Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers Tear Apart Gujarat Lions With Record 229-Run Partnership

On 14th May 2016, the duo created history by smashing the highest-ever partnership in IPL history. Facing Gujarat Lions, not Titans, Kohli and AB put on a record-breaking stand of 229 runs. They entertained everyone with explosive batting and perfect teamwork. It was a masterclass from the two modern-day legends. Let’s look back at one of the greatest partnerships ever seen in T20 cricket.

Gujarat Lions vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 14th May 2016

When we say demolition, the only two batters who have mastered the art are AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. On May 14, 2016, at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, these Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) stars put on a show that crushed the Gujarat Lions (GL). RCB scored a huge 248/3, thanks to a record-breaking 229-run partnership between de Villiers and Kohli, and then bowled out Gujarat for just 104, winning by 144 runs — the biggest victory margin in IPL history at the time. This match was a batting masterclass and a display of RCB’s dominance.

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers Partnership

RCB’s innings was a stunning display, led by the brilliance of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli, who built the highest partnership in T20 history. Gujarat Lions, captained by Brendon McCullum in place of Suresh Raina, chose to bowl first, hoping to take advantage of RCB’s up-and-down season. After a slow start, RCB’s batting exploded, with de Villiers and Kohli putting together a 229-run stand for the second wicket that was both unstoppable and amazing.

The innings started with Chris Gayle struggling, making only 6 runs off 13 balls before Dhawal Kulkarni bowled him in the fourth over. RCB were 19/1, and things looked shaky. Then AB de Villiers joined Virat Kohli, and the game changed. The two started carefully, respecting Gujarat’s opening bowlers, Praveen Kumar and Kulkarni, who bowled tightly with swing. By the end of the powerplay, RCB were 42/1, with Kohli on 18 off 17 and de Villiers on 16 off 6, showing signs of what was to come.

In the middle overs, the partnership grew stronger. De Villiers was in top form, mixing clever shots with powerful hits. He could read the bowlers’ plans and hit the ball anywhere. In the fifth over, he smashed a six off Shivil Kaushik by going back in his crease, a shot that stunned everyone. Kohli played more cautiously at first, making sure RCB didn’t lose wickets while keeping the runs coming. By the 10th over, RCB were 76/1, with the pair starting to attack Gujarat’s spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Pravin Tambe.

The real destruction began in the 11th over as Kohli hit Kulkarni for a big six over long-on, showing RCB meant business. De Villiers reached his fifty off 25 balls with a boundary in the same over. The two ran brilliantly between the wickets, turning singles into doubles and tiring out Gujarat’s fielders as De Villiers played all kinds of shots like drives, sweeps, and lofted covers, leaving the bowlers with no answers and in the 12th over, he hit Jadeja for a six and a four, showing his all-around skill.

As the innings went on, the runs came faster. The 15th over, bowled by Praveen Kumar, was a game-changer. De Villiers, on 77, went wild, hitting three sixes and a four to race to his hundred off 43 balls. The crowd went crazy as he raised his bat, with an ice pack on his head and a drink in hand. Kohli reached his fifty off 40 balls in the 14th over and then picked up the pace. In the 18th over, Kaushik was hammered for 30 runs, with Kohli hitting four sixes, including a flicked six off his pads that showed his quick hands.

In the 19th over, Kohli completed his third IPL 2016 century, off 55 balls, with a straight six off Praveen. He was caught soon after for 109, with 5 fours and 8 sixes, by a diving Dwayne Bravo. De Villiers stayed not out on 129 off 52 balls, with 10 fours and 12 sixes, earning the Player of the Match award. The last two overs saw RCB score 60 runs, finishing at 248/3. Gujarat’s bowlers, like Bravo (0/46) and Kaushik (0/50), had no clue how to stop the flow of runs. The 229-run partnership came off just 97 balls, a mix of smart batting, power, and confidence.

Gujarat Lions’ Collapse

Chasing 249 was a huge challenge for Gujarat Lions, especially after RCB’s batting display. Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith opened, but RCB’s bowlers, led by Chris Jordan and Yuzvendra Chahal, made sure Gujarat had no chance. The Lions were bowled out for 104 in 18.4 overs, giving RCB a 144-run win that boosted their net run rate. Gujarat’s innings began slowly, with Stuart Binny bowling a good first over, giving away 7 runs. Smith hit a four, but the pressure was clear. Sreenath Aravind got the first wicket in the second over, bowling Smith for 7 as the ball stayed low. Ravindra Jadeja, batting at No. 3, hit a six and two fours off Chahal but couldn’t stay long.

McCullum scored 11 off 13 before hitting Chahal to long-off in the fifth over. Gujarat were 37/2, already needing 14.13 runs per over. The middle order fell apart fast. Dinesh Karthik (2) and Jadeja (21) were out to Jordan in the seventh over, with AB de Villiers taking a great running catch to dismiss Karthik. Jordan also caught Jadeja off his own bowling, leaving Gujarat at 44/4. Aaron Finch, batting lower than expected, tried to fight with 37 off 38 balls, including three fours and a six, but got no help. Chahal got Dwayne Bravo lbw for 1, and Akshdeep Nath was bowled for 3, making it 69/6 after 12 overs.

Jordan was the star bowler, taking 4/11, including Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni, both bowled. Chahal took 3/19, removing key batters. Sachin Baby finished the game in the 18th over, getting Finch and Shivil Kaushik in two balls, ending Gujarat’s innings at 104. Pravin Tambe scored 7 off 19, but it didn’t matter. Gujarat’s batters looked lost against RCB’s tight bowling. Jordan’s pace and Chahal’s spin kept them under pressure, and no partnerships formed. Finch tried hard, but it wasn’t enough as RCB’s fielding, with de Villiers and Kohli leading, was excellent, making things worse for Gujarat.

Highest Partnership by Runs in IPL

Just like the partnership of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, there have been some amazing batting stands in the Indian T20 League that fans still talk about as the same duo takes the second spot with an unbeaten 215-run stand against Mumbai Indians in 2015 at Wankhede, staying not out till the end and third on the list is Lucknow Super Giants’ KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, who made an unbeaten 210 runs for the first wicket against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 at DY Patil Stadium.

In 2024, Gujarat Titans’ Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan matched that with a 210-run opening stand against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad and finally, Kings XI Punjab’s Shaun Marsh and Adam Gilchrist scored 206 runs for the second wicket against RCB in Dharamshala on May 17, 2011, with Gilchrist smashing 106.