Where does Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill’s 205-run alliance rank among the 9 highest opening partnerships in IPL history?
The in-form Gujarat Titans returned to IPL cricket action on Sunday and duly romped to a comfortable 10-wicket win over the Delhi Capitals. Chasing a target of 200 to win, the opening pair of Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill saw their side over the line without the loss of a wicket.
It was a fantastic effort. But in terms of highest opening stands in IPL, how does it rank? While it is on the list of highest opening stands, it isn’t at the top of the list—and as a matter of fact, it is not even the highest opening stand between these two batsmen.
Let’s look at the best IPL opening stands of all time.
9. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal – 181 for Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals (2021)
The experienced Kohli (72 from 47) and the young Padikkal (101 from 52) combined to produce a dominant partnership against Rajasthan Royals in 2021.
Their unbeaten 181-run stand was a perfect mix of aggression and elegance, as Padikkal brought up a brilliant century while Kohli played a superb supporting role. Their knock came as RCB chased down a modest score of 177/9 set by the Royals.
8. Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson – 181 for Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab (2020)
In a must-win game in 2020, Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson delivered a masterclass in chasing. Their unbeaten 181-run stand was a brutal display of power hitting, with Watson’s brute force complementing Faf’s classical stroke play perfectly.
Responding to a score of 178 for four, Watson hit 83 from 53 while Du Plessis made 87 from 53 as CSK cruised to victory with 14 balls remaining.
7. Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad – 182 for Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2022)
Chennai Super Kings’ young opening pair of Conway and Gaikwad showed immense maturity during their record-breaking 182-run partnership in 2022.
Conway’s innovative stroke play and Gaikwad’s elegant shot selection dismantled the Sunrisers’ bowling attack. Batting first the duo stayed together until the penultimate ball of the 18th over when Gaikwad fell for 99.
Conway, meanwhile, carried his bat to score 85 from 55 balls as CSK reached a score of 202 for two, enough to secure a 13-run win.
6. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul – 183 for Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals (2020)
In a high-scoring thriller, the aggressive KL Rahul (who appears more than once on this list), and the dynamic Mayank Agarwal put on 183 runs for the first wicket.
Agarwal’s quickfire century (106 from 50 balls) set the tone, while Rahul anchored the innings with 69 from 54, making it a memorable partnership. It wasn’t enough to see PBKS to the win, however.
In the end their score of 223 for two was overhauled by the Royals as Steve Smith (50), Sanju Samson (80) and Rahul Tewatia (53) did enough to steer the Royals to a four-wicket win in the Indian Premier League.
Also read: Updated IPL 2025 orange and purple cap leaderboards – who has the most runs and wickets?
5. Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn – 184 for Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Lions (2017)
An unforgettable chase saw Gambhir (76 from 48) and Lynn (93 from 41) take the Gujarat Lions bowlers apart in 2017. Lynn’s fearless power-hitting and Gambhir’s composed aggression were a perfect combination, making it one of the most iconic partnerships in IPL history.
Chasing down the Lion’s score of 183 for four the KKR openers were imperious completing the task with more than five overs to spare.
4. Jonny Bairstow and David Warner – 185 for Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2019)
The explosive pair of Warner and Bairstow demolished the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers in 2019, putting on 185 runs in a sensational display of aggressive batting.
Bairstow’s maiden IPL century and Warner’s controlled aggression defined this partnership. The duo, who are two of the best hitters ever to play in the IPL, scored 114 and 100* respectively, with Warner the man to carry his bat. In all SRH reached 231 for two before bundling out the dazed RCB batsmen for 1134 to win by 118 runs.
3. Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill – 205 for Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals (2025)
This remarkable partnership saw the Gujarat Titans’ young stars, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, make light work of a 200-run target against Delhi Capitals.
Their perfect understanding and a combination of classical shots and innovative strokes made it a historic stand. The duo, whose knock secured the Titans place in the play-offs are no strangers to batting together as this knock didn’t even match their best stand in the competition.
2. Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill – 210 for Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings (2024)
Just a year before their latest heroics, Sudharsan and Gill had set the record for the second-highest opening stand in IPL history with 210 runs against Chennai Super Kings.
It was a display of fearlessness, with both batsmen attacking the bowlers from the start. This time both batsmen made centuries, before departing within four balls of each other in the 18th over, bowled by Tushar Deshpande. Their record opening stand saw the Titans to 231 for three. CSK responded with 196 as they fell 35 runs short.
1. Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul – 210 for Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2022)
The highest opening partnership in IPL history was an unforgettable one. De Kock’s unbeaten 140 from 70 balls and KL Rahul’s steady 68 guided Lucknow Super Giants to a total of 210.
De Kock hit ten sixes and ten fours. Their 210-run stand remains the benchmark for opening partnerships in the league. Despite their efforts the LSG score almost wasn’t enough as KKR came within two runs of victory.
The final over from Marcus Stoinis started badly as he went for 18 runs off the first four balls. But it ended well as the Australian hit back with two wickets from the final two balls to secure the win for LSG.