On This Day: Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers stitched a record 229-run partnership in IPL 2016

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers batting together and smashing the bowlers at will is a treat to watch even today. The fans at the Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed something spectacular on this day five years ago in the 2016 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gujarat Lions, the new franchise, was in full flow winning majority of their matches but little did they know what was in store for them on this day.

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Their skipper Suresh Raina missed this game due to injury and Brendon McCullum, the stand-in captain, opted to field after winning the toss. Chris Gayle was dismissed early in the 4th over and this is where all the good things in the match ended for the Lions. AB de Villiers joined Kohli in the middle and what followed was an absolute carnage.

The South African superstar was in different mood with the bat and took the attack to the opposition from the word go. Kohli, on the other hand, realised the same and decided to play the second fiddle for the most part of the innings. De Villiers, after getting his eye in, smacked the bowlers to all parts smashing a 25-ball 50.

If this wasn't the shift in gear, the scoring rate only went up as he literally toyed with the opposition showing his 360 Degree range. Enjoying the batting of the masterclass batsman at the other end, Virat Kohli also decided to shift the gears in the death overs churning out 30 runs in one of the overs as well.

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The duo managed to smack a whopping 89 runs in the last four overs leaving the Lions' bowling attack hapless. It goes without saying that both De Villiers and Kohli smacked sensational centuries with the former remaining unbeaten. While the RCB skipper got out for 109 off just 55 balls with five fours and eight sixes, De Villiers stayed not-out on 129 off only 52 deliveries hitting a massive 10 fours and 12 sixes.

RCB ended their innings on a mammoth 248/2 in their 20 overs. Many didn't even think this would happen as the score read 19/1 after 3.5 overs post Gayle's dismissal. The 229-run partnership between the two stalwarts for the second wicket was a record in T20 cricket.

In response, Gujarat Lions batting was no where close to RCB as they crumbled only on 104 in the 19th over. RCB bowler Chris Jordan needs a special mention here as he returned with brilliant figures of 4/11 in his three overs, the effort which went unnoticed due to his teammates' carnage with the bat.