David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan hold the record for the most opening partnership runs in IPL history, with 2,220 runs from 48 opening stands for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Their average of 47.23 as an opening pair shows how steady they were at the top of the order, and their six century stands set a standard that later pairs have chased for years.
An opening partnership counts only when two batters start an innings together. Runs scored by the same two players at other positions in the batting order do not count here. That rule matters, because some famous pairs scored most of their runs together after an early wicket had fallen, not as openers.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are now close behind the leaders, with 2,148 runs in only 34 opening stands for Gujarat Titans. This article lists the top 10 opening pairs in IPL history, looks at the biggest single opening stands, and explains why a strong start at the top is worth so much in T20 cricket.
Most Opening Partnership Runs in IPL Overview
The record belongs to a left handed pair who opened together for Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2014 to 2017. Warner attacked from the first ball, while Dhawan held one end and batted deep into the innings. Between 2015 and 2017 alone they scored 1,999 partnership runs, which was more than a quarter of all runs scored by Sunrisers Hyderabad in that period.
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record holders | David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan |
| Team | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Opening partnership runs | 2,220 |
| Opening stands | 48 |
| Pair average | 47.23 |
| Century stands | 6 |
| Closest challengers | Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, 2,148 runs |
Top 10 Most Opening Partnership Runs in IPL
The table below ranks pairs by runs scored together as openers, meaning first wicket stands only. The match count is the number of innings in which the two batters opened together.
| Rank | Opening Pair | Team | Runs | Opening Stands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2,220 | 48 |
| 2 | Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | 2,148 | 34 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 1,890 | 37 |
| 4 | Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1,800 | 40 |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan | Mumbai Indians | 1,547 | 43 |
| 6 | Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa | Kolkata Knight Riders | 1,478 | 39 |
| 7 | Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw | Delhi Capitals | 1,461 | 44 |
| 8 | David Warner and Jonny Bairstow | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1,401 | 24 |
| 9 | KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal | Punjab Kings | 1,363 | 24 |
| 10 | Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith | Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions | 1,363 | 38 |
Three Sunrisers Hyderabad pairs appear in the top 10, which says a lot about how much that team has relied on strong starts. Warner appears twice, with Dhawan at number one and with Bairstow at number eight. Dhawan also appears twice, with Warner and with Prithvi Shaw for Delhi Capitals.
Record History
Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa were the early benchmark. They opened together for Kolkata Knight Riders from 2014 to 2017 and built their total on steady fifty run stands rather than one huge innings. Their work at the top helped Kolkata reach the playoffs in those years.
Warner and Dhawan then took the record to a new level. Their 1,999 runs together in 2015, 2016 and 2017 included the 2016 season in which Sunrisers Hyderabad won the title. Their highest opening stand was 139, and they passed fifty together 18 times in their 48 opening stands.
When Dhawan moved to Delhi Capitals, Warner found a new partner in Jonny Bairstow. In 2019 the pair scored three century opening stands in a row, including 185 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Hyderabad, when both batters scored centuries in the same innings.
The single season record for an opening pair belongs to Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, who scored 939 runs together for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023. Gill and Sudharsan came close with 912 runs together in 2025. No opening pair has yet reached 1,000 runs together in a single IPL season.
Gill and Sudharsan are now only 72 runs behind Warner and Dhawan. They reached 2,148 runs in just 34 opening stands, far fewer innings than any other pair in the top 10. If they open together again in the next season, the all time record could change hands quickly.
Biggest Single Opening Stands in IPL
Aggregate totals reward pairs who bat together for years. Single stands reward one great day. The table below lists the biggest first wicket partnerships in IPL history.
| Runs | Opening Pair | Team | Against | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210 not out | Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata Knight Riders | Navi Mumbai | 2022 |
| 210 | Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | Chennai Super Kings | Ahmedabad | 2024 |
| 205 not out | Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | Delhi Capitals | Delhi | 2025 |
| 185 | David Warner and Jonny Bairstow | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Hyderabad | 2019 |
| 184 not out | Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gujarat Lions | Rajkot | 2017 |
| 183 | KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal | Punjab Kings | Rajasthan Royals | Sharjah | 2020 |
| 182 | Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pune | 2022 |
| 181 not out | Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson | Chennai Super Kings | Kings XI Punjab | Dubai | 2020 |
| 181 not out | Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajasthan Royals | Mumbai | 2021 |
| 172 | Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Hyderabad | 2023 |
The 210 not out stand by de Kock and Rahul in 2022 is special because Lucknow batted through all 20 overs without losing a wicket, the first time any IPL team had done that. De Kock finished on 140 not out, while Rahul made 68 not out. Gill and Sudharsan matched the 210 mark in 2024, with both batters scoring centuries against Chennai Super Kings.
What This Record Tells Us
The list shows that opening partnerships are built in different ways. Warner and Dhawan lasted four seasons and scored steadily. Kohli and du Plessis needed only three seasons to reach third place, thanks to their huge 2023 season. Head and Abhishek Sharma reached fourth place by attacking from the first over, which changed how teams plan the first six overs.
Gill and Sudharsan combine both styles. They bat long enough to score centuries together, yet they score fast enough to keep the run rate high. That is why they have closed a gap of more than 700 runs on Warner and Dhawan in only a few seasons, and why they are the pair most likely to top this list next.
For teams, the lesson is simple. A settled opening pair gives the middle order a clear plan. When openers fail early, the middle order must face the new ball and rebuild. When openers succeed, the middle order can attack from the first ball it faces. That is why franchises keep successful opening pairs together for as long as they can.
Readers who want the wider picture can also check the highest partnerships in IPL across all wickets, the most partnership runs in IPL by any pair, and the most century partnerships in IPL. Big opening stands also shape the highest successful run chases in IPL, and the official IPL website carries full scorecards for every match mentioned here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which opening pair has scored the most runs in IPL history?
David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan hold the record with 2,220 runs from 48 opening stands for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Which current opening pair is closest to the record?
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are second with 2,148 runs from 34 opening stands for Gujarat Titans, only 72 runs behind the leaders.
What is the highest opening partnership in IPL history?
The record is 210 runs. Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 210 for Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, and Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan matched 210 for Gujarat Titans against Chennai Super Kings in 2024.
Do runs scored by the same pair at other wickets count in this list?
No. This list counts first wicket stands only. That is why pairs who scored heavily together after an early wicket, such as Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, do not appear here.
Which opening pair scored the most runs in a single IPL season?
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis scored 939 runs together for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023, the highest single season total by an opening pair.
Which team has the most pairs in the top 10?
Sunrisers Hyderabad have three pairs in the top 10: Warner and Dhawan, Head and Abhishek Sharma, and Warner and Bairstow.
How many century opening stands do Gill and Sudharsan have?
Gill and Sudharsan have eight century opening stands, the most for any pair on this list. Warner and Dhawan recorded six.
Statistics updated through: 1 November 2026
