IPL 2023: Shikhar Dhawan emulates Virat Kohli's record with 86-run partnership with Bhanuka Rajapaksa

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IPL 2023: Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan emulated RCB batter Virat Kohli's record after forging a 86-run partnership with Bhanuka Rajapaksa against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday. The two batters played their shots freely at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali after Prabhsimran Singh departed in the second over.

Dhawan is now tied with Kohli for most number of 50-plus partnerships in the IPL. Both the Delhi-born batters have partnered 94 times with different batters for a partnership in excess of fifty. Suresh Raina, David Warner and Rohit Sharma also feature in the top five list.

Batters involved in most 50-plus partnerships in IPL

Virat Kohli: 94

Shikhar Dhawan: 94

Suresh Raina: 83

David Warner: 82

Rohit Sharma: 76

Punjab's Sri Lanka batter Rajapaksa was in the top gear from ball one. He toyed with the KKR bowling attack, to score 50 runs off just 32 balls. His innings consisted of five four and two sixes. The 31-year-old also made a name for himself in the elite list.

The southpaw now has the second highest strike rate in Powerplay overs of IPL since 2022 (minimum 50 runs). He has gone past the likes of Rishabh Pant, Jonny Bairstow and Glenn Maxwell in the elite list. Here's the list we are talking about.

Highest strike rate in Powerplay overs of IPL since 2022 (minimum 50 runs)

212.12 Liam Livingstone

193.10 Bhanuka Rajapaksa*

177.41 Rishabh Pant

173.62 Jonny Bairstow

169.56 Glenn Maxwell

The partnership between captain Dhawan and Rajapaksa helped Punjab lay out a solid foundation for Punjab. KKR had asked Punjab to bat first after the winning toss. Explaining the reason behind his decision to bow, Kolkata captain Nitish Rana said that there was moisture in the pitch due to the recent rain in the city.