Most century partnerships for India in ODIs

Unlike the fast-paced thriller that is the T20 format where big partnerships are the exception rather than the norm or the slow grind of Tests that often place more emphasis on time rather than merely runs, ODIs occupy a middle ground where a century partnership is a useful yardstick to measure whether a team is doing well or not.

While century partnerships in ODIs have become increasingly frequent over the past few years, for one pair to enjoy several such partnerships is usually not easy. But India have been blessed with some world-class batsmen and batting pairs, who have recorded century partnerships with ease. But who has the most century partnerships for India in ODIs?

Here is the list of the top five pairs with most century partnerships for India in ODIs:

#5 Rahul Dravid/ Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid/ Sachin Tendulkar - 11

Tied for the fifth spot in the list of most century partnerships for India in ODIs is Rahul Dravid with two different partners. With both Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid had 11 century partnerships for India in ODIs.

With Ganguly, that mark came in 87 innings, with a highest partnership of 318. The pair of Dravid and Ganguly were incredibly prolific for India in ODIs as the dup amassed 4,332 runs together at an average of 50.37 per partnership. And it was not just the fact that they scored big but they also did so consistently, as evident from the fact that the pair enjoyed 11 century partnerships and 18 fifty partnerships.

Not only are they one of only four pairs to have put on 4,000 runs in ODIs for India, but they hold the record for having the most runs by an Indian pair, who weren't openers.

Also tied for the fifth spot is the duo of Dravid and Tendulkar. They also had 11 century partnerships for India between them and also hold the national record for the highest partnership in ODIs. A record they have, courtesy of their 331-run stand against New Zealand at Hyderabad in 1999, which was the world record for the highest ODI partnership until it was broken during the 2015 World Cup.

In 98 innings together, the pair have more than 4,000 runs between them and also 11 century and 14 fifty partnerships and an average of 44.

#4 Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma - 12

Rohit and Dhawan are slowly making their way up this list

One of the reasons why India have morphed into an ODI side that can chase any total and set huge targets has been the platform laid by Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. While they haven't quite hit the heights that Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar did as a left-right opening partnership, they are well on their way to etching their names into the record books.

After all, they are already in the top ten among batting pairs with most runs for India in ODIs, despite the fact that they have played just over 75 innings together. They have a very good track record so far, amassing nearly 3,500 runs together at an average of almost 45. They also have 12 century partnerships and 10 fifty partnerships.

*All stats accurate as of July 13, 2018.

#3 Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar - 13

Sehwag and Sachin complimented each other perfectly

One of India's finest opening pairs, Sehwag and Tendulkar tormented the opposing bowlers courtesy of his drastically different approach to the game. While one was keen on sending every ball to the fence, the other was keen on punishing any mistake that the opposition made while setting the ideal platform for those that followed.

And that worked wonders for India as Sehwag and Tendulkar are India's second-most prolific pair in ODI history. They are also one of only four Indian pairs to put on more than 4,000 runs together in ODIs. In total, they managed 4,387 runs at an average of just under 40 with 13 century partnerships and 18 fifty partnerships.

#2 Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - 14

Only one Indian pair have more century partnerships than Rohit and Virat

They might look like their communication is non-existent at times while running between the wickets. It might seem as though they are more likely to run each other out than score. But the truth is that while they have some issues when it comes to running between the wickets, they are one of India's most prolific pairs in ODIs.

So it should come as no surprise that they are in second place on the list of most century partnerships for India in ODIs. Only four pairs have put on more runs for India in ODIs than these two but few can match the consistency with which they go about their work.

In just 63 innings, they have scored more than 3,500 runs. And they have done that an average in excess of 60. They already have 14 century partnerships in ODIs and they look as though they are only going to add to that tally if they keep going at the current rate.

*All stats accurate as of July 13, 2018.

#1 Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar - 26

With pretty much every world record in their kitty as a batting pair, Sachin and Sourav are a class apart

They hold the world record for most runs as a batting pair in ODIs. They are also the proud owners of the record for most fifty-plus partnerships in ODI history and they have more century partnerships than any other batting pair in ODI history. So the top spot on this list unsurprisingly belongs to the duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

No other pair in ODI history have scored more than 6,000 runs together but in their 176 innings, they amassed 8,227 runs at an average of 47.55 with 26 century partnerships and 29 fifty partnerships. No other pair have more than 50 fifty-plus partnerships but these two have 55.

Will their record ever be broken? It looks unlikely. But only time will tell.