Highest Partnership in IPL History (2008-2026): Top 10 Biggest Stands Ever
There have been many iconic batting displays through the history of the T20 tournament Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception in 2008. Certainly, double centuries take up a lot of column inches, but individual hundreds are often best reflected in partnerships that bring match-winning combinations (the finest moments of the tournament). Be it raising the bar of targets to chase or chasing down impossible sums, batting legends have come together to etch their names in the IPL record books.
Be it the famous Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers or current superstars like Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, many partnerships have breached the double-hundred mark in terms of runs with their consistency, power-hitting ability, and teamwork. In this article, we list down the Top 10 Highest Partnerships in IPL History along with match summaries, relevant stats, and other facts.
Top 10 Highest Partnerships in IPL History
| Rank | Players | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Season |
| 1 | Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers | 229 | 2nd | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Gujarat Lions | 2016 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers | 215* | 2nd | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai Indians | 2015 |
| 3 | KL Rahul & Quinton de Kock | 210* | 1st | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2022 |
| 4 | Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan | 210 | 1st | Gujarat Titans | Chennai Super Kings | 2024 |
| 5 | Shaun Marsh & Adam Gilchrist | 206 | 2nd | Kings XI Punjab | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2011 |
| 6 | Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan | 205* | 1st | Gujarat Titans | Delhi Capitals | 2025 |
| 7 | Virat Kohli & Chris Gayle | 204* | 2nd | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi Daredevils | 2012 |
| 8 | David Warner & Naman Ojha | 189* | 2nd | Delhi Daredevils | Deccan Chargers | 2012 |
| 9 | David Warner & Jonny Bairstow | 185 | 1st | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2019 |
| 10 | Chris Lynn & Gautam Gambhir | 184* | 1st | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gujarat Lions | 2017 |
1. Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers – 229 Runs
But the biggest partnership in IPL history came back in IPL 2016 when Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers obliterated the Gujarat Lions bowling attack with a remarkable 229-run stand for the second wicket. The two batters struck exceptional hundreds, thus guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to one of the top totals in IPL history. It was this understanding, along with their fearless stroke-making and brilliant acceleration through the innings, that made for one of the greatest partnerships in T20 cricket.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 229 Runs |
| Wicket | 2nd |
| Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Opposition | Gujarat Lions |
| Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| Season | IPL 2016 |
| Result | RCB won comfortably |
2. Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers – 215* Runs
Almost a year before their world-record achievement, Kohli and de Villiers had another day in the history books against Mumbai Indians. Together, overall their alliance was a decent 215 runs; unimpeachable between them, the majority of the innings ticked off with skill and power mixed. Their association underlined precisely why they find themselves among the greatest batting pairs of the IPL.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 215* Runs |
| Wicket | 2nd |
| Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Opposition | Mumbai Indians |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium |
| Season | IPL 2015 |
| Result | RCB won |
3. KL Rahul & Quinton de Kock – 210* Runs
In IPL 2022, KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock joined forces to put together a brutal opening partnership of more than 200 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders that rewrote the history books for Lucknow Super Giants. Rahul played one of his best innings ever in IPL, while De Kock anchored the innings beautifully. Their stand is still the highest opening partnership in IPL history.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 210* Runs |
| Wicket | 1st |
| Team | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Opposition | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Venue | DY Patil Stadium |
| Season | IPL 2022 |
| Result | LSG won |
4. Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan – 210 Runs
The dynamic duo of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan gave the IPL some of its finest opening partnerships as youngsters in history during the season (2024) for Gujarat Titans. With CSK, on the other hand, both openers scored centuries and put up a 210-run-opening stanza, which set the stage for an overall total of enormous proportions while showing rapid cricketing maturity.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 210 Runs |
| Wicket | 1st |
| Team | Gujarat Titans |
| Opposition | Chennai Super Kings |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium |
| Season | IPL 2024 |
| Result | Gujarat Titans won |
5. Shaun Marsh & Adam Gilchrist – 206 Runs
A cameo of two Australian legends for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2011. Shaun Marsh and Adam Gilchrist made 206 runs partnership for the second wicket vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Batting first, their aggressive batting entertained the fans and allowed Punjab to post a mammoth score in one of the highest-scoring completed matches in the tournament.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 206 Runs |
| Wicket | 2nd |
| Team | Kings XI Punjab |
| Opposition | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Venue | Dharamsala |
| Season | IPL 2011 |
| Result | Kings XI Punjab won |
6. Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan – 205* Runs
Third appearance for Gill and Sudharsan in the top ten, putting on an unbroken opening stand of 205 against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. The unison they displayed stood the test of time for its impressive consistency, earning them one of the top positions amongst modern-day IPL cricket’s best-ever opening partnerships.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 205* Runs |
| Wicket | 1st |
| Team | Gujarat Titans |
| Opposition | Delhi Capitals |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| Season | IPL 2025 |
| Result | Gujarat Titans won |
7. Virat Kohli & Chris Gayle – 204* Runs
Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle scored 215 runs for the first wicket against Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2012. Royal Challengers Bengaluru were once again as Virat Kohli and his partner, Chris Gayle, blanked out Pakistan eventual champions Rajasthan Royals. However, with Gayle’s brutal power and Kohli’s elegant stroke play, they put together an unbroken 204-run partnership to help RCB set a huge total.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 204* Runs |
| Wicket | 2nd |
| Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Opposition | Delhi Daredevils |
| Venue | Delhi |
| Season | IPL 2012 |
| Result | RCB won |
8. David Warner & Naman Ojha – 189* Runs
David Warner and Naman Ojha led a solid unbeaten 189-run stand for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers in IPL 2012. Warner took the same stance, with Ojha complementing it beautifully, as they made light work of chasing down the target.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 189* Runs |
| Wicket | 2nd |
| Team | Delhi Daredevils |
| Opposition | Deccan Chargers |
| Venue | Hyderabad |
| Season | IPL 2012 |
| Result | Delhi won |
9. David Warner & Jonny Bairstow – 185 Runs
David Warner + Jonny Bairstow’s 185-run opening partnership against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2019 – one of the most destructive opening combinations to have graced T20 cricket, and both players were from England. Sunrisers Hyderabad had no trouble chasing down the modest target without losing a wicket thanks to their attacking batting.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 185 Runs |
| Wicket | 1st |
| Team | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Opposition | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Venue | Hyderabad |
| Season | IPL 2019 |
| Result | SRH won by 118 runs |
10. Chris Lynn & Gautam Gambhir – 184* Runs
Chris Lynn and Gautam Gambhir were put at the tenth position for registering an opening stand of 184 runs (not out) for Kolkata Knight Riders against Gujarat Lions in IPL 2017. KKR earned some easy points as Lynn went ballistic and Gambhir used his calm tactics.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Partnership | 184* Runs |
| Wicket | 1st |
| Team | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Opposition | Gujarat Lions |
| Venue | Rajkot |
| Season | IPL 2017 |
| Result | KKR won by 10 wickets |
Teams with the Most 200+ Partnerships in IPL
| Team | 200+ Partnerships |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 3 |
| Gujarat Titans | 2 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 1 |
| Kings XI Punjab | 1 |
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Interesting Facts
- Kohli holds three of the seven highest partnerships for any wicket in IPL history.
- AB de Villiers features in the two highest partnerships ever registered.
- Gujarat Titans are the only team with 2 opening partnerships of 200+.
- KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock achieve the record-highest opening partnership in IPL history
- Across IPL history, there have been only four 210-plus partnerships.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru has the most partnerships in excess of 200 runs.
Conclusion
There have been a number of iconic innings in IPL history, but these ten partnerships top the list for their dominance, consistency and match-winning impact. Lest we forget, the iconic 229-run stand between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers is still the benchmark, and fresh pairings like Shubman Gill–Sai Sudharsan and KL Rahul–Quinton de Kock are incessantly testing T20 batting limits. Given the evolution of the IPL, fans will look forward to partnerships that surpass this and records broken season after season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest partnership in IPL history?
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers hold the record with a 229-run partnership for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016.
Which is the highest opening partnership in IPL?
KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock hold the highest opening partnership record with 210 runs* for Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.
Which team has the most 200-run partnerships in IPL history?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have recorded the most 200-plus partnerships in IPL history.
How many IPL partnerships have crossed 200 runs?
As of IPL 2026, seven partnerships have crossed the 200-run mark.
Which Gujarat Titans pair features in the top 10?
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan appear twice in the top 10, with partnerships of 210 and 205*.
Which players appear most often in the highest IPL partnerships list?
Virat Kohli appears three times in the top 10, while AB de Villiers, David Warner, Shubman Gill, and Sai Sudharsan each appear twice.
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