Given the fact that cricket is best known for its essence of a team sport, partnerships in the gameplay a vital key to unlocking secrets of a greater universe. It can topple kingdoms of great power and simultaneously can rattle records forged millions of years ago in the memories of the most ardent firebrands of the game.
These pairs have stitched this incredible record in the most painstaking ways over the years and we fans savour their dominant campaigning across the 22 yards with a blade.
1. MS Dhoni / Virat Kohli – 15 times
One of India’s most prolific finisher who also shares the record of staying unbeaten in ODI’s for the highest number of times, bettering records of former greats like Michael Bevan and Shaun Pollock, Dhoni aces the list with the current Indian skipper, Virat Kohli.
Two lightning-fast runners between the wickets, Kohli and Dhoni are also exotic hitters of the ball who can smack the cherry for a good amount of distance, resorting to both aerial and ground routes.
These two have combined for an astonishing 15 times to weave together crucial partnerships which have helped India seal important victories and also post mammoth totals on the scoreboard.
2. MS Dhoni / Yuvraj Singh – 12 times
Two most eminent finishers of the game in Indian colours, they have played a pivotal role in churning bouts from opponents which wasn’t even supposed to be India’s in the first place.
One such crucial encounter which was pulled off by two stitching dreams together in a sublime 54-run stand was the 2011 World Cup final, thumping Sri Lanka comprehensively.
Similarly, these two have stitched 12 unbeaten partnerships amongst themselves to claim the 2nd spot in the list.
3. MS Dhoni / Suresh Raina – 11 times
Featuring in this list for the third time, this attests to the ineffable subtlety which Dhoni has exhibited in finishing an innings or a game. Sharing beautiful chemistry with Suresh Raina who has also partnered with Mahi in several match-winning innings for Chennai Super Kings, these two holds the record of 11 unbroken partnerships in the shorter format of the game.
Both of these cricketers have showered unsparing belligerence on their counterparts once they have got going on their heydays.
4. Rahul Dravid / Sachin Tendulkar – 11 times
Dravid and Tendulkar were two resilient pillars of the game and were inseparable as they shared the opening and the number three spot in the batting line up. Frequently flipping the positions amongst themselves, whichever suited the needs of the team, both of these cricketers went on to chronicle 11 unbeaten partnerships amongst themselves.
One remarkable stand shared between both, though it was broken, was that in 2003 World Cup tie against Pakistan. After Saurav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag crumbled early in the game and India was left gaping at a glaring defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals, Tendulkar and Dravid stitched an extremely crucial stand to usher India to a victorious platform until the Little Master was outdone by Shoaib Akhtar’s pace.
