On Thursday, April 6, 2023, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) posted an impressive score of 204/7 after 20 overs, setting up an exciting match against a formidable Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team at the Eden Gardens. Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh created the best-ever seventh-wicket partnership in IPL history, which eventually resulted in their victory.
Let’s look at the top 5 highest 7th wicket partnerships of IPL history:
1) Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh (KKR) against RCB, 2023
KKR were in deep trouble after losing the dangerous Andre Russell for a golden duck in the 12th over against RCB on Thursday. However, Shardul Thakur turned things around with his aggressive strokes, bringing up his first half-century in the IPL. Rinku Singh also played his part well by rotating the strike and providing some vital runs at the end. The duo set a record by posting 103 runs off 50 balls – the highest seventh-wicket partnership in the history of the IPL.
2) Harbhajan Singh and Jagadeesha Suchith (MI) against PBKS, 2015
Mumbai Indians were in trouble at 59/6 after 13.4 overs, chasing 178 runs in IPL 2015. It looked like they wouldn’t reach the 100-run mark, but veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had other plans. He performed brilliantly, striking an incredible half-century (64 off 24 balls). Combined with Jagadeesha Suchith’s excellent 34 off 21 balls, they created a seventh-wicket partnership of 100 runs in just 37 balls! Despite this glorious effort, it wasn’t enough to win them the match, as MI still fell short by 18 runs.
3) AB de Villiers and Iqbal Abdullah (RCB) against GL, 2016
RCB faced a tough challenge as they needed to chase 159 runs in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2016, 68/6 at 9.4 overs. But Hope was not lost with AB de Villiers, Mr. 360, still at the crease. De Villiers did not disappoint as he scored an incredible 79* runs off 47 balls, completing his half-century with five boundaries and five maximums. He was well supported by Iqbal Abdullah’s 33* runs off 25 balls as the pair put together a partnership of 91 runs in 52 balls to take RCB through to the final.
4) Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris (DC) against MI, 2017
Delhi Capitals found themselves in a difficult situation, chasing 143 runs when they were 24/6 in 6.3 overs. It looked like DC would struggle even to reach 70-80 runs. But then Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada put together an incredible 91-run partnership in 73 balls. Despite their best efforts, the Capitals fell short by 14 runs.
5) Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel (DC) against MI, 2022
Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel put on a sensational 75-run unbeaten stand, helping DC to an incredible win over MI. Yadav contributed 48 invaluable runs off 38 balls, while Patel was the more aggressive of the two, scoring 38 runs off just 17 deliveries that included three boundaries and two huge maximums. The match-winning partnership rescued their side with the score at 104/6 in 13.2 overs.
