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Well begun is half done. This proverb is apt for the game of cricket. More often than not, a good opening partnership sets the tone for remainder of the innings. The middle order can then build on the foundation and momentum set by the openers.
Team India have, to date, only one 100-plus opening parternship in knockout matches across Men's and Women's ODI World Cup - between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma in the final of ICC Women's World Cup 2025.
On that note, here is a look at the top five opening partnerships for India across Men's and Women's ODI World Cup knockouts:
#1 Smriti Mandhana & Shafali Verma (104)- ICC Women's World Cup 2025, Final
Team India could not have dreamt of a better start to the final of the ICC Women's World Cup 2025. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put on 104 runs off 106 balls for the first wicket against South Africa in Navi Mumbai.
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Mandhana was the first batter to be dismissed after scoring a fluent 45, including eight bounderies. Varma, who replaced the injured Pratika Rawal ahead of the semifinal, made an impact in her second game of the tournament, scoring 87 runs from 78 balls. She smashed seven boundaries and two maximums.
Mandhana and Verma complemented each other well and saw off the new ball. Team India eventually scored 298 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs.
#2 Sachin Tendulkar & Navjot Sidhu (90)- ICC Men's World Cup, 1996, Quarterfinal
In a high-voltage quarterfinal clash between the arch-rivals in Bangalore, Team India won a closely fought contest by 39 runs.
Batting first, India scored 287 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs. While the memories of Ajay Jadeja's blazing innings (45 of 25 balls) are still fresh in the minds of Indian cricket fans, the contribution of the openers was also vital.
Sachin Tendulkar and Navjot Sidhu added 90 runs for the opening wicket in 21.2 overs. Tendulkar was the first to be dismissed for 31.
Sidhu went on to score 93 to finish as India's top run-getter against Pakistan, and was also named Player of the Match.
#3 Rohit Sharma & Shikhar Dhawan (75)- ICC Men's World Cup 2015, Quarterfinal:
Team India remained unbeaten in the group stage of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2015. They were then pitted against Bangladesh in the second quarterfinal of the tournament in Melbourne.
Batting first, India scored 302 runs for the loss of six wickets from 50 overs. Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, added 75 runs together from 16.3 overs before the latter was dismissed for 30 runs.
Sharma was at his lethal best and scored 137 runs from 126 balls, smashing 14 boundaries and three maximums.
India won the game by 109 runs.
#4 Sachin Tendulkar & Virender Sehwag (74)- ICC Men's World Cup, 2003 Semifinal:
India faced Kenya in the second semifinal of the 2003 World Cup. The pitch at Durban was assisting the bowlers and the Indian openers cautiously saw off the new ball.
Tendulkar and Sehwag added 74 runs for the opening wicket in 111 balls, before the latter departed for 33 runs.
Thereafter, Tendulkar added 103 runs with Sourav Ganguly for the second wicket before getting dismissed for 83. He smashed five boundaries and a maximun during his innings and was made to work hard for his runs.
India managed to score 270 for the loss of four wickets in 50 overs, with Ganguly being the top scorer (111).
Kenya faltered while batting under lights and were bundled out for 179. India won the game handsomely by a margin of 91 runs and entered the final of the tournament.
#5 Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill (71)- ICC Men's World Cup 2023, Semifinal:
The former and current India ODI skippers were instrumental in getting the team off to a flying start in the semifinal of the 2023 World Cup against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The duo added 71 runs in just 50 balls before Sharma departed for 47 runs. He batted at an astounding strike rate of 162.06 and smashed four boundaries and four maximums during his innings. The experienced duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult were taken to the cleaners by Sharma.
Gill, on the other hand, started cautiously but then accelerated to get to 79 runs from 65 balls before walking off the field due to cramps. He retuned to bat in the last over of the innings and added one more run, finishing unbeaten on 80.
India scored a mammoth 397 for the loss of four wickets and won by 70 runs. Mohammed Shami picked up seven wickets and was named Player of the Match.
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