ENG vs IND: Highest Opening partnership for Indian in tests in England

In the second test match of ENG vs IND India recorded their highest opening partnership after 47 years at Lord's. On 12 August 2021, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma hit the highest opening partnership score by sharing 126 runs on the first day of the second test match. In this decade, Indian batsmen have scored the highest opening partnership in test in England 5 times. And this list comprises all those partnership records made in ENG vs IND matches.

1. Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik- 147 runs

On 27 July 2007, Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik shared 147 runs for the opening wicket on the 2nd day at Trent Bridge. This partnership made the record of the highest partnership by the Indian team in this century. They survived the opening spells of James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom and beat every odds possible. In 1979, Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan shared an opening partnership of 100 plus runs at The Oval and it was the last time India had such an amazing partnership. So many years passed on but no such impressive opening partnership was performed by the Indian batsmen until 27 July 2007. The match was indeed great for Wasim Jaffer as the first test didn't go well for him.

Read also: ENG vs IND: Test Centuries by Indians at Lord's

2. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma- 126 runs

The present opening batsman of the Indian cricket team has broken some of India's past partnership records of this century and piled up 126 runs on 12 August 2021. Since 1974 this was the first 100 plus opening score registered by the Indian cricket team in a test match at Lord's. Moreover, this partnership is India's third 100 plus opening partnership at the Lord's. The duo has shown exceptional performances; Rohit Sharma scored 83 runs whereas KL Rahul left the field after scoring 129.

3. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma- 97 runs

In the first test match of the same India tour of England, the duo shone as the opening pair and gave a great start to the innings. Both of them have opened previously but in limited-overs. This was the first time they came together on the field as openers in red-ball cricket. They scored 97 runs in their first test partnership. The dominance of both these Indian batsmen is evident like crystals. They have contributed a lot to the team and its victories and it still continues to do so.

4. Gautam Gambhir and Abhinav Mukund- 63 runs

The fourth highest opening partnership for India came on 21 July 2011 at Lord's. The opening pair Gautam Gambhir and Abhinav Mundra started the first test match against England with an opening partnership of 63 runs. The duo began their first innings on a slow but steady note. Their individual performances were not great in that innings. Gautam Gambhir scored only 15 runs whereas Abhinav Mukund got out when he was only 1 run away from his half-century as Stuart Broad sent both the openers back to the Pavillion.

Read also: Most test wickets at Lord's

5. Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik- 62 runs

Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik have once again made the name into this prestigious list. In the third test match of ENG vs IND, the opening pair once again made a record opening partnership. The match's start was great and continued to be exceptional as the other batsman like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Anil Kumble thrashed the England bowlers and scored a huge total of 664 runs. It was the second partnership by the duo on 9th August 2007. The match was hosted by The Oval and it ended with a draw.