not out off 70 balls with the help of 10 fours and 10 sixes. However, LSG won the match by only two runs as KKR scored 208/8.
3. Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore): 215* vs Mumbai Indians
The duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers entertained the crowd at Wankhede with their class batting display in the 2015 edition of IPL. On a batting-friendly Wankhede pitch, Royal Challengers Bangalore lost Chris Gayle early. But then, Virat and De Villiers smashed the Mumbai Indians' bowlers all over the park. They stitched a magnificent partnership of 215 runs for the unbroken second wicket and took RCB to a gigantic score of 235/1. Virat scored a magnificent 82 off 50 balls (six fours and four sixes) and De Villiers scored 133 not out off 59 balls (19 fours and four sixes). In reply, Mumbai Indians managed to score 196/7 in 20 overs.
2. KL Rahul and Nitish Rana (Delhi Capitals): 220 vs Punjab Kings
It was the IPL 2026 afternoon match between the hosts Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. After the hosts chose to bat first, although the opener Pathum Nissanka (11) was dismissed cheaply in the third over, another opener KL Rahul and the no.3 batter Nitish Rana had a brilliant 220-run partnership for the second wicket. While Rana was dismissed for unlucky 91, Rahul slammed 152 not out off 67 balls, as Delhi Capitals recorded 264/2 in 20 overs. Despite that huge total, DC lost that game, as PBKS openers and captain Shreyas Iyer's brilliant batting snatched the game away after successfully chasing the target in 18.5 overs after losing four wickets.
1. Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore): 229 vs Gujarat Lions
In the IPL 2016, captain Virat Kohli had an important role in his team Royal Challengers Bangalore's incredible success to finish as the runners-up. During their home match against Gujarat Lions, Virat and AB de Villiers once again produced an unforgettable partnership. After Chris Gayle was out for only six runs, Virat (109 off 55 balls) and De Villiers (129 not out off 52 balls) stitched a magnificent partnership of 229 runs for the second wicket and both of them scored their respective hundreds. RCB posted a mammoth total of 248/3 and won that game by 144 runs.
Suggested Read | Top 5 Highest Partnerships in T20Is
List of the highest partnerships for any wicket in IPL history
Partners (Team) | Partnership wicket | Partnership runs | VS | Venue | Year |
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (RCB) | 2nd | 229 | GL | Bengaluru | 2016 |
KL Rahul and Nitish Rana (DC) | 2nd | 220 | PBKS | Delhi | 2026 |
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (RCB) | 2nd | 215* | MI | Wankhede | 2015 |
KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock (LSG) | 1st | 210* | KKR | DY Patil | 2022 |
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans) | 1st | 210 | CSK | Ahmedabad | 2024 |
