Few batting partnerships in T20 cricket have captivated fans like the legendary duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. When they batted together for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), it wasn’t just a game—it was prime-time entertainment, and on May 14, 2016, they produced one of the most iconic moments in IPL history.
Facing the Gujarat Lions (GL) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the duo stitched together a record-shattering 229-run stand for the second wicket—the highest-ever in men’s T20s and still the benchmark in IPL history. It all began after RCB lost Chris Gayle early for just 6. What followed was nothing short of a masterclass in aggressive yet elegant batting.
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Virat Kohli, in red-hot form during his dream 2016 season, hammered 109 off 55 balls, laced with 5 boundaries and 8 sixes. At the other end, AB de Villiers was at his audacious best, dismantling bowlers with a breathtaking 129* off 52 deliveries, which featured 10 fours and a jaw-dropping 12 sixes. Together, they turned the match into a demolition job.
Ironically, they broke their own previous record—an unbeaten 215-run stand against Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2015. But this 229-run rampage was different; it was dominance redefined.
The Gujarat Lions simply had no answer. Praveen Kumar managed to pick up two wickets, but RCB’s total of 248/3 was far beyond reach. In the chase, Yuzvendra Chahal’s guile (3/19) and Chris Jordan’s pace (4/11) flattened the Lions for a mere 104, sealing a massive 144-run win for Bengaluru.
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Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers didn’t just bat; they orchestrated a symphony that evening—one that fans still remember as one of the greatest IPL performances of all time.
