Individual batting performances impact the game, but partnerships seal it. Irrespective of whichever format we wish to discuss, there’s no denying that a strong partnership can kill the game for the opposition.
IPL history is studded with many such partnerships. That’s why we have brought you the 5 highest partnerships in IPL history, including the highest partnership in IPL 2022.
Top 5 Highest Partnerships in IPL History
Underlying are the details of the 5 biggest IPL partnerships:
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Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (2016)
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ABD and Kohli – a partnership made in the heavens. Both superstars were ruling the ICC rankings in the 2010s. Also, they were prime contenders for the best batsman across the formats in that period. But, these blokes had no rivalries, and they played for the same IPL franchise.
While batting together, AB and VK produced countless master-class batting displays but none better than this one. It was 2016, and RCB was facing Gujarat Lions in a home game. Gayle struggled in his brief stay and was dismissed in the 4th over. De Villiers joined Kohli in the middle as the score was just 19 for 1, and the rest was just carnage.
The dynamic duo batted together for 16 overs while smashing 229 runs. This is the highest partnership in the 15 years long history of the IPL. Virat was dismissed at 109(55) on the second last delivery of the innings as this mammoth partnership was finally broken. AB de Villiers remained unbeaten on 129 off just 52 balls.
This record-breaking stand propelled RCB to a massive 144-run win over Gujarat Lions. The total score of the Gujarat team in this match was 104, which was 125 runs less than AB–VK partnership in the same contest.
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Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (2015)
The same pair also holds the record for the second-highest IPL partnership. Royal Challengers Bangalore met Mumbai in the Wankhede cricket stadium during IPL 2015. When the first wicket fell for 20 after 3.1 overs, de Villiers arrived at the crease to partner his captain, Virat Kohli.
Mumbai had a powerful bowling lineup, including the likes of Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McCleneghan, Harbhajan Singh, and Hardik Pandya. But Kohli and de Villiers showed no respect to anyone as they put together a 215* run stand in only 91 deliveries. Virat’s well-paced innings of 82*(50) provided his batting partner solid support.
However, the star of the night was AB de Villiers. The Proteas’ dynamite smashed 133* in just 59 balls. His innings comprised 19 fours and 4 maximums. This massive partnership between RCB’s superstar duo helped RCB secure a 39-run victory over MI.
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Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul (2022)
Lucknow Super Giants’ KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock combined to produce the highest partnership in IPL 2022. The opening pair took the KKR bowling attack to the cleaners while stitching a gigantic 210* run stand. It is also the highest opening partnership in the history of IPL.
The QDK–KL pair batted together for the whole 20 overs. The southpaw dominated the partnership with a whirlwind knock of 140* off 70 balls, including 10 fours and as many sixes. Rahul wasn’t at his fluent best but supported his opening partner well with a 51-ball 68.
Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh (2011)
Back in 2011, the two Aussies accumulated a 206-run partnership for KXIP at Dharamshala stadium. Marsh joined Gilchrist at the fall of the first wicket at the score of 25. Both left-handers stayed at the crease for 16 overs and guided their team to 232 in 20 overs.
Adam Gilchrist scored a sensational ton and finished on 106(55) with the help of 8 fours and 9 sixes. Shaun Marsh offered him great support with a 49-ball 79. His innings included 7 boundaries and 5 maximums. In this game, KXIP humbled RCB by a massive margin of 111 runs. RCB’s total of 121 was significantly smaller than the Marsh–Gilchrist stand.
Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli (2012)
Before AB de Villiers’ IPL rise, Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle were RCB’s two best batters. These two gave their franchise many victories, and one such occasion was against Dehli Daredevils on the latter’s home ground.
After losing their first wicket for just 11 in 2.2 overs, Kohli and Gayle took the attack to the opposition. VK was playing second fiddle (73* off 53) as DD was struck hard by a Gayle storm. West Indies’ destructive opener thrashed a 62-ball 128* on the back of 7 fours and 13 gigantic sixes. The partnership between the two batters was 204* runs.
Courtesy of this stand, RCB finished their batting innings at 215 for 1. They sealed a comfortable 24-run win, and the partnership between Kohli and Gayle was higher than DD’s entire team score.
List of Highest IPL Partnerships
Here’s the summary of all the above-mentioned details:
| IPL Season | Batting Duo | Partnership Runs | Playing Team |
| 2016 | Kohli & de Villiers | 229 | RCB |
| 2015 | Kohli & de Villiers | 215* | RCB |
| 2022 | Rahul & de Kock | 210* | LSG |
| 2011 | Marsh & Gilchrist | 206 | KXIP |
| 2012 | Kohli & Gayle | 204* | RCB |
Final Words
During the 15 years of the Indian Premier League, there have been 5 partnerships in excess of 200 runs. RCB have three of them, while KXIP and LSG have got one each. The highest partnership in IPL 2022 was between KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, while Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers stitched the highest IPL partnership of all time.
