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Rohit-Virat Set New ODI Partnership Record, Overtake Dravid-Ganguly
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli achieved another milestone in history during the second ODI against England, moving up to third place in terms of highest partnership for India across all formats.
The veteran duo surpassed the record of 7,626 runs set by Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. Only Sachin Tendulkar’s partnership with Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid is now ahead of them.
Rohit-Virat Partnership Overtake Dravid-Ganguly
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli broke the record of former Indian stars Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly on 16 July to register the third-highest partnership for India in all formats. The duo achieved the feat by adding 60 runs for the second wicket against England in the second ODI played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
India lost their wicket after captain Shubman Gill was dismissed by Gus Atkinson in the eighth over. Kohli then joined Rohit at the crease, and they scored 60 runs before Rohit was dismissed in the 18th over.
The partnership took Rohit and Kohli’s combined international run tally to 8,028. Their first partnership was also in an ODI against South Africa in February 2010. On that occasion, they added 95 runs for the third wicket when India were chasing a target of 366.
Most Partnership Runs for India Across All Formats
| Rank | Partnership | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar – Sourav Ganguly | 12,400 |
| 2 | Sachin Tendulkar – Rahul Dravid | 11,037 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma – Virat Kohli | 8,008 |
| 4 | Sourav Ganguly – Rahul Dravid | 7,626 |
| 5 | Virender Sehwag – Gautam Gambhir | 7,199 |
In that match, Kohli scored 57 and Rohit scored 48, but India could not complete the target. Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe led the South African bowling attack as India were all out for 275 runs.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Create Another ODI Partnership Record
India ended their tour of England with a 2-1 ODI series defeat, but the third match at Lord’s on 19 July once again highlighted the value of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in 50-over cricket. Rohit’s century grabbed most of the attention, but his partnership with Kohli also set another major record.
The pair registered their 21st century partnership in ODIs, surpassing Sri Lankan greats Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara, who had 20 century partnerships. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, with 26 century partnerships, are now above the Indian pair on the all-time list.
A Partnership That Has Stood the Test of Time
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli first partnered in ODI cricket in 2013. Since then, they have come together regularly to rebuild innings, guide successful run chases and give India a strong start in many memorable victories.
Most famous batting pairs have stuck to their places over the years, but Rohit and Kohli have truly built their partnership across different eras of Indian cricket. Rohit has finally gained his experience as a world-class opener, while Kohli has left everything behind as India’s ultimate number three. This combination has helped them remain one of the most successful partnerships for over a decade.
Their last century partnership at Lord’s followed a familiar script. Rohit ran the chase perfectly, scoring 138 runs off just 110 balls, while Kohli scored 74 runs off 60 balls to keep India alive against that mammoth 388-run target.
Even though India could not complete the chase, their partnership was clearly a major milestone in their remarkable career.
Further Reading: Rohit Sharma Scripts Lord’s History With Shardul Thakur’s Bat
Climbing the All Time ODI Partnership Rankings
With this latest century stand, Rohit and Kohli have climbed to second place for the most 100-plus partnerships in ODI cricket.
Most 100+ Partnerships in ODI Cricket
| Rank | Batting Pair | 100+ Partnerships |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar – Sourav Ganguly | 26 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma – Virat Kohli* | 21 |
| 3 | Tillakaratne Dilshan – Kumar Sangakkara | 20 |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma – Shikhar Dhawan | 18 |
| 5 | Adam Gilchrist – Matthew Hayden | 16 |
As both players continue to earn a place in India’s ODI team, the record of 26 century partnerships set by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly is now approaching.
The partnership at Lord’s also brought Kohli closer to another significant achievement. He has now been part of 87 century partnerships in ODI cricket, making him second only to Sachin Tendulkar, who had 99 century partnerships. Rohit is third on the list with 73.
Why the Rohit Kohli Partnership Remains Special?
The Rohit-Kohli partnership is not just about the number of centuries they have scored together, but the fact that they have been doing it for so many years.
Their first century partnership came in 2013. More than a decade later, despite changes in India’s batting order, captaincy and coaching staff, they still rank among the most successful ODI batting pairs.
Their 100-run partnerships have come in almost every situation imaginable. They have done this while chasing huge targets, making big scores, performing in major ICC tournaments and dominating bilateral series around the world. Very few ODI pairs have managed to maintain this consistency while adapting to the changing demands of the format.
Over the past year, discussions about the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have become more common as India continues to build a young white-ball team.
However, their performance at Lord’s revealed how much value they still add to the team. More importantly, their record suggests that one of the biggest partnerships in ODI cricket still has a lot to give.
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