Asia Cup, since its inception in 1984, has seen much development in terms of cricketing rules, technological accessibility, as well as formats.
When the Asian Cricket Council decided to give a floor where Asian teams could compete with each other, it might’ve been due to encouraging more team spirit in the Asian region.
However, over the last three decades, as an evolved cricket impacted the Asia Cup Tournament greatly, individual performances have shadowed the team performance on numerous occasions.
Indian cricket team perhaps have had the most influence on the Asia Cup through their individual batting and bowling talents. If you’re a fan of the ‘Men in Blue,’ this article will entertain you with some top Indian batsmen records.
So, let’s turn on your nostalgia button and dive into the top-notch batting records established by the Indian batsmen in the Asia Cup.
6 Iconic Indian Batsmen in the Asia Cup Tournament (ODIs & T20s)
There are several batsmen from the Indian team who’ve marked their ways in the Asia Cup history. But we’ve rounded up 5 of them who’ve been literally iconic, and some of them, the greatest.
Without a pinch of doubt, the very first name that comes on top of the list is the great Sachin Tendulkar. The little master has had an excellent influence in the Asia Cup tournaments for more than two decades (1990-2012).
In this marvelous journey, the right-handed Tendulkar played some innings of pure gem. He’s played 23 matches in the Asia Cup in total in which he’s conjured up 971 runs with an average of 51.1.
In those 23 matches, Sachin has hit 2 tons one of which was his very last and the hundredth century in his career. He’s also made 7 fifties in his name.
Although he retired from cricket in 2013, fans still reminisce about his classy and impactful batting in the Asia Cup Tournament.
Ref: Sachin Tendulkar, Asia Cup (ODI) Profile
The current ODI captain of India, the right-handed Rohit Sharma has been a reliable and masterful opener in the Indian team for several years.
But fans know how crucial this man has been for his team in the Asia Cup matches, especially after leading his team as the champion in the 2018 Asia Cup.
Playing 22 ODI matches so far in the Asia Cup, Rohit can break the record of playing the highest number of matches in this version of the game soon, leaving the legend Sachin Tendulkar behind (23 matches).
Rohit has so far made 745 runs with an average of 46.56 (before the 2023 Asia Cup). He also stands in the second position after Tendulkar in terms of individual run-scoring. He’s made 1 century and 6 half-centuries in this format.
In the Men’s T20 Asia Cup, Rohit has acquired 271 runs in 9 matches with the highest score of 83.
Ref: Rohit Sharma, Asia Cup (ODI) Profile
The name has etched itself in the hearts of millions of cricket fans around the world— Virat Kohli has been one of the top run machines in the Indian squad, be it ODI or T20. In short, VK is known as the ultimate run chaser.
Kohli played his first Asia Cup match in 2010. Since then, he’s transformed into an undefeated scorer who’s able to play any blower in any cricket ground in the world.
In the Asia Cup itself, the right-handed Virat marked his name with a monumental 183-run knock against their arch-rival Pakistan in 2012 in an appalling chase of 329 in 50 overs.
Virat’s total score so far in the ODI format of the Asia Cup is 613 runs (before the 2023 Asia Cup) with an average of 61.3. In the shorter format, he’s managed to accumulate 429 runs in 10 matches.
Ref: Virat Kohli, Asia Cup (ODI) Profile
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni
The captain cool M. S. Dhoni aka Mahi might have retired from all formats of cricket, but his unmatched impact in batting and wicket-keeping is still on song. Otherly known as the finisher, Dhoni has clinched numerous victories for the Indian side since 2008 in the Asia Cup.
In the ODI format, Dhoni has made 648 runs with a magnificent average of 64.8. He also had 1 century and 3 fifties to his name. The T20 Asia Cup hadn’t been so lofty for Dhoni as he managed to make only 42 runs in 5 matches.
Ref: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Asia Cup (ODI) Profile
- Virendar Sehwag
For a long time, Virender Sehwag (Nickname, Viru) has been known as a boisterous batsman on the Indian squad. His fearless batting has also geared up the Indian team’s performance in the Asia Cup from 2004 to 2010.
In the 2008 Asia Cup, Viru blasted 348 runs in 5 matches with a staggering average of 69.70 and a strike rate of 143.80! Sehwag’s total run in the Asia Cup is 509 in 13 matches.
Fans would definitely wish him to stay until the T20 Asia Cup commenced in 2016. It would’ve been a thrilling experience for them to see Viru slamming the opponent bowlers in this shorter version.
Ref: Virendar Sehwag, Asia Cup (ODI) Profile
- Gautam Gambhir
The lefty Gautam Gambhir has valiantly contributed as an opener to his team in all formats of the game. Particularly, in the Asia Cup ODI, Gambhir has shown his class and impact equally from 2008 to 2012.
To make it to this list of top iconic batsmen, Gambhir has played 13 ODI matches in the Asia Cup and gathered 573 runs with an average of 44.07. He has 1 century and 5 half-centuries to his name.
Gambhir retired in December 2018 and didn’t play any T20 version of the Asia Cup.
Ref: Gautam Gambhir, Asia Cup (ODI) Profile
Top Indian Batsmen with Maximum Runs in Asia Cup (ODI only)
Here’s a list of the top 5 Indian batsmen with the maximum number of runs in the ODIs of the Asia Cup:
| SL No. | Player’s Name | Number of Matches | Total Runs | Highest Score | Average |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 23 | 971 | 114 | 51.1 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | 22 | 745 | 111* | 46.56 |
| 3 | M. S. Dhoni | 19 | 648 | 109 | 64.8 |
| 4 | Virat Kohli | 11 | 613 | 183 | 61.3 |
| 5 | Gautam Gambhir | 13 | 573 | 100 | 44.07 |
Virat Kohli has made 429 runs in 11 matches in the T20 version of the Asia Cup (2016 & 2022). In the 2022 Asia Cup in UAE, Kohli got 276 runs in 6 matches with a massive average of 92.00.
Kohli is followed by Rohit Sharma in this format who’s made 271 runs in 9 matches.
Ref: Records in Asia Cup, Most Runs in Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2015/16, Most Runs in Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2022
Top Match-Winning Innings by Indian Batsmen in Asia Cup
If you clearly remember, the match-winning innings by the Indian batsmen have been a delightful experience altogether. The Asia Cup has also been a witness to all these phenomenal scores over the years.
Let’s incentivize your memory lane by sharing a few of those wonderful innings below:
Kohli Special 183 Vs. Pakistan in 2012
In 2012, just 4 years after his debut, Virat Kohli played a gem of an innings in the Asia Cup event in Dhaka. He made 183 off just 148 balls against their sworn opponent Pakistan in the 5th match of the tournament.
Virat made it possible to win a difficult match with this massive batting prowess. Pakistan batted first and registered 329 runs on their scoreboard. With a strong bowling lineup, including Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, and others, Pakistan was looking apprehensive. The fear took its toll as they took out India’s first wicket cheaply.
From that point on, Virat just exploited Pak bowlers as he pleased, and Sachin and Rohit anchored him. Kohli made 133 with Sachin in the 2nd wicket and 172 in the 3rd wicket with Rohit.
When Virat departed in 47.1 overs, India was already looking home with only 12 runs to get and 6 wickets in hand. Kohli hit 22 boundaries and 1 six in that belligerent innings!
Kohli 49: Savior Again Vs. Pakistan
Turning the pages of the Asia Cup history, we’ve found another of Kohli’s masterful innings that saved the day. Guess who’s the opponent! Yet again, Pakistan!
The 2016 Asia Cup was the first T20 version of the event. India took on Pakistan in the 4th match of the tournament. With a fabulous bowling performance, India got Pakistan all out for just 83 runs.
In reply, India lost 3 wickets for just 8 runs thanks to Mohammad Amir’s incredibly consistent pace and swings. Kohli came into bat in his usual position, no. 3 and lingered there to get settled although he had a narrow escape in Amir’s in-swinging delivery.
Once Amir’s spell was over, Kohli started showing his skills with dazzling shots all over the ground. He made a sensible 49 (51) with 7 boundaries, enough to see his team off to a comfortable victory by 5 wickets after a frivolous start.
Dhawan’s Classy 60 Vs. Bangladesh in 2016 Final
Shikhar Dhawan’s wonderful knock of 60 (44) against Bangladesh achieved them the Asia Cup trophy for the 6th time in history. It was a well-staged final in Mirpur National Stadium and both teams were pumped up for a tight match.
Bangladesh put up a good total of 120 for 5 in the rain-reduced 15-over match. But even after losing Rohit early, Dhawan’s classy batting with 9 boundaries and 1 six made India win flawlessly. Not to forget Virat’s sensible 41 runs that eased the chasing even more.
Rohit & Dhawan Duo: 111* and 114 Vs. Pakistan
We’ve paired Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan since these two hit a ton each in chasing down a moderate total of 237 by Pakistan. And you can’t prefer one innings to the other in terms of impacting the match result.
In the 3rd match of Asia Cup 2018, Pakistan managed 237 in their stipulated 50 overs. Pak had a standard bowling lineup with M Amir, S Afridi, H Ali, Shadab Khan, and all.
But India’s batting scorecard will tell you another story. In just 39.3 overs, India bagged the match with 9 wickets in hand. The stupendous opening stand between Rohit (111*) and Shikhar (114) registered 210 in just 34 overs, making it ridiculously easy to win the match.
Sehwag’s Hammering 119 Vs. Pakistan in 2008
Virender Sehwag has mostly appeared more aggressive in the face of mammoth chases. We’re yet again sharing an Indian batsman whose masterclass innings helped beat Pakistan in the Asia Cup tournament.
Pakistan posted a big total of 299 runs in the 5th match of the 2008 Asia Cup in Karachi. In response, after losing Gambhir at 12, Sehwag and Raina added 198 runs to the total. India were already 210 in just 27 overs.
As Raina perished, Sehwag departed soon after. But he did the damage required to yet again chase down a big total against Pakistan, and that also in their home ground. Sehwag made 119 off just 95 deliveries, hitting 12 fours and 5 super sixes. India won the match by 6 wickets with almost 8 overs in hand.
Most Memorable Knocks by Indian Batsmen in Asia Cup
There were a few memorable knocks by Indian batsmen in the Asia Cup that had their own merits. These innings sometimes won the match and sometimes only carried a consolation prize.
Below we’ll share three of such memorable knocks:
Sachin’s 100th Ton: 114 Vs. Bangladesh in 2012
Those who remember the day, when the cricket maestro fulfilled a pioneering record of a hundred centuries in career, can also reminisce how sad the ending was!
India was beaten by Bangladesh by 5 wickets in this historical ODI of the Asia Cup 2012 in Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. It was the 4th match of the tournament.
It took Sachin more than a year (369 days) and 12 ODIs to reach from the 99th ton to the 100th. But it was worth it! As he pushed Shakib to mid-wicket for a single, the gallery roared as did millions of fans around the world watching this incredible moment on TV.
Tendulkar played a careful and sensible innings to patiently reach his 49th ODI hundred in 138 balls. He perished at 114 (147), helping India reach 289 for 5 in 50 overs. But with a fearless and sensible batting display, Bangladesh snatched the match away from India, winning it for 5 wickets.
Kohli’s 1st T20 Ton: 122 Vs. Afghanistan in 2022
Kohli again makes the list. Again with a brilliant match-winning century. But it was a doleful experience for the Indian fans eventually as this century came in the farewell match of India against Afghanistan in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup in 2022.
It was the Super 4 Stage of this tournament and India already lost 2 out of their 3 scheduled matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli replaced the resting captain Rohit Sharma and opened the innings with K. L. Rahul.
And the audience enjoyed the treat of watching the vintage Kohli smashing Afghanistan bowlers with little mercy. He reached his half-century in 32 balls while his first-ever T20 ton in just 53 deliveries. Kohli remained not out for 122 in 61 balls, making India reach 212 for 2 in 20 overs.
Afghanistan couldn’t put up a fight and scored 111 for 8 in their 20 overs. Kohli helped India get a massive 101-run win, but their itinerary for the Asia Cup 2022 in UAE was already shortened.
Dada’s Master Class Chase: 135 Vs. Bangladesh
Many might’ve forgotten but Sourav Ganguly, another legendary batsman from India, has played some effective innings in the Asia Cup ODIs. One of those commanding and cherishable innings was 135 against Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium in 2000.
Bangladesh showed fighting spirit with their batting and put 249 runs on the scoreboard. In response, Ganguly’s one-man show literally derailed Bangladesh from the match during the chase. He made 135 in just 124 balls and remained not out.
Ganguly produced 7 enormous 6s along with 6 boundaries in his innings. His valiant innings made India reach the target in just 40.1 overs with 8 wickets in hand.
Sadly, India didn’t reach the final with only a win against Bangladesh as they lost to Pakistan by 44 runs in their third and last match of the tournament.
Looking Back & Takeaways
So, these were the top batsmen from the Indian team in the Asia Cup event. Obviously, there are other batsmen who’ve made their influence with sheer talent and hard work. Their performances are no less than excellent.
However, if you’re a true fan of Indian cricket, you’ll know how Sachin, Kohli, Rohit, Ganguly, Sehwag, and others on the list have transformed the game for their country.
The memorable and top innings in this article show the pure talent, hard work, and timely performances of these highly regarded players. Most of these innings came at a time when their team needed them the most.
