Spectacular batting performances fuel the Indian Premier League (IPL), and its most thrilling moments are best century partnerships, or stands of 100 or more runs. These best century partnerships, meaningful to match outcomes, highlight extraordinary skill and teamwork. Only a few legendary pairs hold the record for the most IPL century partnerships, and they have established extremely high standards. Here, we look into the IPL’s most successful partnerships, exploring their genius, recent developments, and the formidable task of shattering their records. Let’s see the Top 5 Best Century Partnerships in IPL History.
5. Faf du Plessis & Virat Kohli – 6 Times
With 6 century partnerships between 2022 and 2024, Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli are tied for the most in IPL history for RCB. At a run rate of 9.31, their 815 runs, which included a peak of 172, averaged 135.83. Driven by leadership and poise, Du Plessis’ bold starts and Kohli’s consistent genius formed a fearsome duo. Their fervour contributed to their ranking as one of the IPL’s oldest partnerships. Kohli leads RCB in 2025, and 40-year-old du Plessis defies age. It will take extraordinary cooperation and endurance to break their six-century unions, among the IPL’s oldest partnerships.
Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli Partnership Stats
| Team | No. of Century Partnership | Total Runs | Highest Score | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 6 | 815 | 172 | 2022-2024 |
4. David Warner & Shikhar Dhawan – 6 Times
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner recorded six century partnerships between 2014 and 2017, ranking among the highest in the IPL. At a run rate of 9.63, their 729 runs averaged 145.80, with a peak of 139. Dhawan’s elegant consistency and Warner’s aggressive centuries made for a potent combination that excelled in demanding chases. Their zeal and fierce personalities solidified their status as one of the IPL’s most successful pairings. As of 2025, Dhawan, retired internationally, plays for the Punjab Kings, while Warner, 38, scores for SRH. In today’s fast-paced game, their six-century partnerships, which rank among the most and best century partnerships in the IPL, remain a formidable standard.
Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner Partnership Stats
| Team | No. of Century Partnership | Total Runs | Highest Score | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 6 | 729 | 139 | 2014-2017 |
3. Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan – 7 Times
With 6 century pairings between 2022 and 2025, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill are the Gujarat Titans’ most successful century partnerships. They averaged 138.33 at a run rate of 10.73 throughout their 830 runs, including a 210-run stand in 2024. An influential Indian duo, Gill’s graceful strokeplay and Sudharsan’s calm approach were developed through local synergy. Their placid dispositions and desire for runs guaranteed their spot among the most century partnerships of the IPL. In 2025, Sudharsan plays for the Titans, and Gill captains India’s T20 team. Given their youth and record, which have been tied for the best century partnerships in the IPL recently, it is difficult but doable.
B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill Partnership Stats
| Team | No. of Century Partnership | Total Runs | Highest Score | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Titans | 7 | 940 | 210 | 2022-2025 |
2. Chris Gayle & Virat Kohli – 9 Times
Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli are second in the IPL for best centuries in partnerships, having teamed up for 9 from 2011 to 2017. They averaged 147.62 at a run rate of 10.52 for their 1,181 runs, including a 204* partnership against the Delhi Daredevils in 2012. Kohli’s anchoring skill and Gayle’s supremacy with sixes made for a deadly combination. Their success in creating the most and best century partnerships in IPL history for their respective eras was fuelled by their opposing temperaments, Kohli’s zeal and Gayle’s arrogance. It takes exceptional firepower and consistency to surpass their nine-century partnerships, among the longest century-long partnerships in the IPL.
Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli Partnership Stats
| Team | No. of Century Partnership | Total Runs | Highest Score | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 9 | 1,181 | 204* | 2011-2017 |
1. Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers – 10 Times
With 10 stands between 2013 and 2020 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli hold the record for the best century partnerships in IPL. They averaged 201.00 at a run rate of 11.22 during their 1,407 runs, which included a record 229-run partnership against the Gujarat Lions in 2016. Because of Kohli’s mechanical expertise and consistency, De Villiers’ explosive, inventive strokes were a bowler’s nightmare. The oldest partnerships in IPL history have been fuelled by their passion, poise, and harmony. De Villiers, who has been retired since 2021, provides commentary and mentoring, while Kohli, the RCB’s mainstay, has amassed over 8,000 IPL runs as of 2025.
AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli Partnership Stats:
| Team | No. of Century Partnership | Total Runs | Highest Score | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 10 | 1,407 | 229 | 2013-2020 |
The Challenge of Breaking These Best Century Records
It isn’t easy to break the record for the most and best centuries in the IPL because of the intense bowling and erratic pitches in the IPL, century partnerships are uncommon. In contemporary T20 cricket, where team changes occur frequently, longevity is rare, as demonstrated by Kohli’s ranking in the top three pairings. It isn’t easy to maintain the differing stylistic synergy essential to most IPL century partnerships. The most century partnerships in the IPL demand almost legendary consistency, making these records iconic, even though new duos like Gill and Sudharsan show potential and eclipse the 10-century partnerships of Kohli and de Villiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the highest partnership in IPL history?
The illustrious team of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli of RCB holds the record for the longest partnership and one of the best century partnerships in IPL history. During the 2016 season, they recorded a 229-run partnership for the second wicket against Gujarat.
Q. Which is the best opening partnership in IPL?
The most significant opening partnership in Indian T20 League history is the 210-run partnership between Quinton de Kock of Lucknow and KL Rahul. On May 10, 2024, GT’s Shubhman Gill and Sai Sudharsan also put on a 210-run combination at Ahmedabad against CSK.
Q. Who has the second-highest partnership in IPL?
With their 215-run partnership for the second wicket against Mumbai in the 2015 season, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers of Team Bangalore hold the record for the second-highest century partnership in IPL history.
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