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When RCB Superstars Virat Kohli-AB De Villiers Ruled IPL With Highest T20 Partnership

Kohli, De Villiers after record partnership in IPL 2016 (X.com)Kohli, De Villiers after record partnership in IPL 2016 (X.com)

Back in 2016, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s destructive duo Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers stamped their authority in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a record 229 partnership, which turned out to be the highest ever second wicket stand in T20 cricket history. 

Bengaluru have always been a batting heavyweight lineup, with the likes of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers gracing the squad for numerous years. 

In IPL 2016, the destructive duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers further stunned the world by prolific display of power hitting and went on to etch their name into the annals of T20 cricket.

Batting against Gujarat Lions in a league game, Gayle was dismissed early in the powerplay which paved the way for de Villers. 

The South African superstar was right on the money from ball one as Kohli took a back seat. AB reached his half century in 25 balls and hammered Praveen Kumar for 23 runs in the 16th over to bring up his ton.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli finally decided to join the party when he smashed four sixes in an over to climb to 95. On the other hand, de Villiers rotated the strike in the final over to help his teammate get to his hundred, and Kohli obliged with two massive sixes to bring up a mammoth 229 partnership.

The monstrous partnership turned out to be the highest ever in T20 cricket for a second wicket and the highest overall in IPL’s history.

Eventually, Virat Kohli was dismissed on 107 runs by Praveen Kumar on the penultimate delivery of the innings. However, the damage was done as RCB finished with 248 runs in the first innings total.