Kohli-Sharma's partnership among the best ODI cricket has ever seen

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  • The Kohli-Sharma partnership was an instant hit. Why wouldn’t it be? Between the two of them, there’s enough talent to entertain a nation, personality to dominate the airwaves and intrigue to fill column inches. It also doesn’t hurt that Virat and Anushka photograph rather well.

    Since they first paired up after meeting on the set of a TV commercial in 2013, the power couple’s courtship has been a media sensation, highly publicised at every turn. Husband and wife they may be, but there’s a another Kohli-Sharma relationship that precedes theirs and has run parallel since, generating plenty of its own chemistry that has yielded extraordinary success.

    Rohit Sharma first shared a crease with Virat Kohli in ODIs back in 2010 and magical things are known to happen for Indian cricket when the two batsmen work in tandem.

    During the first installment of the recently concluded ODI series with the West Indies, the duo made light work of a 323-run chase in Guwahati. Kohli (140 off 107) and Sharma (152 off 117) made a mockery of the visitors’ bowling attack. Their 246-run stand for the second wicket was India’s highest in a chase.

    And that was only one of their five 200-plus partnerships. Another memorable stand was the 230-run collaboration in Kanpur against New Zealand last year.

    In fact, nearly every other time the pair meet in the middle, they have managed to post at least 50 runs. Their partnership boasts 10 scores of over 50 and a further 15 that have reached the 100-mark.

    India’s bowling attack did the damage in the fifth ODI against the West Indies who were skittled out for a paltry 104. Kohli and Sharma ensured their side’s celebrations kicked off early anyway, putting up 99 to complete a resounding victory in 14.5 overs.

    In the process of the chase, the duo also became the quickest pair in ODIs to reach 4000 runs, and by some distance. Indian cricket greats Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid took 80 partnerships to hit that mark, Kohli and Sharma have done it in 66.

    It’s not premature to rank the pair among the finest ODI cricket has ever seen. They stand 11th in terms of runs with 4060 so far but their phenomenal average of 66.55 eclipses those who occupy the top 10 places with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara (3rd) coming closest with 53.67.

    A couple of greats.

    A couple of greats.

    Sharma is no less the batsman Kohli is although it is the latter that boasts a superior level of consistency. However, it bodes well for Indian cricket that their two finest batting talents of this generation have been so compatible. Rather than jostle for the spotlight, the team’s captain and vice-captain have perfectly complemented each other, producing their individual best with the other in support at the non-striker’s end.

    Sachin Tendulkar’s partnership with Ganguly yielded more runs than any other with their tally of 8227 enjoying a 2235-run lead over that of Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in second place. It is also arguably the greatest the game has ever seen. Sachin with his explosive style and ingenuity all around the wicket, Sourav with his exquisite timing and glorious drives through the offside. The right-hand, left-hand batting combination was a nightmare to contain and fully warrants its legendary status.

    That said, their time together spanned more than 15 years and 176 innings. Kohli and Sharma’s partnership, dating back eight years and 66 innings, is already nearly halfway to matching their tally.

    At their current rate, the duo would need around another 62 partnerships to make up the 4167-run deficit. Of course, only a miracle would see them manage that and even then, the expectation to maintain their levels of performance over that time is unreasonable. They could come awfully close though and perhaps make their own claim to be recognised as the greatest pairing in ODI history.

    India play the first of three T20 matches against the West Indies on Sunday at Eden Gardens but the revered partnership – ranked 8th in T20s – will have to wait for its next stunning display with Kohli rested for the series.

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