ICC World Test Championship: Most 50+ Partnerships For India

ICC World Test Championship final is underway between India and New Zealand at the Rose Bowl Cricket Stadium in Southampton, England. The much-awaited ICC event was severely affected by rain on the 1st day (June 18).

However, with better weather, the match began on the 2nd Day with New Zealand opting to field after winning the toss. India scored 146/3 till the end of the 2nd Day with Virat Kohli (44*) and Ajinkya Rahane (29*) on strike.

During ICC World Test Championship, India played a total of 17 Test matches, winning 12 and losing 4. One game ended in a draw. New Zealand played 11 matches, winning 7 and losing 4.

For India, few batsmen scored magnificent partnerships during the 17 matches that India played in ICC World Test Championship. Here we take a look at players with the most 50+ partnerships for India in ICC World Test Championship.

ICC World Test Championship: Most 50+ Partnerships For India

3. Ajinkya Rahane And Hanuma Vihari- 4

Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari take the 3rd spot in this list with four 50+ partnerships for India in ICC World Test Championship. Both the right-handed batsman scored a partnership of 82 runs for the 5th wicket during the 1st Test against West Indies in August 2019.

Rahane scored 81 runs while Vihari scored 32 runs in the first innings. In the same match, both the players also accounted for a 135-run stand in the 2nd innings. Rahane scored a century (102) while Vihari scored 93 in the 2nd innings during their 135-run stand.

Their third 50-plus partnership arrived in the 2nd Test against West Indies in the same series. In the 2nd innings, both the middle-order batsmen managed a partnership of 111* runs. Rahane scored unbeaten 64 while Vihari scored unbeaten 53 to chase the 168-run target and ensure victory for India.

Their 4th 50+ partnership was a 52-run stand against Australia in December 2020. In the 1st innings of the 2nd Test, they scored a partnership of 52 runs for the 4th wicket. Vihari scored 21 while Rahane scored 112 runs in the match, which India eventually won by 8 wickets in the end.

2. Cheteshwar Pujara And Rishabh Pant- 4

Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant have also scored 4 fifty-plus partnerships for India in ICC World Test Championship. Pujara and Pant managed a 53-run partnership during the 3rd Test against Australia in January 2021. In the 1st innings of the match, right-handed Pujara scored 50 while left-handed Pant scored 36 to manage a partnership of 53 runs for the 5th wicket.

In the 2nd innings of the same match, Pant and Pujara scored a stupendous partnership of 148 runs. Pujara smashed 77 runs while Pant scored 97 runs in the 2nd innings along with their crucial stand for the 4th wicket. Their crucial knock helped India to evade a defeat in the game.

Their 3rd 50+ partnership arrived during India vs England 1st Test in February 2021. Both the Indian batsmen managed a partnership of 119 runs for the 5th wicket in the 1st innings. Pujara scored 73 runs while Pant scored 91. Pujara and Pant’s 4th fifty-plus partnership was a 61-run stand during India vs Australia 4th Test in January 2021.

While chasing a 328-run target in the 2nd innings, Pujara scored 56 while Pant scored unbeaten 89 along with their crucial 61-run partnership. India won the Test series 2-1 after winning the match by 3 wickets in the end.

1 . Virat Kohli And Ajinkya Rahane- 5

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane account for most 50+ partnerships for India in ICC World Test Championship with 5. Both the right-handed batsmen scored a 178-run stand for the 4th wicket during India vs South Africa 2nd Test in October 2019.

Indian skipper Kohli scored unbeaten 254 runs while Rahane hit 59 in the 1st innings to take India to mammoth 601-5 (d). India won the match by an innings and 137 runs.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane’s 2nd 50+ partnership came during India vs West Indies 1st Test in August 2019. Both scored a 106-run stand for the 4th wicket in the 2nd innings of the match with Kohli hitting 51 while Rahane scoring a century (102).

Their 3rd 50+ partnership was a 99-run stand for 4th wicket during India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test in November 2019. During their 99-run stand in the 1st innings, Kohli scored 136 while Rahane muttered 51 runs.

Their 4th fifty-plus partnership was an 88-run stand for the 4th wicket during India vs Australia 1st Test in December 2020. During their stand of 88 runs in the 1st innings of the match, Kohli scored 74 while Rahane hit 42. Kohli and Rahane’s 5th 50+ partnership has arrived in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand.

Kohli and Rahane are unbeaten on 44 and 29 runs respectively in the match and account for a 58-run stand for the 4th wicket so far.