Though the game of T20 cricket is brief, the effect can be Colossus. A dominating two-batsman partnership can win the whole game. Such pairings do not only add up to runs they change the atmosphere of the game, dominate the scoreboard, and make it extremely difficult for the other team. Over the years, some players have stood out by building partnerships that not only helped win games but also broke long-standing records. In this article, we’ll look at the highest partnership in T20 history, how these records were made, and how they compare to partnerships in longer formats like ODIs and Test matches.
Highest Partnership in T20 History – Records That Redefined the Format
T20 cricket has produced some of the finest moments of excitement in contemporary sport, and nothing quite encapsulates that excitement so well as a huge batting stand. When two batsmen find a rhythm with each other and continue racking up runs without losing their wickets, they not only put pressure on the other team, but also rewrite the record books. This role acknowledges the record highest partnership in T20 as well as some of the largest stands which have contributed towards making the game the way it is today.
Breaking Down the All-Time Record
The all-time highest partnership in T20 have been the talk of the town worldwide. The below are the five all-time highest partnership in T20, by runs and the respective players:
| Rank | Runs | Players | Team | Date |
| 1 | 236 | Hazratullah Zazai & Usman Ghani | Afghanistan vs Ireland | February 23, 2019 |
| 2 | 223* | Aaron Finch & D’Arcy Short | Australia vs England (T20 WC) | November 5, 2018 |
| 3 | 207* | Shakib Al Hasan & Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh A vs Ireland A | March 17, 2018 |
| 4 | 205 | Colin Munro & Glenn Phillips | New Zealand vs West Indies | July 9, 2018 |
| 5 | 204 | Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan vs England (domestic) | March 1, 2020 |
Current record holders:
The record top highest partnership in T20 cricket is held by Afghanistan’s Usman Ghani and Hazratullah Zazai. They made 236 runs in the first wicket against Ireland in 2019. They have a new benchmark and are still unbeaten at the top.
Brief comparison to ODI/Test partnerships:
In Tests and ODIs, the players get more time, and thus there have been numerous 300+ or even 400+ run partnerships. Compared to this, T20 matches are restricted to a mere 20 overs for both sides, and thus 200+ partnerships are very unusual and exceptional. These highest partnership in T20 are all about fast scoring, great coordination, and virtually no mistakes. Thus even a 100+ partnership in T20 is an enormous achievement.
The Day Records Fell – How the Epic Stand Was Built
The record 236-run T20 stand between Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani was on February 23, 2019, in Dehradun, India, during the second T20 International between Ireland and Afghanistan. Afghanistan chose to bat first after the toss.
Match Scenario
Afghanistan began with Zazai and Ghani. Both the batsmen were well in rhythm from the beginning. Both were cautious in the initial overs, but once settled on the field, boundary tally started increasing at a fast pace. Zazai, with his big-hitting reputation, started dominating and targeted the short boundary of the stadium. Ghani played a fine hand, rotated strike and dispatched loose balls to the boundary.
Key Turning Points
- Powerplay dominance: Afghanistan scored 75 runs in the first six overs without losing a wicket. This set the tone for the rest of the innings.
- Zazai’s acceleration: Around the 10th over, Zazai began clearing the ropes regularly. He eventually scored 162 not out from just 62 balls, including 16 sixes.
- Dropped catches: Ireland’s fielders missed a couple of chances, which allowed the pair to carry on.
- No wickets lost: The opening pair survived all 20 overs, finishing at 236/0 the record highest partnership in T20 in history.
Bowler Impact and Crowd Reaction
Ireland’s bowlers were at sea. Each over witnessed the runs going on unscathed, and no bowler was able to achieve the feat of ending the highest partnership in T20. The economy rates were disastrous, and most of the bowlers conceded more than 10 runs per over. The crowd, a majority of them being Afghan supporters, was loud and boisterous in their cheers, celebrating each boundary and six. The atmosphere at the stadium was tense as the innings ended, with fans well aware that they had witnessed history being created.
Highest T20 Partnerships in Franchise Leagues
T20 franchise leagues have become global tournaments now with the best of the best players and some high-scoring matches. The leagues also witnessed some unexpected pairings that turned the game around.
IPL – Indian Premier League
Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore – 229 runs)
De Villiers and Kohli in 2016 recorded a stand against Gujarat Lions. They both scored centuries and hardly left the bowlers a chance to come back. Their awareness and knowledge of keeping the scoreboard running ensured that the match was one-sided and leads the list in IPL records.
Quinton de Kock & KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants – 210 runs)*
This unblemished innings was accomplished in 2022 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Rahul and De Kock executed a combination of big shots and cautious placement, remaining on the field throughout the innings. Their composed attitude and clean ball striking enabled their team to deliver a healthy score without losing a single wicket.
KL Rahul & Mayank Agarwal (Punjab Kings – 183 runs)
This association was with Rajasthan Royals in 2020. Rahul and Agarwal provided Punjab with a flying start and contributed a total of 223 together at the conclusion of their innings. Both combined strong rotation with graceful hitting, though Punjab lost the game, their association is one of the best in IPL history.
PSL – Pakistan Super League
Babar Azam & Sharjeel Khan (Karachi Kings – 176 runs)
This team collaboration in the 2021 PSL season was one of the best. With Islamabad United, Babar and Sharjeel shared their domain with all other teammates from the start and provided their side with a huge score to play from. Their strike rotation and coordination skills allowed them to bat out the innings for quite a while.
Mohammad Rizwan & Rilee Rossouw (Multan Sultans – 162 runs)
Rizwan and Rossouw started the attack on Quetta Gladiators in 2023. They constructed their stand up systematically but later found rhythm, scoring boundaries at frequent intervals. Their knocks put Multan Sultans in charge of the match and helped a lot in establishing team dominance that year.
Fakhar Zaman & Abdullah Shafique (Lahore Qalandars – 140+ runs)
This side faced Peshawar Zalmi in 2023. Abdullah and Fakhar provided essential runs to the top order, and their side was in good position to win at a very early stage of the game. Their highest partnership in T20 was one of the reasons why Lahore Qalandars reached the point table and gained traction during the latter half of the tournament.
Records Involving Pakistani Players
Pakistani openers such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman have consistently been among top highest partnership in T20 in international cricket and franchise leagues. Their skill at mixing solid technique with intelligent shot selection has made them dependable opening mates.
Pakistani Greats and Their Legendary T20 Partnerships
T20 cricket is now a significant aspect of the cricket history of Pakistan. Through passage of time, Pakistani cricketers have created various match-winning scores through partnerships that not only achieved big scores but also secured matches under pressure.
Top T20 Partnerships Involving Pakistani Players
Pakistani batsmen have also built many crucial partnerships in T20 internationals. The partnerships have contributed to the team winning close games, pursuing big scores, and achieving good scores. This part of this article addresses the most iconic partnerships featuring main players such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and others.
Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan – A Consistent Force
Most successful opening highest partnership in T20 internationals, Babar and Rizwan have provided numerous match-winning innings. Their highest stand was on September 22, 2022, when they completed an unbeaten 203 against England at Karachi. Resuming the 200-run chase, they guided Pakistan to a win without losing a wicket a pretty rare feat at this level.
Record Against South Africa
In April 2021, the pair contributed 197 runs vs. South Africa at Centurion. The combination helped Pakistan achieve 203 runs and win easily. Babar’s 122 and Rizwan’s 73 demonstrated how well they play as a pair, for one of them steps up to attack and the other supports the innings.
Middle-Order Rescue – Shoaib Malik & Umar Akmal
Earlier this year during 2016, Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik scored 114 runs with Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. Having come in following early wickets, they stabilized the innings and ensured Pakistan a fighting score. Their composed performance under pressure provided confidence to the team through a much-needed win.
PSL’s Unforgettable Duo Performances
The Pakistan Super League saw some iconic batting combinations that flipped matches around and aided franchises ascend the table. These combinations not only created entertainment for spectators but also played a significant part in determining match results and league standings over various seasons.
Babar Azam & Sharjeel Khan – 176-Run Stand
In PSL 2021, Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam provided Karachi Kings with a solid foundation against Islamabad United with efforts totaling 176 runs. The team managed to cross the 190 mark with their stand, winning by a huge margin and strengthening their playoff chances even more. In PSL 2023, Mohammad Rizwan and Rilee Rossouw shared 162 runs for Multan Sultans against Quetta Gladiators.
Rizwan & Rossouw – Powering Multan Sultans
For Lahore Qalandars, Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique formed a 140+ run partnership in 2023 against Peshawar Zalmi. They helped their team secure an easy victory and consolidated their hold at the top of the points table.
How Pakistan’s Batting Strategy Has Evolved in T20s
Pakistan’s style of playing T20 batting has also undergone significant transformation over time. From playing with caution to now pursuing massive totals with confidence, their game strategy has shifted more towards developing gritty start-stop opening partnerships and rapid scores from the very first over itself itself.
Early Days – Playing it Safe
During early years of T20 cricket (2006–2012), Pakistan batted for hard starts and wicket conservation. Openers used to post hard but cautious 30–40 runs during the powerplay, and then leave the hard finish to the middle order.
Recent Trends – Aggressive Openings
Since 2018, Pakistan has had a different strategy. Babar, Rizwan, Fakhar, and Haris being part of the side now, they desire to have high powerplay scores and larger opening stands. They will look to play purposefully from the beginning and aim to score or chase over 180 on a frequent basis.
The Role of Partnerships
Open highest partnership in T20 have been the corner stone of Pakistan’s T20 victories. They take pressure away from the middle order and provide momentum to the side. These highest partnership in T20 also help the side manage the game’s tempo, be it batting or chasing.
Why Big Partnerships Matter in Modern T20 Cricket
T20 cricket is famous for its short and thrilling version, in which the flow of a match can get reversed with only a few overs. In that high-speed scenario, a solid association between two batsmen takes on a central role. It gives the batting team greater control, facilitates the creation of enormous scores, and puts pressure on the other team.
The Psychological Pressure on Opponents
Long stands in T20 cricket do not only score runs they break the game of mind of the opponent team. Bowlers start losing their rhythm, fielders tire out, and captains go crazy. The longer the stand continues, the greater is the pressure that mounts, leading to errors and one-sided contests.
Bowlers Lose Rhythm
Where the long-standing partnership exists, the bowlers will lose their calm and also become angry. They start attempting different kinds slow balls, yorkers, bouncers but to no avail. That failure to establish the rhythm results in subsequent poor bowling and loosened runs for the batsmen. Bowlers also start questioning their strategies, and step by step their confidence drops.
Fielders Lose Energy
When bowlers get frustrated, the fielders get frustrated as well. Long-standing relationships make the fielding unit stay in one position for extended periods of time without achieving much. This creates fatigue and decreased concentration. Run-outs, misfields, and caught balls are the rule in such situations. These little errors result in accrual and make it more difficult to curb the scoring.
Captains Run Out of Plans
A protracted relationship makes captains. As their bowlers get no wickets, captains begin experimenting with bowling options more and more, with no plan or idea. Some even experiment with part-time bowlers to break the momentum, but that is dangerous. When everything goes horribly wrong, it is hard for captains to remain calm. Their own side loses their way and gets perplexed, while the opposing side gains control over every over.
Examples of Collapse
There were a few matches where long stands shattered the morale of the opposition. In 2022, in a T20I match between England and Pakistan, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan chased 200 runs without losing even a single wicket. English fielders and bowlers were left speechless and stumped with thoughts. In IPL 2016, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers’ 229-run partnership gave Gujarat Lions no choice.
Strategic Value – Building Towards Massive Totals
A large total in T20 cricket generally stands on the foundation of a single or double huge partnership. These highest partnership in T20 provide the platform to a gigantic score, dominate the run rate, and provide the type of faith required to the team. Let us discover how long stands assist teams post winning totals on a regular basis.
Boosts Team Score
A decent combination provides the team with an opportunity to score a huge total with little risk early on. If the first two batsmen remain on the field for the majority of the innings, they can establish a base of 150+ and then walk in with the runs in the last overs. It has the potential to contribute to scores of 180 or even 200. It is hard to chase such scores and provides stability to the bowling team.
Controls the Run Rate
Two set batsmen on the wicket control the rate of scoring without getting disturbed. There is no necessity to play aggressive shots as they have already attained rhythm and timing. They can rotate the strike, hit boundaries at regular intervals, and keep the scorecard flowing. This keeps the team on track without relying on late batting. Teams avoid middle overs pressure and close well by controlling their power-hitters.
Sets the Tempo
Everything about the T20 game of cricket is setting or determining the tempo. A solid stand does nothing else but just that. If a team is batting for the first time, a solid opening stand provides them with the opportunity to pace the innings well. They can increase the tempo in the later stages without having any worries. When it comes to running, a large partnership is less required later and simplifies things for the rest of the line-up. It also creates pressure for the bowlers early on.
Link to World Cup Strategies
For teams to go long in T20 World Cups and major tournaments, there needs to be a good start. Opening stands provide a clear route to chasing or making high scores. A good example here would be Pakistan’s 203-run unruffled stand against England in 2022. They chased a high score without enduring any wicket, which is very unusual.
Are More Records Coming? What Fans Should Watch For
Since T20 cricket is picking up momentum, fans are seeing greater scores and better batting partnerships on a regular basis. With the younger batch of players performing so effortlessly and with such assurance, there is every possibility that records will continue to be broken in the very near future. Here is what fans need to watch out for.
T20 Is Becoming More Aggressive
The T20 format continues to raise the bar. Players are now bolder to play big shots early in the innings. With smaller grounds, better equipment, and coaching that is more geared towards T20, players are scoring more liberally than ever. This has led to associations beyond the 150 and even the 200-run mark. The players are taking risks and playing shots with abandon.
Young Players Are Ready
The young cricketers today are being demonstrated fast scoring from an extremely young age. Most of them play and watch T20 cricket in their early years. So, they’re more inclined to play attacking cricket as well as fast running between the wickets. Young cricketers also perform well under pressure, particularly with huge crowds or pressure matches.
Pakistani Batters to Watch
Pakistan also boasts a pair of youngsters who can spearhead breaking plenty more highest partnership in T20 records. Mohammad Haris is a specialist when it comes to taking early starts and forceful scoring. Saim Ayub, a flashy left-handed batsman, has the capability of playing lengthy innings and controlling the strike. Abdullah Shafique, although more familiar with red-ball cricket, is also displaying the potential to adapt to T20 platforms.
Conclusion
T20 cricket has revolutionized the game and dominant combinations of batting now become the most important factor in determining match fortunes. Pakistani cricketers such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and emerging stars like Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris have also been a part of this highest partnership in T20 new trend and have made their presence felt on both domestic as well as international levels. If you are a cricket enthusiast who likes to remain in the loop about such achievements or surf websites that support cricket as a quick game, we suggest you visit Jeetwin. It is a trusted site where cricket enthusiasts can immerse themselves in cricket commentary, secure gaming, and interesting news about the sports world all under one roof.