Some batting pairs did more than share the crease, they broke the will of opposition bowling attacks the moment they walked out together. One such pair set a mark for century partnerships in ODI cricket that has not been matched in 19 years. Here is a look at the five pairs who have stitched the most three-figure stands in one-day international history.
Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly: a 19-year-old world record
Between 1992 and 2007, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar formed a partnership that became the face of Indian cricket in that era. Bowlers dreaded the moment these two came together at the crease. The pair batted together in 176 innings, remaining unbeaten on three occasions, and added 8,227 runs at an average of 47.55. Their highest stand together came to 258 runs. What truly sets them apart, though, is the tally of 26 century partnerships and 29 fifty partnerships between them. Since the duo last played together in 2007, this record for the most century partnerships by any pair has now stood unbroken for 19 years, with no other pairing even coming close.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma: the best average of the modern era
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma began building their partnership in 2010 and quickly turned it into one of the most feared pairings in the modern game. The two have batted together in 104 innings, staying unbeaten six times, and have piled up 5,792 runs at an average of 59.10, the best average on this list. Their biggest stand together reads 246 runs. Kohli and Rohit have combined for 21 century partnerships and 18 fifty partnerships, numbers that explain why opposing captains still struggle to set a field when both are in form together.
Tilakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara: Sri Lankan flair meets class
Sri Lanka's Tilakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara built their own legacy through a mix of aggression and elegance. Between 2000 and 2015, the pair batted together in 108 innings, remaining unbeaten six times, and added 5,475 runs at an average of 53.67. Their best partnership stood at an unbeaten 210 runs. Dilshan and Sangakkara are credited with 20 century partnerships and 19 fifty partnerships. Dilshan's fearless strokeplay combined with Sangakkara's classical technique to anchor the Sri Lankan innings for years.
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma: the 'Gabbar' and 'Hitman' opening act
The opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave India's innings a sharper edge at the top of the order. Between 2011 and 2022, the two batted together in 117 innings, remaining unbeaten twice, and added 5,193 runs at an average of 45.15. Their highest partnership of 210 runs helped India to strong starts in match after match. The duo put together 18 century partnerships and 15 fifty partnerships. Dhawan, known as 'Gabbar', and Rohit, nicknamed the 'Hitman', were long regarded as one of India's most dependable opening combinations.
Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden: Australia's wrecking pair
No conversation about destructive opening pairs is complete without Australia's Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden. The duo, who laid the foundation for several of Australia's big wins between 2000 and 2008, batted together in 117 innings, staying unbeaten three times. They scored 5,409 runs at an average of 47.44, with a best partnership of 172 runs. Gilchrist and Hayden share 16 century partnerships and 29 fifty partnerships, the latter figure matching Ganguly and Tendulkar's tally. Gilchrist's fearless hitting alongside Hayden's towering presence at the crease kept opposition bowlers on edge for years.
Ranked purely by century partnerships, Ganguly and Tendulkar sit on top with 26, followed by Kohli and Rohit with 21, Dilshan and Sangakkara with 20, Dhawan and Rohit with 18, and Gilchrist and Hayden with 16. Notably, Rohit Sharma features twice on this list, alongside both Kohli and Dhawan, underlining his consistency across two different eras of Indian cricket.
