The ICC Champions Trophy will return in 2025 after an eight-year hiatus, with Pakistan and the UAE serving as joint hosts of the event. The tournament will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, while Group B includes Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. Each team will play three matches within its group, resulting in a total of 12 group-stage matches.
The tournament has witnessed some of the most effective batting partnerships that have played a crucial role in increasing run totals and providing stability to the batting lineup. A solid partnership eases pressure on other batters and helps the team navigate difficult phases of the game. Many top cricketers have built partnerships that have supported their teams in critical moments.
What is the highest partnership in ICC Champions Trophy's history?
According to ESPN Cricinfo, The record for the highest partnership in ICC Champions Trophy history belongs to Australia's Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting, as of February 2025. The duo shared an unbroken 252-run stand for the second wicket against England during the first semi-final on October 2, 2009, at Centurion. Batting first, England were bowled out for 257 in 47.4 overs, with Tim Bresnan top-scoring with 80 runs off 76 deliveries.
Australia began their chase by losing opener Tim Paine early, which brought the skipper Ricky Ponting to the crease. Shane Watson scored 136 runs from 132 balls, while Ponting contributed 111 runs from 115 deliveries. Their unbroken 252-run partnership led Australia to a nine-wicket win and secured a place in the final. As of February 2025, this remains the highest second-wicket partnership in ICC Champions Trophy history as well.
List of top-10 highest partnerships in the ICC Champions Trophy
The top 10 highest partnerships in the ICC Champions Trophy are mentioned below, as per ESPN Cricinfo:
| Date | Partners | Runs | Wickets | Team | Opposition | Ground |
| October 2, 2009 | Shane Watson & Ricky Ponting | 252* | 2nd | Australia | England | Centurion |
| June 9, 2017 | Shakib Al Hasan & Mahmudullah | 224 | 5th | Bangladesh | New Zealand | Cardiff |
| September 26, 2009 | Shoaib Malik & Mohammad Yousuf | 206 | 4th | Pakistan | India | Centurion |
| September 22, 2002 | Virender Sehwag & Sourav Ganguly | 192 | 1st | India | England | Colombo (RPS) |
| September 15, 2004 | Wavell Hinds & Chris Gayle | 192 | 1st | West Indies | Bangladesh | Southampton |
| September 25, 2002 | Jacques Kallis & Herschelle Gibbs | 178* | 2nd | South Africa | India | Colombo (RPS) |
| June 15, 2017 | Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli | 178* | 2nd | India | Bangladesh | Birmingham |
| October 5, 2000 | Alec Stewart & Nasser Hussain | 175 | 2nd | England | Bangladesh | Nairobi (GYM) |
| October 28, 2006 | Chris Gayle & DJ Bravo | 174 | 2nd | West Indies | England | Ahmedabad |
| June 1, 2017 | Tamim Iqbal & Mushfiqur Rahim | 166 | 3rd | Bangladesh | England | The Oval |
FAQs on Highest Partnerships
A. Australia and India are the two most successful teams winning the tournament twice.
A. The highest partnership in ODI cricket was recorded by the West Indies against Zimbabwe in Canberra on February 24, 2015, as per ESPN Cricinfo.
A. On May 14, 2016, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers set the record for the highest partnership in IPL history, scoring 229 runs for the 2nd wicket against Gujarat Lions, as per ESPN Cricinfo.
A. Royal Challengers Bangalore recorded the lowest total in IPL history, scoring just 49 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens during the 2017 season, as per ESPN Cricinfo.
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