Highest partnerships in T20 Internationals

1. Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani (Afghanistan)

Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani hold the record for the highest partnership in T20 International cricket, having shared an opening stand of 236 runs for Afghanistan against Ireland on February 23, 2019, in Dehradun, India.

This partnership remains the highest for any wicket in T20 Internationals.

In that match, Afghanistan posted a total of 278/3, which was the highest T20I total at the time.

Zazai’s individual score of 162* in that innings was the second-highest T20I score at that time, after Aaron Finch’s 172 for Australia against Zimbabwe in 2018.

2. Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short (Australia)

On July 3, 2018, during a T20 International match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Harare, Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short set a world record for the highest opening partnership in T20I cricket. They amassed 223 runs for the first wicket, with Finch contributing a blistering 172 runs off 76 balls, including 16 fours and 10 sixes. Short supported with a steady 46 runs from 42 balls.

This partnership not only set a record for the highest opening stand in T20Is but also marked the first instance of a 200-run opening partnership in T20I history.

Finch’s individual score of 172 remains one of the highest in T20I cricket, showcasing his explosive batting prowess.

This remarkable partnership was a key factor in Australia’s commanding total of 229/2 in their innings.

3. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma (India)

On November 15, 2024, during the fourth T20 International against South Africa at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium, India’s Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma set a new record for the highest partnership in T20I cricket. The pair remained unbeaten, sharing a 210-run stand for the second wicket off just 93 balls. Samson scored 109* off 56 balls, while Varma contributed 120* off 47 balls.

This partnership not only became India’s highest in T20I cricket but also surpassed the previous record for the highest second-wicket partnership in T20Is. Their combined efforts propelled India to a formidable total of 283/1, marking their highest T20I score against South Africa.

In the same match, both batsmen achieved individual milestones. Samson’s 109* was his third T20I century in five innings, making him the first player to score three T20I hundreds in a calendar year. Varma’s 120* marked his second consecutive T20I century, placing him among the few to have achieved back-to-back T20I hundreds.

This remarkable partnership and individual performances were instrumental in India’s commanding 135-run victory over South Africa, securing a 3-1 series win.

4. Quinton de Kock and David Miller (South Africa)

On October 2, 2022, during the second T20 International between South Africa and India in Guwahati, David Miller and Quinton de Kock formed an unbroken partnership of 174 runs for the fourth wicket. Miller remained not out on 106 from 47 balls, while de Kock was unbeaten on 69 from 48 balls.

This partnership was instrumental in South Africa’s chase of India’s target of 238 runs. Their combined efforts brought the team closer to the target, but South Africa ultimately fell short, finishing at 221/3 in their 20 overs.

Notably, this partnership set a record for the highest fourth-wicket stand in T20 International cricket at that time.

5. Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh (India)

On January 17, 2024, during the third T20 International against Afghanistan at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh forged an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 190 runs. This stand not only set a new record for the highest fifth-wicket partnership in T20 Internationals but also became India’s highest partnership for any wicket in T20Is.

Their explosive batting propelled India to a formidable total of 212/4. Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 121 runs from 69 balls, while Rinku Singh contributed 69* off 39 balls. The pair’s aggressive approach in the final overs, including a record-breaking 58 runs in the last two overs, was instrumental in India’s commanding performance.

This partnership surpassed the previous record for the highest fifth-wicket stand in T20Is, held by Nepal’s Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee, who had added 145 runs against Hong Kong in October 2023.

Rinku Singh’s remarkable performance in this match was part of a series of impressive displays in T20 Internationals, including his first half-century in T20I cricket with a score of 68* on December 12, 2023, against South Africa.

This partnership not only highlighted the individual talents of both batsmen but also underscored India’s depth and resilience in T20 cricket.