The record for most partnership runs in IPL history stands at 229. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers set that mark for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Lions at Bengaluru on 14 May 2016. Chris Gayle fell cheaply in the fourth over, then the two senior batters took complete control and plundered 229 runs for the second wicket in barely 16 overs, with both men scoring centuries in the same innings.
A stand of 200 or more in a T20 innings is rare, and the IPL has produced only eight of them in 19 seasons. This article lists the ten biggest partnerships by runs, traces how the record changed hands from 2011 to 2016, and looks at the 220 run stand from IPL 2026 that came closest to breaking the mark.
Most Partnership Runs in IPL Overview
The table below gives the headline facts of the record in one glance.
| Record | Holders | Runs | Match | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most partnership runs, any wicket | Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) | 229 | RCB vs Gujarat Lions, Bengaluru | 2016 |
| Highest opening stand | Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants) | 210 not out | LSG vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Navi Mumbai | 2022 |
| Closest to the record | KL Rahul and Nitish Rana (Delhi Capitals) | 220 | DC vs Punjab Kings, Delhi | 2026 |
| Number of 200 plus stands in IPL | Eight pairs | 200 plus | Various | 2011 to 2026 |
Top 10 Partnerships by Runs in IPL
The table below lists the ten biggest stands in IPL history, verified through match scorecards. A star mark next to the runs means the pair was still together when the innings ended.
| Rank | Pair | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers | 229 | 2nd | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Gujarat Lions | Bengaluru | 2016 |
| 2 | KL Rahul and Nitish Rana | 220 | 2nd | Delhi Capitals | Punjab Kings | Delhi | 2026 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers | 215* | 2nd | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai | 2015 |
| 4 | Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul | 210* | 1st | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata Knight Riders | Navi Mumbai | 2022 |
| 5 | Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan | 210 | 1st | Gujarat Titans | Chennai Super Kings | Ahmedabad | 2024 |
| 6 | Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh | 206 | 2nd | Kings XI Punjab | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Dharamsala | 2011 |
| 7 | Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan | 205* | 1st | Gujarat Titans | Delhi Capitals | Delhi | 2025 |
| 8 | Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli | 204* | 2nd | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi Daredevils | Delhi | 2012 |
| 9 | David Warner and Naman Ojha | 189* | 2nd | Delhi Daredevils | Deccan Chargers | Hyderabad | 2012 |
| 10 | David Warner and Jonny Bairstow | 185 | 1st | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Hyderabad | 2019 |
Record History
The record for most partnership runs in IPL moved three times in five seasons, then stood untouched for a decade.
| Season | Record stand | Holders | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 206 | Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh | Kings XI Punjab vs RCB, Dharamsala |
| 2015 | 215 not out | Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers | RCB vs Mumbai Indians, Mumbai |
| 2016 | 229 | Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers | RCB vs Gujarat Lions, Bengaluru |
Gilchrist and Marsh set the modern mark at 206 in 2011, a calm, classy stand on a tricky Dharamsala pitch. It survived four full seasons. In 2015 Kohli and de Villiers went past it with an unbeaten 215 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. A year later the same two batters smashed their own record, adding 229 against Gujarat Lions. De Villiers finished on 129 not out from 52 balls with ten fours and twelve sixes, while Kohli made 109 from 55 balls. RCB posted 248 for 3 and bowled Gujarat out for 104, winning by 144 runs. For a wicket by wicket view of these stands, see our highest partnerships by wicket in IPL page.
The 2026 season produced the nearest challenge yet. KL Rahul, with 152 not out from 67 balls, and Nitish Rana, with 91 from 44 balls, added 220 for the second wicket for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on 25 April 2026. Their stand came in only 95 balls and lifted Delhi to 264 for 2. In a famous twist, Punjab chased the target down for the highest successful run chase in IPL history, so the second biggest stand ever came in a losing cause.
What This Record Tells Us
The biggest stands in IPL history share a clear pattern. Eight of the top ten came for the first or second wicket, which shows how much damage settled top order pairs can do once the field spreads. Six of the top eight came in the first innings, when batters can plan their assault without a required run rate hanging over them.
Virat Kohli is the constant thread in this list. He features in three of the eight stands of 200 or more, with three different partners. KL Rahul appears twice, and so do Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan, whose two 200 plus stands for Gujarat Titans in 2024 and 2025 mark them as the most consistent modern pairing. Royal Challengers Bengaluru appear in three of the top eight, which is no surprise given the batting friendly nature of their home ground. Scoring is also rising: four of the eight stands of 200 or more have come in the last five seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who holds the record for most partnership runs in IPL?
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers hold the record with 229 runs for the second wicket for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Lions at Bengaluru in 2016.
What is the highest opening partnership in IPL?
The highest opening stand is 210 not out by Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul for Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders at Navi Mumbai in 2022. De Kock made 140 not out and Rahul 68 not out, and LSG won the match by two runs.
Which pair added 220 runs in IPL 2026?
KL Rahul and Nitish Rana added 220 runs for the second wicket for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on 25 April 2026. Rahul scored 152 not out and Rana scored 91.
How many partnerships of 200 or more have there been in IPL?
There have been eight stands of 200 or more in IPL history, from 2011 to 2026. Three of them were unbeaten stands.
Which batters appear most often in the top 10?
Virat Kohli appears three times with three different partners. AB de Villiers, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan and David Warner each appear twice.
Did RCB win the match with the 229 run stand?
Yes. RCB made 248 for 3 and bowled Gujarat Lions out for 104, winning by 144 runs, which was the biggest win by runs in IPL history at the time.
How close has anyone come to the 229 record?
KL Rahul and Nitish Rana came closest with 220 for Delhi Capitals in 2026, nine runs short. Before that, Kohli and de Villiers themselves were second with their unbeaten 215 from 2015. For the complete all time list, see our highest partnerships in IPL page, along with our lists of most century partnerships in IPL and most 50 plus partnerships in IPL.
Statistics updated through: 11 October 2026
