IND vs SA: Did Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson register highest partnership for second wicket in T20Is?

Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma toyed with a toothless South African bowling attack at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday to post an imposing 283/1 in the fourth and final T20I on Friday. 

Sanju Samson (109 not out off 56 balls) managed his third T20I century of the calendar year while Tilak Varma (120 not out off 47 balls) scored a consecutive ton in the series. The duo posted the highest partnership for India in T20 Internationals --- 210 off just 93 balls for the second wicket. While Sanju blasted six fours and nine maximums, Tilak Varma, the more aggressive of the duo, registered ten sixes and nine boundaries.

However, the explosive stand between the two Indian batters also broke the world record for being the highest partnership for a second wicket in T20Is. The stand broke the record held by Dutch pair Michael Levitt and Sybrand Engelbrecht -- 193 runs against Namibia earlier this year. 

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Interestingly, Samson held the previous record of the highest second wicket partnership for India in the format -- 176 against Ireland in Dublin in 2022. It is followed by his 173-run stand with Hardik Pandya at Hyderabad in October this year. The Kerala batter had scored the first T20I ton of his career in that match .

Highest partnership for the second wicket in T20Is:

• 210* by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma of India against South Africa in 2024
• 193 by Michael Levitt and Sybrand Engelbrecht of Holland against Namibia in 2024
• 183 by Brandon McMullen and Ollie Hairs of Scotland against Italy in 2023
• 176 by Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda of India against Ireland in 2022
• 173 by Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya of India against Bangladesh in 2022