Highest opening partnerships in IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL), T20 based cricket tournament, it has been captivating audiences since its inception in 2008. In this T20 format, the role of an opening partnership is pivotal. It sets the tone for the innings, providing a solid platform for the team. Effective openers not only neutralize the new ball threat but also capitalize on the powerplay overs, making their contributions crucial to the team’s overall score. Here is the list of Highest opening partnerships in IPL

Over the years, the IPL has witnessed some extraordinary opening stands that have turned the tide of games. The table provided showcases the top ten Highest opening partnerships in IPL history.

ALSO READ: Top 100 Highest partnership in IPL – Aggregated through the history of IPL

Top 5 Highest opening partnerships in IPL

1. KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock (210* for LSG against KKR on May 18, 2022)

KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock remained unbeaten in the game against KKR in 2022 and scored a hefty total of 210 runs which put them in the top of the list o Highest opening partnerships in IPL. De Kock scored 140 runs in 70 balls with 10 sixes and 10 fours, where as KL Rahul scored 68 of 51 balls with 4 sixes and 3 fours. LSG went on to win the game by just 2 runs when KKR went upto 208 for 8 in their 20 overs.

2. DA Warner and JM Bairstow (185 for SRH against RCB on March 31, 2019)

Known for their explosive starts, Warner and Bairstow demolished the RCB bowling attack with a spectacular display of power hitting. They went on to create a partnership of 185 runs against RCB in 2019 to hold the record of the Highest opening partnership in IPL. Which was then broken by  KL Rahul and Q De Kock. In the partnership Warner scored 70 of 42 runs and Bairstow scored 114 of 56 before giving his wicket to Y Chahal.

ALSO READ: Most Expensive overs in IPL History – Know this record for 1st to 20th over

3. CA Lynn and G Gambhir (184* for KKR against Gujarat Lions on April 7, 2017)

Kolkata Knight Riders opened with Chris Lynn and Gautam Gambhir in 2017 against Gujarat Lions. Gujarat put up a score of 183 in the first innings. Lynn scored 93 of 41 balls with 8 sixes and 6 fours and Gambhir scored  76 runs in 42 balls with 12 fours. KKR won this game with 31 balls remaning.

4. KL Rahul and MA Agarwal (183 for KXIP against RR on September 27, 2020)

Another high-scoring affair with KL Rahul Involved when Kings XI Punjab opened with KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. They recorded on of he top 5 Highest opening partnerships in IPL scoring 183 runs in 100 balls. Agarwal scored 106 runs of 50 balls with 10 fours, 7 sixes and KL Rahul scored 68 runs 50 with 7 fours and 1 six. However, they went on to loose this match as RR manages to chase the target of 223 put up by KXIP.

ALSO READ: Highest powerplay partnership in IPL – Top 10

5. RD Gaikwad and DP Conway (182 for CSK against SRH on May 1, 2022)

In the match against SRH in 2022 Chennai Super King’s Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway scores start the innings with a huge partnership of 182 runs in 107 balls. helping CSK to create a total score of 202 runs. Gaikwad scored 99 of 57 with 6 fours, 9 sixes and Conway scored 85 runs in 55 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes. Eventually they went on to win the game when SRH failed to chase the target and ends up scoring 189 runs.

ALSO READ: Highest each wicket partnership in IPL

Most Successful Teams

1. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
   • SRH stands out with several high-scoring opening stands, reflecting their strategy of aggressive batting starts. Players like David Warner have been pivotal in crafting these partnerships, often giving SRH a strong early advantage in matches. Having openers like Jhonny Bairstow in the early years passing the baton to Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, SRH had one of the strongest openers in IPL
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
   • RCB is another team that features prominently on the list. Their approach has often been centered around strong opening pairs who can exploit the powerplay overs. The presence of players like Virat Kohli, AB De villiers and Chris Gayle over the years has contributed to their high rankings.
3. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
   • CSK’s strategy often revolves around building a solid platform at the top, with players like Murali Vijay and Faf du Plessis  in the early years to Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad in current times. making significant contributions. This has enabled them to post challenging totals and chase down stiff targets.

ALSO READ: Virat and AB De villiers Highest partnership of 229

Players Who Frequently Appear in Highest opening partnerships in IPL

1. David Warner
   • David Warner is perhaps the most influential opener in IPL history, appearing multiple times in the top partnerships. His aggressive batting style and ability to play long innings have been crucial for whichever team he has played for, especially SRH.
2. Virat Kohli
   • Virat Kohli, known for his consistency and ability to anchor an innings, has also appeared frequently in high-scoring opening stands, mostly for RCB. His partnerships with other key players like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers have been particularly formidable.
3. KL Rahul
   • KL Rahul’s emergence in recent years as a top IPL performer is highlighted by his appearances in the list of highest partnerships. His ability to blend aggression with consistency makes him a top contender in the opening slot.