Going very big together – India’s 6 highest partnerships in T20I cricket

Jonhenry Wilson 16 Nov 2024

Tilak Varma has hit two T20I centuries for India.

Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma were individually and collectively immense against South Africa during 15 November 2024’s fourth and final T20I against South Africa.

They carted the opposition bowling attack to all corners of the Wanderers in Johannesburg with calculated hitting and aggressive shot selection.

But where does their partnership feature among India’s highest stands in T20I cricket? Let’s find out.

6. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill – 156

Openers Jaiswal and Gill were entirely dominant against Zimbabwe in 2024. They put on 156 for the first wicket as India chased down a 153-run target inside 16 overs. Jaiswal hit 93 not out to Gill’s unbeaten 58. They shared 19 fours and four sixes. The spilt of sixes was even with two each.

5. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma – 165

The scene was Indore and the opposition Sri Lanka in 2017. The tourists won the toss, opted to bowl first – and were soon put to the sword by Rahul and Sharma. Their 165-run partnership was collected inside 13 overs. Sharma hit 118 to Rahul’s 89. Sri Lanka used seven bowlers – only one of them conceded fewer than 10 runs per over on average. India won the match comfortably.

4. Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav – 173

After Abhishek Sharma, Samson and Yadav combined for a whopping 173-run alliance against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024. The stand was the foundation for India’s highest total in T20I cricket to date – 297 for six. Samson’s 111 spanned a mere 47 deliveries – and included 11 fours and eight sixes. Yadav’s 75 came off 35, with five sixes.

3. Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson – 176

In 2022, Hooda was the mainstay of India’s middle-order during the second T20I against Ireland in Dublin. He hit 104 and shared a 176-run partnership with Samson, who fell for 77. The track was a relative belter, as Ireland replied to India’s 225 for seven with 221 for five. Ireland almost pulled off an upset, but ultimately lacked a Samson- or Hooda-esque innings to get them over the line.

2. Rinku Singh and Rohit Sharma – 190

In 2024, Singh capitalised on his form in the Indian Premier League by impressing at international level. Afghanistan hardly stood a chance as Sharma and Singh battered 190 together. Sharma collected 121 not out to Singh’s unbeaten 69. They shared 14 sixes. The contest was tight. Scores were tied after regular play and it took a second super over for India to force victory.

1. Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson – 210

Varma and Samson went big against a South African bowling attack minus the services of Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi in 2024. Indian fans at the Wanderers were thrilled by the 19 sixes and 15 fours shared by Varma and Samson. India won the match by 135 runs after South Africa capitulated to 148 all out in response to the visiting team’s huge 283 for one.