We often get to see the batsmen batting for long periods in Test and ODI cricket, but we hardly get to see long IPL partnerships because there is just not enough time for the batsmen in the IPL to bat together for a significant amount of time.
More than occupying the crease, what’s important in the IPL is to make an impact for whatever time a batsman is batting. However, there have still been occasions where the fans have been treated with long IPL partnerships.
Here are the 5 longest IPL partnerships –
Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers 229 against Gujarat Lions
AB de Villiers generally bats in the middle order for Royal Challengers Bangalore, while the skipper Virat Kohli bats at no. 3. However, in that particular match of IPL 2016, Kohli decided to open the batting against Gujarat Lions and De Villiers walked in at no. 3.
It proved to be a nightmare for the Gujarat Lions bowlers as the two batting maestros smashed them to all corners of the ground on their way to a marathon partnership of 229 runs.
Both Kohli and De Villiers went past their individual scores of hundred as well, with the former scoring 109 and the latter remaining not out at the score of 129.
Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers 215 against Mumbai Indians
The duo of Virat Kohli and Ab de Villiers occupies the no. 2 spots in the list as well and it was another instance of the two of them batting in the top order.
RCB and Mumbai Indians were up against each other in IPL 2015 and Mumbai managed to dismiss Chris Gayle cheaply. But, they didn’t get any relief after that as De Villiers came to the crease and just hit everything from the middle of the bat.
While Kohli played the anchor role and stayed not out on 82, De Villiers raced his way to 133 facing just 59 deliveries as the duo added 215 runs for the second wicket.
Adam Gilchrist-Shaun Marsh 206 against Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB found itself at the other end of the stick on this occasion as the Aussie duo of Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh piled the misery on them, adding 206 runs together playing for Kings XI Punjab.
While Gilchrist was on an absolute rampage during that knock and scored a brisk hundred, Marsh played the second fiddle in the partnership and scored 79 runs.
Chris Gayle-Virat Kohli 204 against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals)
Another duo of Royal Challengers Bangalore features in the list as Chris Gayle came together with Virat Kohli in IPL 2012 to build a 200-run partnership against Delhi Daredevils who are now named Delhi Capitals.
Kohli was the anchor in the partnership again as he took 53 balls to score 73, but Gayle, on the other hand, was putting everything into the stands as he scored unbeaten 128 runs with 13 sixes.
David Warner-Jonny Bairstow 185 against Royal Challengers Bangalore
This happened in the previous edition of the IPL where David Warner and Jonny Bairstow opened the batting for Sunrisers Hyderabad against RCB and added 185 runs for the first wicket.
Bairstow was the aggressor in the partnership as he completed his hundred before Warner. However Warner, after Bairstow’s dismissal, also went on to cross the three-figure mark as Sunrisers ended up winning the game by a massive margin.
