Top 5 highest opening partnerships in IPL history

Whether it is the long-drawn traditional five-day format of the game or the slam-bang version of the game (T20 cricket), the opening partnership at the top of the order is extremely pivotal for the success of any side.

The openers play a vital role in setting the platform for the batsmen to follow and are critical to the success of their side. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) too, there have been several occasions where openers have hogged the limelight and dictated which way the match will swing with some superlative performances at the top of the order. In this article, let us look at the five highest opening partnerships in the history of the cash-rich league.

Here’s the list:

5. Chris Gayle and Tillakaratne Dilshan (RCB)- 2013

April 23rd 2013 witnessed a savage batting gladiator at his deleterious best. Chris Gayle battered the hapless Pune Warriors’ bowling attack into submission and imprinted his name in the record books by smashing an unbeaten 175 off just 66 balls at the Chinnaswamy.

Gayle’s innings was embellished with 13 fours and 17 sixes as his marauding knock allowed the Royal Challengers Bangalore side to post the highest total in IPL history (263/5). Such was the brutal nature of his innings that the other batsmen were reduced to complete irrelevance in that match.

Tillakaratne Dilshan provided support to the big-hitting Jamaican at the other end and scored a cautious 36 ball 33. And, the two batsmen put on 167 runs for the first wicket in just 13.4 overs. Dilshan fell to Luke Wright to bring an end to their whirlwind partnership.

Their opening salvo allowed Bangalore to beat the Pune Warriors side by a whopping margin of 130 runs. Their partnership is, till today the highest opening stand for the Bangalore outfit in IPL history.