Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam hold the record for the highest partnership in PSL history. Their 191-run stand for the second wicket came on April 9, 2026, during Peshawar Zalmi’s demolition of Karachi Kings.
Partnerships win T20 matches. When two batters click together, bowling attacks crumble. The Pakistan Super League has witnessed some jaw-dropping batting displays since 2016. And one name dominates the partnership charts: Babar Azam.
This article covers the top 10 highest partnerships in PSL, the players who feature most often, and what makes these stands so special. Data updated as of April 2026.
Top 10 Highest Partnerships in PSL History
Here’s the complete list of the biggest batting partnerships ever recorded in the Pakistan Super League:
| Rank | Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kusal Mendis, Babar Azam | 191 | 2nd | Peshawar Zalmi | Karachi Kings | Karachi | 9 Apr 2026 |
| 2 | Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam | 176 | 1st | Karachi Kings | Islamabad United | Karachi | 24 Feb 2021 |
| 3 | Saim Ayub, Babar Azam | 162 | 1st | Peshawar Zalmi | Quetta Gladiators | Rawalpindi | 8 Mar 2023 |
| 4 | David Warner, James Vince | 162 | 2nd | Karachi Kings | Peshawar Zalmi | Rawalpindi | 17 May 2025 |
| 5 | Liam Livingstone, Babar Azam | 157 | 1st | Karachi Kings | Multan Sultans | Dubai | 15 Feb 2019 |
| 6 | Usman Khan, Mohammad Rizwan | 157 | 1st | Multan Sultans | Quetta Gladiators | Rawalpindi | 11 Mar 2023 |
| 7 | Saud Shakeel, Jason Roy | 157 | 1st | Quetta Gladiators | Peshawar Zalmi | Lahore | 18 Feb 2024 |
| 8 | Samit Patel, Ben Dunk | 155 | 4th | Lahore Qalandars | Quetta Gladiators | Lahore | 3 Mar 2020 |
| 9 | Will Smeed, Ahsan Ali | 155 | 1st | Quetta Gladiators | Peshawar Zalmi | Karachi | 28 Jan 2022 |
| 10 | Shane Watson, Sharjeel Khan | 153 | 1st | Islamabad United | Lahore Qalandars | Sharjah | 10 Feb 2016 |
The Record-Breaking 191-Run Stand
On April 9, 2026, cricket fans witnessed history at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam didn’t just break records. They shattered them.
How It Happened
Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and elected to bat. Mohammad Haris fell on the second ball for a duck. Not the ideal start.
What followed was pure carnage.
Mendis took charge immediately. He smashed Mir Hamza for back-to-back sixes in the second over. The Sri Lankan left-hander was in the mood for destruction.
Babar anchored the innings with his trademark elegance. While Mendis attacked, Babar rotated strike and punished loose deliveries.
The partnership reached 50 in just 27 balls. By the time Mendis fell in the 17th over, the scoreboard read 191 for the second wicket.
Kusal Mendis’ Historic Century
Mendis scored 109 off 52 balls with 14 fours and 4 sixes.
This made him the first Sri Lankan to score a century in PSL history.
His century came off just 48 balls, the fastest hundred for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL.
Babar Azam’s Supporting Role
Babar finished unbeaten on 87 off 51 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes.
Unlike his previous record partnership, where he faced criticism for slow scoring, Babar maintained a strike rate of 170+. The skipper showed he can accelerate when needed.
The Final Damage
Peshawar Zalmi posted 246/3 in 20 overs. This became:
- Peshawar Zalmi’s highest-ever total in PSL
- Highest team total against Karachi Kings in PSL history
- Sixth-highest team total in PSL history
Karachi Kings collapsed to 87 all out in reply. Peshawar won by a massive 159 runs, the largest victory margin by runs in PSL history.
Babar Azam: The Partnership King
If there’s one stat that defines Babar Azam’s dominance in PSL, it’s this: he features in 4 of the top 5 highest partnerships in tournament history.
Babar’s Partnership Records
| Partner | Runs | Wicket | Team | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kusal Mendis | 191 | 2nd | Peshawar Zalmi | 2026 |
| Sharjeel Khan | 176 | 1st | Karachi Kings | 2021 |
| Saim Ayub | 162 | 1st | Peshawar Zalmi | 2023 |
| Liam Livingstone | 157 | 1st | Karachi Kings | 2019 |
Why Babar Dominates Partnership Charts
Babar has the most 100-run partnerships in PSL history with 14 century stands. Mohammad Rizwan is second with 11.
His technique allows partners to play freely. Babar rotates strike, builds pressure on bowlers, and stays till the end.
During the 191-run stand with Mendis, Babar played the anchor role perfectly. He let Mendis attack while keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Babar’s PSL Milestones in 2026
The Peshawar Zalmi captain has been breaking records all season:
- First player to 4,000 runs in PSL history
- Fastest to 12,000 runs in T20 cricket (338 innings)
- Equaled the all-time record of 46 century partnerships in T20S with Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle
The man just doesn’t stop accumulating runs. And partners. And records.
The Previous Record: Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam (176 runs)
Before Mendis came along, Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam held the highest partnership record.
Their 176-run opening stand came on February 24, 2021, at the National Stadium in Karachi. Karachi Kings were facing Islamabad United.
The Innings Breakdown
Sharjeel smashed 105 off 59 balls with 9 fours and 8 sixes. This was his second PSL century.
Babar scored 62 off 54 balls. He faced criticism for his strike rate that day.
Karachi posted 196/3 but lost the match. Islamabad chased it down with 5 wickets remaining.
Sharjeel Khan’s PSL Partnership Record
Sharjeel features in 3 of the top 10 highest partnerships:
| Partner | Runs | Team | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | 176 | Karachi Kings | 2021 |
| Shane Watson | 153 | Islamabad United | 2016 |
| Babar Azam | 148 | Karachi Kings | 2020 |
The explosive left-hander’s ability to dominate powerplays makes him a perfect partner for accumulator-type batters.
Other Notable Partnerships in PSL History
1. Saim Ayub and Babar Azam (162 runs)
The third-highest partnership came in PSL 2023 when Saim Ayub burst onto the scene.
Playing for Peshawar Zalmi against Quetta Gladiators, the young opener smashed 74 off 34 balls. He reached his fifty in just 24 deliveries.
Babar contributed 70+ runs, and together they posted 162 for the first wicket in 13.3 overs.
2. David Warner and James Vince (162 runs)
The only overseas-only partnership in the top 10.
Warner and Vince combined for 162 runs for Karachi Kings against Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2025.
This shows that when two international stars click, the results can match those of local partnerships.
3. Usman Khan and Mohammad Rizwan (157 runs)
Multan Sultans’ dynamic duo lit up PSL 2023 with a blistering opening stand.
Usman Khan scored 120 off 43 balls, one of the fastest centuries in PSL history. Rizwan played the supporting role with 55 off 29 balls.
They added 91 runs in the powerplay alone.
4. Liam Livingstone and Babar Azam (157 runs)
Before the Sharjeel partnership, this was the PSL record.
In PSL 2019, Livingstone (82) and Babar (77) dominated Multan Sultans’ bowling. The English power-hitter was particularly brutal, reaching his fifty in 29 balls.
Livingstone’s ability to clear boundaries complemented Babar’s orthodox stroke play perfectly.
Patterns in PSL’s Highest Partnerships
Most Common Venue: Karachi
5 of the top 10 highest partnerships have been recorded in Karachi.
The flat pitches at the National Bank Stadium (formerly National Stadium) favor batters. Boundaries are relatively short, and the surface offers even bounce.
Most Common Wicket: Opening Partnership
7 of the top 10 partnerships are for the first wicket.
This makes sense. Openers face the new ball when fielding restrictions are in place. Plus, they have 20 overs to bat together if they survive.
The second-highest (191 runs) was for the second wicket, showing that one early wicket doesn’t always derail a batting side.
Teams That Feature Most Often
| Team | Appearances in Top 10 |
|---|---|
| Karachi Kings | 3 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 3 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 2 |
| Multan Sultans | 1 |
| Islamabad United | 1 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 1 |
Karachi and Peshawar dominate. Both teams have historically invested in top-order batting talent.
What Makes a Great T20 Partnership?
Communication
Babar Azam often talks about running between wickets. Quick singles convert ones into twos. This puts pressure on fielders and opens gaps.
Complementary Styles
The best partnerships combine an anchor with an aggressor. Babar plays the anchor role. Partners like Mendis, Sharjeel, and Livingstone provide the fireworks.
Staying Till the End
The 191-run partnership lasted till the 17th over. That’s 15+ overs of continuous batting. Most T20 partnerships end within 5-6 overs.
Staying at the crease together allows batters to build momentum and tire out bowling attacks.
Exploiting Fielding Restrictions
6 mandatory fielders inside the circle during powerplay means boundaries are easier. Top partnerships maximize this phase.
Mendis and Babar scored heavily in the first six overs. They carried that momentum into the middle overs.
Impact of Record Partnerships on Match Results
Here’s an interesting stat: not all record partnerships guarantee wins.
The 176-run stand between Sharjeel and Babar ended in defeat. Karachi Kings posted 196, but Islamabad United chased it down.
However, the 191-run partnership resulted in a 159-run victory. The difference? Peshawar’s bowling backed up the batting effort.
Partnership Value = Runs Scored + Platform Created
A 150+ partnership doesn’t just add runs. It demoralizes bowlers, forces captains into defensive modes, and sets up totals that are often unchaseable.
PSL 2026 Season Context
The 2026 PSL has been eventful beyond just batting records.
League Expansion
PSL expanded from 6 to 8 teams in 2026. New franchises Hyderabad Kingsmen and Sialkot Stallionz (later relocated to Multan as Multan Sultans) joined the competition.
First-Ever Player Auction
For the first time in PSL history, players were selected through an auction system instead of the traditional draft.
Behind Closed Doors
Due to economic circumstances, PSL 2026 is being played behind closed doors at just two venues: Lahore and Karachi.
Despite these challenges, the quality of the cricket has remained outstanding. The Mendis-Babar partnership proved that.
Records Broken in the 191-Run Partnership Game
The April 9, 2026 match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings broke multiple records:
- Highest partnership for any wicket in PSL (191 runs)
- Highest team total by Peshawar Zalmi (246/3)
- Highest total against Karachi Kings (246)
- First Sri Lankan century in PSL (Kusal Mendis, 109)
- Fastest century for Peshawar Zalmi (Mendis, 48 balls)
- Largest victory margin by runs in PSL (159 runs)
- Lowest total by Karachi Kings in PSL (87 all out)
That’s seven records in one match. Cricket truly is a game of glorious uncertainties.
Also Read:
- Top Match-Winning Performances in PSL (Records)
- Players with Most Sixes in a Season in PSL (Records 2026)
The 191-run partnership between Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam has set a new benchmark in PSL history!
It showed what happens when a destructive hitter meets a technically sound anchor.
Babar Azam continues to dominate partnership charts. With 4 of the top 5 highest partnerships featuring his name, he’s proven that batting in T20S isn’t just about strike rates. It’s about staying at the crease and building momentum.
The Pakistan Super League continues to produce memorable batting displays. From Sharjeel’s explosiveness to Warner’s overseas brilliance to Mendis’ historic century, partnerships remain the foundation of big totals.
As PSL 2026 continues, expect more records to fall. With eight teams competing and the best T20 talent in action, the next 191 might just be around the corner.
