7 best ODI partnership duos in the world right now

In a team sport like cricket, partnerships are always crucial. One big partnership can take the game away from the opposition and the inability to construct partnerships can lead to a crushing defeat.

Generally, batsmen have a favourite batting partner with whom they enjoy their time in the middle. One such pair which enjoyed each other's company was that of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. The two together have scored 3111 runs in ODIs at an average of 72.34 per partnership.

What makes the duo more special is that they are the only pair to score more than 2000 runs with an average in excess of 65. With AB de Villiers retiring, the duo will not feature anymore in international cricket but currently, there are a few other duos which share a similar bond.

Here are the 7 best ODI partnership duos in the world right now with the highest partnership runs per dismissal:

*Only batting duos with more than 1000 partnership runs were considered*

*Stats source: ESPNcricinfo as of 3rd August 2018*

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#7 Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina: 58.89 runs/partnership

Suresh Raina has returned to the Indian side after being written off by many followers of the game. Raina was the centerpiece of the Indian middle order and has helped the side win many matches on his own. He returned to the Indian side after a gap of nearly three years and is looking to make his spot permanent in the side.

The southpaw shares a great batting rapport with the current Indian skipper. The two together have scored as many as 2238 runs with the highest partnership being an unbeaten 146 against Sri Lanka in 2012.

The duo have stitched 7 century and 10 half-century partnerships in the 43 matches together.

Even though the highest partnership between the two is 146, the most memorable one is definitely the one against Sri Lanka in Hobart. Thanks to the unbeaten 120 run partnership off just 54 balls, India could chase down Sri Lanka's 320 in just 36.4 overs.

Innings: 43, Runs: 2238, Averages: 58.89, 100s: 7, 50s: 10

#6 Alex Hales - Joe Root: 61.56 runs/partnership

Joe Root is one of the most prolific batsmen in the world cricket right now. He has been a vital cog in England's ODI side. In 107 innings, he has scored 4584 runs at an average just under 50.

He has been great in forging partnerships with the top order batsman of the team. Before losing his opening slot to Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales was a regular opener for the English side after the 2015 World Cup debacle. Nevertheless, Hales and Root have been involved in some of the mammoth partnerships in ODIs.

The two together have made 1847 runs in 30 innings at an average of 61.56 per partnership. They have 5 century and 10 half-century stands together. Their highest partnership of 248 came in a historic match against Pakistan. In the match, England scored 444/3 with Alex Hales notching up his highest ODI score of 171.

Innings: 30, Runs: 1847, Averages: 61.56, 100s: 5, 50s: 10

#5 Rohit Sharma - Virat Kohli: 62.45 runs/partnership

Rohit Sharma is one of the best limited-overs cricketers in the world right now. He is the only batsman to have scored three double centuries in ODI cricket. His highest score of 264 might remain at the top the record books for quite a long time.

Now, what do you think will happen when such a talented cricketer bats with probably the current best batsman across all formats? The answer is simple - a lot of runs will be scored between the two.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma share a great bond in the middle of the pitch. The duo have scored 3685 runs in 63 matches. They are the only currently active batting pair with more than 3000 runs with a partnership average in excess of 60. They have put together 14 century and 9 half-century partnerships.

The highest partnership between the two came last year in a series decider against New Zealand in Kanpur. After losing Shikhar Dhawan early, they stitched a partnership of 230 runs and helped India post a total of 337 in 50 overs. Thanks to the huge partnership, India managed to win the match by 6 runs and the series by a 2-1 margin.

Innings: 63, Runs: 3685, Averages: 62.45, 100s: 14, 50s: 9

#4 Shikhar Dhawan - Virat Kohli: 63.02 runs/partnership

Virat Kohli is currently the best batsman in world cricket across all formats. Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are the only two currently active players with more than 8000 runs in ODI cricket. Virat Kohli is inching closer to the 10,000 mark having scored 9588 runs at an astonishing average of 58.10.

The Indian skipper has a great comradery with the dashing Indian opener, Shikhar Dhawan. Together they have scored 2521 runs at an average of 63.02. They have put together eight century and twleve half-century partnerships.

The dominance of India in the limited overs has been a result of consistent performances of the Indian top order - Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

The highest partnership between the duo came at the Manuka Oval in Canberra against Australia. Chasing a target of 349, Dhawan and Kohli put together a huge partnership of 212. But after the dismissal of these two, India lost the way and could not chase down the target.

Even though they were not able to win that match, they have made sure that India is a consistent performer in limited overs.

Innings: 43, Runs: 2521, Averages: 63.02, 100s: 8, 50s: 12

#3 Shikhar Dhawan - Ajinkya Rahane: 65.58 runs/ partnership

The last Indian pair in this list is Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane, not Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Rohit and Dhawan missed a place in the list as they average less than 50 in spite of being one of the most dangerous opening batting pairs in the world.

On the other hand, Dhawan and Rahane have an average of 65.58 per partnership. They have scored 1574 runs together including seven century and five half-century partnerships. The very fact that the number of century partnerships put together by them is more than the half-century partnerships shows that they enjoy each others company in the middle.

Dhawan and Rahane had a great run opening the partnership. Of the 24 times they batted together, they did not open the innings only 6 times. Even in those six innings, they put up two-century partnerships and one half-century partnership.

Even though Rahane is out of the Indian limited overs setup right now, with the kind of talent that he possesses, a partnership between this duo might be handy in the times to come.

Innings: 24, Runs: 1574, Averages: 65.58, 100s: 7, 50s: 5

#2 Tom Latham - Ross Taylor: 67.55runs/partnership

Ross Taylor is a key player in the New Zealand setup and has been in the national side for quite a long time. On the other hand, Tom Latham, who made his debut in 2012, has become a regular in the New Zealand side since 2016.

Ross Taylor and Tom Latham together have scored 1216 runs in 19 innings at an average of 67.55. They have forged 3 century and 6 half-century partnerships together. Every time Taylor and Latham have scored more than 100 runs together. 175 is their lowest partnership score after crossing 100 runs together.

The highest partnership between the two came in Mumbai against India. The duo made merry of India's 280 as they put together 200 for the fourth wicket.

The other two huge partnerships by the duo were recorded in the home series against England in February, 2018. As a result of the 178 and 187 put up by this duo, New Zealand could manage two victories against a dangerous English side in the five-match series.

Innings: 19, Runs: 1216, Averages: 67.55, 100s: 3, 50s: 6

#1 Joe Root - Jason Roy: 72.80 runs/partnership

Jason Roy is the other English opener who has been key to the transformation of the English side after the 2015 World Cup debacle. In case of a quick wicket or two, Joe Root, who has been the centerpiece of the English cricket team, has ensured that the team doesn't lose more wickets by stitching key partnerships with the top order batsmen.

The duo has put together 1092 runs in just 16 innings. Roy and Root are the only two currently active batsmen who have a better partnership average than Amla and de Villiers. The duo averages 72.80 in ODIs and has managed to put together 4 century and 5 half-century partnerships.

The highest partnership between the two was recorded at the start of this year. Roy and Root managed to build a magnanimous partnership of 221 runs against Australia. The partnership helped England chased a target of 305 with ease.

With Root being consistent in stitching partnerships with the top order, England is definitely one of the top contenders to win the upcoming World Cup.

Innings: 16, Runs: 1092, Averages: 72.80, 100s: 4, 50s: 5