5 best ODI partnership duos in the world currently

World cricket will miss the attacking opening pair of Brendon McCullum and Martin GuptillPartnerships between cricketers play a crucial role in the fortunes of a team's chances to win a game. It does not matter which format of the game is being played, a good partnership can result in a momentum shift of the outcome of a game.It is hard enough to stitch together good partnerships during the course of a game, as it heavily depends on the factors like pitch conditions, match situation, and the quality of the opposition.In One-Day cricket, the importance of a partnership might not be as important as it is in the Test format, however, it is much more significant than in the T20I format. Batsmen have to pace their innings in a responsible manner in order to help their sides post a competitive total or chase down a target.We take a look at some of the best batting pairs in ODI cricket based on the batting average that the partnership duo has. Only pairs who have scored at least 2000 partnership runs have been considered in this elite list. The duos that make the list are the ones who have been active in ODI cricket, and will be for the foreseeable future.Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, who are establishing themselves as one of the best opening pairs with their recent form are one of the biggest names to miss out on making the list. Another pair that misses out on the list is Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have been India's best batting pair in the recent past.Here is the list of the best ODI partnership duos in the world currently:

#5 AB de Villiers & JP Duminy (South Africa)

It is a well-known fact that AB de Villiers is one of the most destructive batsmen in cricket currently. What makes him more threatening in the fifty-over format is his ability to pace his innings according to the demands of the match. This includes him being able to stay with other batsmen and build match-winning partnerships.

De Villiers' partnership with JP Duminy in this list might be a surprising one to many, but the duo has been instrumental in helping the South African middle-order score runs in plenty.

The pair have played 53 ODI innings with each other in the last seven years and scored 2289 runs at an average of 54.50. They have 6 century partnerships and 14 fifty-partnerships to their name. Their highest ODI partnership is 219 that the duo put on for the third wicket against Zimbabwe in 2010.

One of the reasons for their good average is that in the 53 innings, they have been unbeaten for 11 times, which is the highest for any pair in this list. While this increases the average, it also proves the pair's ability to finish innings.

#4 MS Dhoni & Suresh Raina (India)

The former Chennai Super Kings players, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina make the list as the first Indian pair. The duo's continued experience playing with each other helped in making them one of the best partnership pairs in ODI cricket right now.

Dhoni and Raina have played with each other in 69 innings and have scored a massive 3458 runs at an impressive average of 56.68. Their highest partnership is an unbeaten 196, that they scored for the fifth wicket against Zimbabwe in the 2015 ICC World Cup. This was a match-saving one as India looked in trouble before the duo guided India to a convincing win.

The pair have 9 century partnerships and 17 half-century partnerships to their names. Dhoni and Raina also have the highest number of partnership runs of any active batting pair.

Both the batsmen have donned the role of being finishers for the Indian cricket team in the recent past. Indian fans are usually at ease when these two batsmen are at the crease, even if India is in some sort of trouble.

#3 Ross Taylor & Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Next in this list the Kiwi pair of Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson, who have been very important to New Zealand's success in the past one year. New Zealand have had a great year in ODI cricket after reaching the ICC World Cup Finals for the first time, in 2015.

Taylor and Williamson have the ability to rotate the strike well as well as accelerate by hitting the big shots. The duo has played 40 innings together and scored 2201 runs at an average of 57.92. 10 century stands and 7 half-century stands prove the duo's ability to convert their starts into big partnerships.

The duo have a best partnership of 206, which was scored in the third ODI against England in 2015. This was the highest third-wicket partnership for New Zealand in ODIs.

The two batsmen have been the perfect players to follow the attacking opening pair of Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson that New Zealand have.The presence of these two calm and composed cricketers in the middle-order helps New Zealand find stability in their batting.

#2 Virat Kohli & Suresh Raina (India)

Suresh Raina makes the list again, this time along with Virat Kohli, thus underlining how important a player he is in the 50-over format. Virat Kohli has numerous personal accomplishments, but this one shows a different side to India's No.1 ODI batsman.

Kohli and Raina have been part of the mainstay of a strong Indian middle-order and have scored 2158 runs in 42 ODI innings at an average of 58.32. The duo have 7 hundred-run stands and 9 half-century partnerships.

The pair made their highest partnership score when they scored an unbeaten 146 against Sri Lanka in 2012. Like Dhoni and Raina, the pair of Kohli and Raina are also highly skilled in running between the wickets and this adds pressure to the opposition to try and find new ways to get them out.

With the retirement of Dhoni imminent, the onus will be upon Kohli and Raina to ensure that the middle-order stays strong with continued consistent performances.

#1 Hashim Amla & AB de Villiers (South Africa)

The South African batting pair of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers has been one of the main reason for the Proteas being one of the most dangerous sides in world cricket right now. The pair have a great understanding with each other, no matter what format they are playing.

While Amla is the graceful weapon of destruction, de Villiers is the brute force used to make a huge impact and take the game away from the opposition. Even in the recently concluded ODI series against England, both Amla and de Villiers played vital roles in helping the Proteas stage a dramatic comeback to win the series 3-2.

The pair have played 37 innings with each other and have scored 2851 runs, closing in on Dhoni's and Raina's partnership runs tally. The average between the duo is what makes them the most fearsome batting pair for any opposition. Amla and de Villiers score an average of 81.45 each time they play with each other in ODIs.

Of the current playing batting pairs, Amla and de Villiers have the highest number of century partnerships, with 11 to their name. They also have 8 half-century partnerships to their names. Their highest partnership of 238 came for the third wicket in the 2013 ODI series against Pakistan in Johannesburg.