IPL Stats: Highest Opening Partnership Records In The IPL
The domestic T20 extravaganza, Indian Premier League is set to return to India for its 15th edition. IPL 2021 finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will clash against each other in the opening clash of the IPL 2022 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on March 26th.
An opening partnership can help the team's cause in a heavy manner. Openers get to face the first 6 overs with fielding restrictions and hence have a better chance than other batters to get settled on the crease and smack the bowlers for a high score.
Here are the top 5 highest opening partnership records in the IPL.
#5. Virat Kohli & Devdutt Padikkal (181* runs)
After being asked to bat first, Rajasthan Royals posted a total of 177/9 on the board against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 16th match of IPL 2021. In reply, RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal thrashed the bowlers all-around, scoring 181 for no loss and winning the match by 10 wickets with 21 balls in hand. Captain Virat scored 72* runs off 27 balls while youngster Padikkal smacked 101* runs in 52 balls.
#4. Faf du Plessis & Shane Watson (181* runs)
Kings XI Punjab posted 178/4 in 20 overs after opting to bat first in the 18th match of IPL 2020 against Chennai Super Kings. In reply, CSK's foreign opening pair came out all guns blazing as they thrashed 181 runs for no wicket, winning the match by 10 wickets and 14 balls remaining. South Africa's Faf scored 87* runs in 53 balls while Watson scored 83 off 53 balls to win the match for Chennai.
#3. Mayank Agarwal & KL Rahul (183 runs)
Kings XI Punjab's prominent opening pair Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul etched a partnership of 183 runs after being asked to bat first by Rajasthan Royals in the 9th match of the IPL 2020. Captain KL scored 69 runs in 54 balls while his Karnataka teammate Mayank thrashed 106 runs in 50 balls. However, Punjab went on to lose the match by 4 wickets and 3 balls remaining despite posting a total of 223.
#2. Gautam Gambhir & Chris Lynn (184* runs)
Chasing a total of 184 runs set by Gujarat Lions in the 3rd match of IPL 2017 against Kolkata Knight Riders, KKR openers Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn left no stone unturned as they etched an unbeaten partnership of 184* runs and won the match for KKR by 10 wickets with 31 balls left. Captain Gautam scored 76* runs in 48 balls while Chris Lynn smacked 93* runs in 41 balls.
#1. Jonny Bairstow & David Warner (185 runs)
Also Read: IPL 2022 - Schedule & Squad
The Australian-English duo of Jonny Bairstow and David Warner added 185 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad after Royal Challengers Bangalore opted to field first. Bairstow scored 114 runs in 56 balls while Warner remained unbeaten on 100 runs in 55 balls to take the team total to 231/2 in 20 overs. SRH went on to win the match by 118 runs after restricting RCB to 113 in 19.5 overs.