Cricket isn’t just about individuals. While individual performances play a crucial role more often than not, the collaboration between players can’t be overlooked.
The real magic happens when players perform in tandem to help their team come out on top. Thus, partnerships become quite important, more so between the batters.
And having a solid opening pair is a must in T20 cricket. The format requires teams to get a good start, which sets the tone for the rest of the innings.
The IPL has been host to some formidable opening pairs who stitched some of the biggest partnerships.
This article will list the top five highest opening partnerships recorded in the IPL.
5. Chris Lynn & Gautam Gambhir (KKR): 184* vs Gujarat Lions, 2017
IPL turned 10 in 2017, and the duo of Chris Lynn and Gautam Gambhir gave a fitting start. With 184 runs to chase, Lynn and Gambhir fought like the Knight Riders.
Lynn was on the offensive, while Gambhir launched a calculated attack. The pair powered Kolkata to a fiery start, with 73 runs coming in the powerplay.
They continued the attack to thrash the target in 15 overs! Lynn raced to an unbeaten 93 off 41, while Gambhir supported with 76 not out off 48.
4. David Warner & Jonny Bairstow (SRH): 185 vs RCB, 2019
David Warner and Jonny Bairstow came together to make a formidable opening pair for Hyderabad in 2019. They had four opening stands of 100-plus runs in the season.
The duo peaked against Bengaluru to log the then-highest first-wicket stand in the IPL. Bairstow took the lead between the two as they smashed Bengaluru’s bowlers to all corners.
Bairstow zoomed past to his hundred, while Warner contributed 69 runs. Their partnership ended as Bairstow handed a catch on the score of 185. With that, the pair surpassed the previous record held by Lynn and Gambhir.
After Bairstow’s departure, Warner kept the attack going to score an unbeaten hundred off 55 balls.
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3. Shubman Gill & B Sai Sudharsan (GT): 205* vs DC, 2025
Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan were in full flow in IPL 2025. Both helped Gujarat with steady opening partnerships.
One of their finest partnerships came against Delhi. Gujarat needed 200 runs to win the match.
And the duo joined forces to close out the chase with ease. Sai started the chase with a four before opening a barrage of boundaries in the powerplay phase.
They kept the scorecard ticking with occasional boundaries in the next few overs. Then they were up again in the slog overs to finish the chase in the 19th over.
Sai finished off the game with a six to end up with an unbeaten 205-run stand with Gill.
2. Shubman Gill & B Sai Sudharsan (GT): 210 vs CSK, 2024
The Gill and Sai Sudharsan duo feature one more time in the list. They are the only opening pair with two 200-plus run partnerships in the IPL.
The first of the lot came in 2024 against Chennai. On a sticky surface in Ahmedabad, the duo started well.
Gill and Sai then doubled down on their brilliant start in the middle overs as they freed their arms. It was raining boundaries as they marched towards their first 200-run opening stand.
They looked set to take the first spot, but Sai holed out a catch. This ended their partnership on 210, now the joint-highest for the first wicket in the IPL.
Both batters even raised their individual centuries to make the partnership all the more special.
1. KL Rahul & Quinton de Kock (LSG): 210* vs KKR, 2022
The pair of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock has registered the highest opening partnership in the IPL. In fact, they were the first opening pair to stitch a 200-run partnership in the league.
Both batters stood firm on a flat pitch at the DY Patil Stadium. Rahul and de Kock started cautiously before launching the attack in the death overs.
De Kock, in particular, took apart Kolkata’s bowling attack to bring up his century. He remained unbeaten on 140 off 70 balls.
Rahul, meanwhile, played second fiddle to contribute 68 runs off 51 balls. He also remained not out to put up 210 runs on the board without losing a wicket. Lucknow later pulled off a win by two runs.
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