IPL 2026 has been a batting feast so far, with a couple of low-scoring encounters sandwiched in between. But the teams these days are built to score runs at rapid pace, the boundaries are debatably shorter, and the bats are as powerful as ever. As a result, 200 has been surpassed by teams on 11 occasions in just 13 matches, and three times targets in excess of 200 have been chased down rather easily.
Opening batting has become mush more explosive, and the success of a team is somewhat defined with the way their openers play. The results may vary of course, but an opening stand becomes crucial since it really sets the tone for the rest of the innings, which is undisputable. While many may think that the pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head is the best in IPL 2026, that might not be entirely true. There are other contenders in the fray too, and it is important to rate them all.
DC the worst so far
KL Rahul/Pathum Nissanka: Even though Axar Patel’s team has won their opening two matches, somehow they have erred in their opening combination. For now, KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka have been their choice, who have scored only 2 runs in two matches until now. For all you know, they might fire all cylinders in the next match, but they also have the option of Abhishek Porel, who could be given a chance as well.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 0 vs LSG, 2 vs MI
Sanju Samson/Ruturaj Gaikwad: Many had expected Ayush Mhatre to open with Samson in this edition, after doing so well the last year. But Mhatre has been demoted to no. 3, and the skipper has taken up the responsibility himself. Just that he has failed thrice, along with his partner. As it is, their batting looks quite thin, and the burden of failing opening stand isn’t helping them.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 14 vs RR, 14 vs PBKS, 9 vs RCB
LSG’s Rishabh Pant conundrum
Mitchell Marsh/Rishabh Pant/Aiden Markram: Many wanted Rishabh Pant to open the innings for LSG this year. And the one time he did, he failed. Now, that has put the fans, and the management in two minds. In their next match, the skipper reverted to earlier formula of Mitchell Marsh/Aiden Markram at the top vs SRH, and himself steered the team home. Now, the question is, if Pant should bat at the top, if LSG bat first? One feels, the saner choice would be to let Markram/Marsh take care of that role.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 19 vs DC, 37 vs SRH
Virat Kohli/Phil Salt: Last year, this pair was decent with 456 runs together in 10 outings, and had five 50+ stands. But this year, they are yet to start with their fireworks. Both Salt and Virat have looked good individually, but the solidity from last season is still a miss. That could be rectified in the next matches.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 9 vs SRH, 37 vs CSK
Need improvement for sure
Prabhsimran Singh/Priyansh Arya: The tried and tested combo of PBKS, just like RCB, is yet to set the stage on fire. Their team is second on the points table, but opening has been, just about okay. Prabh and Priyansh failed in the first match against GT, but made amends vs a weak bowling attack of CSK. So, that doesn’t say much about the opening pair. In 2025, they had scored 532 runs together.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 7 vs GT, 61 vs CSK
Abhishek Sharma/Travis Head: These two gentlemen are absolute killers of a cricket ball. The way they massacre bowlers is just unprecedented. But then, it just gives a feeling, the teams have come up with bowling plans to get them out. And that is why, except for one match, they haven’t had much say. 82 vs KKR has been their highest partnership this year.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 18 vs RCB, 82 vs KKR, 1 vs LSG
Rohit Sharma/ Ryan Rickelton: A 148 in their opening match vs KKR instilled the belief among MI fans, that it was going to be a great season for them. But it took a while for all to realise, that it perhaps came against one of the weakest bowling attack of the season. Against better teams, DC and RR, the pair couldn’t impress much.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 148 vs KKR, 18 vs DC, 10 vs RR
The top three pairs
Ajinkya Rahane/Finn Allen: Truth be told, there was a lot of conjecture before the season began, as to who would open the innings for them. For a few seasons in the past Sunil Narine had been doing it with various partners; then there was an option of Tim Seifert as well. But the team did well to go with Rahane & Allen. The duo have scored 113 runs together in 3 innings.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 69 vs MI, 30 vs SRH, 12 vs PBKS
Shubman Gill/Sai Sudharsan/Kumar Kushagra: The GT pair has the tall order of repeating their feats from 2025. A huge part of their success was due to how the duo fared at the top. Both of them were contenders for the orange cap, with Sudharsan eventually winning it. In their last match, Gill was out due to an injury, and youngster Kushagra filled in for him, getting 78-run stand against RR.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 37 vs PBKS, 78 vs RR
Yashasvi Jaiswal/Vaibhav Suryavanshi: Imagine a 15-year-old boy tonking international cricketers twice his age, to all parts of the ground. That is what Suryavanshi has managed to do in the matches he has played so far. In fact, along with him, Jaiswal has gotten into that beast mode, that is kind of unprecedented.
Just recently, they broke the record for fastest 500 runs by a pair in IPL — 248 deliveries only. They maintain a run rate of 12.57, the best by any in the history. So clearly, other pairs have some catching up to do.
Runs scored together in IPL 2026: 75 vs CSK, 70 vs GT, 80 vs MI
