The World Test Championship (WTC) has created many high-pressure situations where teams rise or fall across long, grinding matches. While big centuries and five-wicket hauls get the most attention, some of the most important contributions come quietly—in the form of tough partnerships that save or win games.
These underrated partnerships didn’t always lead to record-breaking stats or grand headlines. But they changed matches, kept teams alive, or shifted the momentum. In this article, we look at the WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships—stands that didn’t get the fame but deserve full credit for their match-winning value.
Here Are WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships
5. Kyle Mayers & Joshua Da Silva – 96 Runs vs England, Grenada 2022
WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships, In the 2021–23 WTC cycle, West Indies faced England in a tight series decider in Grenada. At one stage, Windies were struggling at 128/5 in reply to England’s 204. That’s when Kyle Mayers and Joshua Da Silva came together. Mayers counter-attacked with his natural flair, while Da Silva showed maturity well beyond his age with a patient and match-defining 100 not out.
Their 96-run partnership turned the match. West Indies gained a valuable lead and later crushed England to win the game by 10 wickets. Despite being a key turning point in the series, this stand didn’t make many headlines. But it was the heartbeat of West Indies’ win and WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships
Partnership Stats
| Players | Kyle Mayers & Joshua Da Silva |
|---|---|
| WTC Cycle | 2021–23 |
| Runs Scored | 96 |
| Wicket | 6th |
| Opponent | England |
| Venue | Grenada |
| Match Result | West Indies won by 10 wickets |
| Notable Moment | Da Silva’s unbeaten century |
4. Ben Foakes & Ollie Pope – 173 Runs vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi 2022
WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships, During England’s bold Bazball tour of Pakistan in 2022, the team was in trouble after losing quick wickets on a flat Rawalpindi pitch. Ollie Pope was already looking good, but the innings needed a steady hand—and that’s where Ben Foakes stepped in. Together, they added 173 runs for the 6th wicket and gave England control again.
While Pope played his strokes freely, Foakes managed the lower order and ensured a healthy lead. Their stand gave England enough time and runs to later pull off a famous victory. Though Pope got more attention, Foakes’ quiet role was key and WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships
Partnership Stats
| Players | Ben Foakes & Ollie Pope |
|---|---|
| WTC Cycle | 2021–23 |
| Runs Scored | 173 |
| Wicket | 6th |
| Opponent | Pakistan |
| Venue | Rawalpindi |
| Match Result | England won by 74 runs |
| Highlight | Match-turning middle-order rescue |
3. Rassie van der Dussen & Temba Bavuma – 204 Runs vs India, Johannesburg 2022
WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships, South Africa was chasing a tricky 240 against India on a bouncy, tough pitch in Johannesburg. The Indian pace trio of Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj was hunting wickets. But Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma had other plans. They played with incredible focus and added 204 runs for the 4th wicket, turning the game.
Their partnership was all about survival, patience, and calculated aggression. It helped South Africa chase the target comfortably and level the series. This stand was a classic example of how gritty middle-order batting can dominate world-class bowling so they were WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships
Partnership Stats
| Players | van der Dussen & Bavuma |
|---|---|
| WTC Cycle | 2021–23 |
| Runs Scored | 204 |
| Wicket | 4th |
| Opponent | India |
| Venue | Johannesburg |
| Match Result | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| Match Impact | Series levelled at 1–1 |
2. Dinesh Chandimal & Dhananjaya de Silva – 99 Runs vs Pakistan, Galle 2022
WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships, At one stage, Sri Lanka was just 117 ahead in their second innings, with half their side dismissed. That’s when Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva built a strong 99-run stand under pressure. Chandimal missed his century, getting out on 94, but the damage was already done.
Their partnership pushed Sri Lanka’s lead beyond 400, making it nearly impossible for Pakistan to chase. In the end, Sri Lanka won by 246 runs, staying alive in the WTC race. It was a perfect mix of defense and aggression—quietly powerful and match-changing and WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships
Partnership Stats
| Players | Chandimal & de Silva |
|---|---|
| WTC Cycle | 2021–23 |
| Runs Scored | 99 |
| Wicket | 6th |
| Opponent | Pakistan |
| Venue | Galle |
| Match Result | Sri Lanka won by 246 runs |
| Highlight | Stretched lead over 400 runs |
1. Ajinkya Rahane & Ravindra Jadeja – 121 Runs vs Australia, Melbourne 2020
WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships, India was under heavy pressure after the shocking 36 all out in Adelaide. In the next Test at Melbourne, they were once again in trouble at 173/5. That’s when Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja came together. Their 121-run partnership rebuilt the innings.
Rahane went on to score a brilliant 112, but Jadeja’s crucial 57 added weight to the team’s total. Their calm, steady stand on a tricky pitch helped India set the tone. The team eventually won the match and the series turned around. This was a truly underrated backbone partnershipand WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships
Partnership Stats
| Players | Rahane & Jadeja |
|---|---|
| WTC Cycle | 2019–21 |
| Runs Scored | 121 |
| Wicket | 6th |
| Opponent | Australia |
| Venue | Melbourne |
| Match Result | India won by 8 wickets |
| Highlight | Set up comeback after 36 all out |
Conclusion
These five partnerships might not be the most famous or remembered by regular cricket fans, but they were incredibly important for their teams. In the high-pressure world of the World Test Championship, every run and session counts. These quiet, steady stands often become the difference between winning and losing. Whether it was Rahane and Jadeja building after a major collapse, or Chandimal and de Silva guiding Sri Lanka out of trouble, each of these pairs showed strength, trust, and determination. The WTC Era’s Top 5 Most Underrated Partnerships remind us that cricket isn’t always about big scores—sometimes it’s about staying strong, playing smart, and supporting each other when it matters the most. These are the true backbones of Test cricket.
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