When two batters click at the crease, cricket turns from a sport into absolute magic. In a fast-moving tournament like the Indian Premier League (IPL), where batters usually try to hit almost every ball for runs, building a big partnership is both rare and thrilling.
A partnership simply means the number of runs scored by two batters while they are batting together without either of them getting out. In T20 cricket, a 50-run partnership is considered solid, and a 100-run partnership can turn the game on its head. But every now and then, two batters come together and smash well over 200 runs without giving the bowlers a single chance.
This blog walks you through the highest partnerships in IPL history, how they happened, and what made these moments so memorable.
The Highest Partnership in IPL History: Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers (229 Runs)
- Players: Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers
- Team: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Opponent: Gujarat Lions
- Runs: 229
- Balls Faced: 96 balls
- Year: 2016
The absolute top spot in IPL history belongs to the iconic duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. During the 2016 season, they pulled off an unbelievable batting show against the Gujarat Lions at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
How the Magic Happened
RCB lost opener Chris Gayle early in the innings. That brought AB de Villiers to the pitch to join Virat Kohli. What followed over the next hour and a half was pure devastation for the opposition bowlers.
De Villiers took charge early, attacking the bowlers from all angles. He hit shots all over the ground, reaching his century in just 43 balls. Meanwhile, Kohli began steadily, giving the strike back to de Villiers before putting on his own masterclass in the final overs. Kohli reached his century in the final over of the innings.
Both players scored centuries in the exact same match—a rarity in T20 cricket. De Villiers remained unbeaten on 129 runs off 52 balls, while Kohli scored 109 runs off 55 balls. Together, they scored 229 runs off just 96 deliveries for the second wicket, setting the record for the highest partnership in IPL history. RCB posted a huge score of 248/3 and won the game comfortably by 144 runs.
The Top 5 Highest Partnerships in IPL History
While Kohli and De Villiers hold the number one spot, several other legendary batting pairs have delivered breathtaking performances.
| Rank | Players | Team | Opposition | Runs | Year |
| 1 | Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Gujarat Lions | 229 | 2016 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai Indians | 215 | 2015 |
| 3 | KL Rahul & Quinton de Kock | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata Knight Riders | 210 | 2022 |
| 3 | Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | Chennai Super Kings | 210 | 2024 |
| 5 | Adam Gilchrist & Shaun Marsh | Kings XI Punjab | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 206 | 2011 |
Taking a Closer Look at Other Massive Partnerships
2. Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers – 215 Runs vs Mumbai Indians (2015)
Before their 2016 masterpiece, Kohli and De Villiers had already set a record in 2015. Playing against a strong Mumbai Indians bowling attack, the duo put together an unbroken 215-run stand for the second wicket.
De Villiers played one of his finest IPL knocks, scoring 133 runs off 59 balls with 19 boundaries and 4 sixes. Kohli played the perfect supporting role, scoring 82 runs off 50 balls. This partnership proved that when both batters are in rhythm, no bowling attack in the world can stop them.
3. KL Rahul & Quinton de Kock – 210 Runs vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2022)
In 2022, opening batters KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock did something that had never been done before in IPL history: they batted through all 20 overs without losing a single wicket.
Playing for Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders, the duo put on an unbeaten 210-run opening stand. De Villiers-like aggression came from De Kock, who blasted 140 off 70 balls, while Rahul played a solid captain’s knock of 68 off 51 balls. It remains the highest opening partnership recorded in the IPL.
3. Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan – 210 Runs vs Chennai Super Kings (2024)
Matching the 210-run mark set by Rahul and De Kock, young Indian talents Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan lit up the stadium in 2024.
Opening the batting for Gujarat Titans against Chennai Super Kings, both batters reached their centuries in style. Gill scored 104, while Sudharsan made 103. Their 210-run opening stand equaled the record for the highest first-wicket partnership in IPL history.
5. Adam Gilchrist & Shaun Marsh – 206 Runs vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2011)
Way back in 2011, Australian heavyweights Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh set what was then the highest partnership in IPL history.
Playing for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), captain Gilchrist slammed 106 runs off 55 balls, while Marsh contributed an unbeaten 79 off 49 balls. Together, they added 206 runs for the second wicket in just 96 balls, dismantling the RCB bowling line-up.
Highest Partnerships in IPL by Wicket
Big partnerships do not just happen at the top of the order. Here is a look at the highest partnerships recorded for each wicket in IPL history:
- 1st Wicket: 210 runs – KL Rahul & Quinton de Kock (LSG vs KKR, 2022) / Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan (GT vs CSK, 2024)
- 2nd Wicket: 229 runs – Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers (RCB vs GL, 2016)
- 3rd Wicket: 165 runs – Robin Uthappa & Shivam Dube (CSK vs RCB, 2022)
- 4th Wicket: 144 runs – Shimron Hetmyer & Gurkeerat Singh (RCB vs SRH, 2019)
- 5th Wicket: 134 runs – Shakib Al Hasan & Yusuf Pathan (KKR vs GL, 2016)
- 6th Wicket: 122 runs – Ambati Rayudu & Kieron Pollard (MI vs RCB, 2012)
- 7th Wicket: 100 runs – Jagadeesha Suchith & Harbhajan Singh (MI vs PBKS, 2015)
- 8th Wicket: 73 runs – Ayush Badoni & Arshad Khan (LSG vs DC, 2024)
- 9th Wicket: 88 runs – Rashid Khan & Alzarri Joseph (GT vs MI, 2023)
- 10th Wicket: 55 runs – Shikhar Dhawan & Mohit Rathee (PBKS vs SRH, 2023)
What Does It Take to Build a Record-Breaking Partnership?
Scoring over 200 runs as a pair in a 20-over game is extremely difficult. A few key factors make these massive stands possible:
- Understanding and Trust: Both batters need to read the game well together. Running quickly between the wickets and communicating clearly prevents unnecessary run-outs.
- Complementary Playing Styles: Often, one batter plays aggressively while the other plays with steady control. For example, during the 2016 record, AB de Villiers attacked from ball one while Virat Kohli took his time before unleashing his big hits in the final overs.
- Targeting the Right Bowlers: Great batting partners talk to each other between overs. They identify which opposition bowlers to attack and which ones to play safely.
- Capitalizing on Momentum: Once a partnership crosses 100 runs, the fielding team usually grows tired and loses focus. Strong batting pairs take full advantage of this pressure to accelerate even faster.
The 229-run partnership between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers remains the gold standard in IPL history. It was a flawless display of skill, power, and mutual trust. As the IPL continues to evolve with higher team totals and more aggressive batting, new pairs will try to break this record. However, matching the pure brilliance of Kohli and De Villiers on that afternoon in 2016 will take something truly extraordinary.
This video highlights the top partnerships in IPL history, giving you a visual look at the most dominant batting performances ever played in the tournament.
