Highest Opening Partnership for India outside Asia (ODIs)

Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill set up a new record as they build up the highest partnership ever against Zimbabwe in ODIs. Moreover, it was also the fourth highest opening partnership for India overall (outside Asia) surpassing the record partnership of 189 by Rahul and Rohit in the 2019 World Cup.

The record for the highest partnership in ODIs (outside Asia) as Indian openers is held by former cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly. They set up a record opening partnership of 258 runs at Paarl in 2001, which is still the highest partnership as Indian openers.

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Check out in detail the full list of the top 5 Highest Opening Partnerships for India outside Asia in ODIs.

Highest Opening Partnership for India outside Asia (ODIs)

#1. Sourav Ganguly & Sachin Tendulkar | 258 vs Kenya

Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar hold the record of the highest partnership for India outside Asia. They added 258 runs off 250 balls while batting first against Kenya back in 2001 at Paarl.

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Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was the first opener to be dismissed on a personal score of 111 off 124 balls. His innings included 7 fours and 3 sixes. Just after some time another opener Sachin Tendulkar got dismissed on 146 off 132 balls. Sachin's innings included 17 fours.

India scored a huge 351 in 50 overs with the help of this record partnership of 258 runs off 250 balls. Kenya failed to chase the target as India won the match by 186 runs margin.

#2. Gautam Gambhir & Virender Sehwag | 201* vs New Zealand

The second highest opening partnership was held between another legendary Indian opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. They stitched a partnership of 201 runs off just 141 balls that helped India to win the match against NZ back in 2009 at Hamilton.

Gautam Gambhir remained unbeaten on his personal score of 63 while Virender Sehwag smashed a century with a strike rate of 170. Sehwag remained unbeaten on 125 off 74 balls, his innings included 14 boundaries and 6 over boundaries. India won the match by 10 wickets to seal the series.

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#3. Sourav Ganguly & Sachin Tendulkar | 193 vs South Africa

The duo of Sourav and Sachin is again here on this list at number three. In 2001, both the Indian openers smashed centuries against South Africa at the Johannesburg. The partnership was 193 runs off 212 balls while India batted first against South Africa.

Indian captain back then, Sourav Ganguly scored 127 runs off 126 balls including 14 fours and 5 sixes. Meanwhile, another opener Sachin Tendulkar hammered 101 runs off 129 balls which includes 9 boundaries.

Although, India put a score of 279 on the board but eventually lost the game by 6 wickets. South Africa chased down the target in the 49th over and handed India a defeat. Gary Kirsten was the player of the match who scored 133* off 155 to guide the home side over the line.

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#4. Shikhar Dhawan & Shubman Gill | 192* vs Zimbabwe

The newest inclusion on this list is the current Indian opening pair of Dhawan and Gill. They recorded the fourth highest opening partnership for India outside Asia against Zimbabwe in 2022. They smashed 192 runs off 185 balls to guide India home.

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Meanwhile, chasing the target of 190 set by Zimbabwe, Indian openers remained not out till the end to guide India to victory by 10 wickets. Shikhar Dhawan remained unbeaten on 81 with 9 fours while Shubman Gill remained scored 82* off 72 balls which includes 10 fours and 1 six. As a result, India won the match by 10 wickets and more than 19 overs to spare.

#5. KL Rahul & Rohit Sharma | 189 vs Sri Lanka

The fifth and final partnership pair on this list is current Indian captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. They recorded a partnership of 189 off 181 balls.

While chasing 265 at the ICC World Cup game, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul stitched an opening partnership of 189 runs. Rohit Sharma remained got out on his personal score of 103 off 94, which includes 14 fours and 2 sixes. Meanwhile, the other opener KL Rahul hammered 111 runs off 118 balls including 11 boundaries and one six.

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As a result, India successfully chased down the target in the 44th over and won the match by 7 wickets. Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 34 while Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on 7 runs off 4 balls.

Among these five brilliant partnerships by the Indian openers, which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments. Take a guess, Can we witness more partnerships like this in the future?

N.B: The stats and records are accurate as of 19/08/2022.