It takes time, patience, and two batsmen who are genuinely motivated to contribute to their team’s success to form an excellent partnership. In One-Day International Cricket, there are only a few partnerships that come to mind when we think of partnerships. Several players, such as Sachin and Ganguly, Sachin and Sehwag, Sangakkara and Jayawardene, Hayden and Gilchrist, and a few others, have proven that they score better when they play with a partner.
1.Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly (India)
Runs: 8227
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Highest: 258
ODI Career: 1992-2007
Average: 47.55
Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly formed the most successful opening pair in One-Day International history between 1996 and 2007. They shared the wicket 176 times and scored 8227 runs together, including 26 partnerships of 100 runs or more. During those 136 innings, the combination scored 6609 runs (including 21 centuries and a high of 258). At the Standard Bank Triangular event in Paarl in October 2001, the two teams stood united against Kenya. Tendulkar (146) and Ganguly (111) both scored century-plus scores when India batted first. The Kenyans could only muster 165 runs in 50 overs.
2.Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
Runs: 5992
Highest: 179
ODI Career: 2000-2015
Average: 41.61
From 2000 to 2015, this legendary Sri Lankan pair dominated One-Day International cricket similarly to Sachin and Sourav. Dilshan and Sangakkara have amassed 5,475 runs in 108 innings for an average of 53.67. They have accumulated 20 centuries between them. Their best stand as a pair came against Bangladesh in 2015 when they defeated them by 92 runs.
3.Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Runs: 5475
Highest: 210
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ODI Career: 2000-2015
Average: 53.67
From 2000 to 2015, this legendary Sri Lankan pair dominated One-Day International cricket similarly to Sachin and Sourav. Dilshan and Sangakkara have amassed 5,475 runs in 108 innings for an average of 53.67. Their highest partnership came against Bangladesh at the 2015 World Cup. They beat Bangladesh by 92 runs because of solid performances from Dilshan (161* off 146 balls) and Sangakkara (105 off 76 balls).
4.Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
Runs: 5462
Highest: 237
ODI Career: 1996-2007
Average: 39.29
When measured in terms of statistics, their batting average of 39.3 may not appear very impressive when compared to some of the other names on this list; nonetheless, their influence on Sri Lankan cricket is more understandable. They had 23 century stands during 144 innings, which is the most for any batting partnership. Atapattu embodied pure class and touch, whereas Jayasuriya forever changed the face of batting in one-day internationals.
5.Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden (Australia)
Runs: 5409
Highest: 237
ODI Career: 2000-2008
Average: 47.44
Between 2000 and 2008, Australia’s Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden combined for 5409 runs across 117 partnerships. There were 114 opening stands, which produced 5372 birds at an average of 48.39, including 16-century stands and their best stand of 172. They first appeared together in Bridgetown’s 2007 World Cup final against Sri Lanka. Australia scored 281,4 primarily due to Gilchrist (149) and Hayden (38). Australia won by 53 runs (D/L method) after restricting Sri Lanka to 215/8 in their reply beyond 36 overs.
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