Cricket fans are in for a thrilling tournament as the Asia Cup 2025 kicks off on September 9. The biennial tournament will see India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman and Hong Kong battle for the title of Asia’s best. While the format traditionally followed the 50-over ODI model, the tournament in 2016 was played as a T20 International competition. Today, it continues to alternate between the two formats.
Despite the growing pool of competitors, only three teams — India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — have ever lifted the trophy in the tournament’s 41-year history. This record adds extra intrigue – will one of the newer challengers finally break through or will the continental giants extend their reign this year as well?
Let’s take a look at the records made in the Asia Cup since its beginning:
Asia Cup ODI: Top batting records
Since its inception in 1984, the Asia Cup has witnessed multiple cricketing legends bat in the tournament, including the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Jayasuriya and Yuvraj Singh.
The batting records for the ODI format of the tournament are led by Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who amassed a total of 1,220 runs in 25 matches from 1990 to 2008. Jaisuriya also scored six centuries during this period, the most by any player in the history of the tournament.
On the leading run scorers table, Jayasuriya is closely followed by another Sri Lankan great, Kumar Sangakkara, who amassed a wealth of 1,075 runs in 24 matches between 2004 and 2014. One of India’s greatest batting icons, Sachin Tendulkar, ranks as the third-highest scorer in the history of the tournament. India’s beloved ‘no.10’ scored a total of 971 runs in 23 matches between 1990 and 2012.
Asia Cup’s last ODI edition took place in 2023, where India’s Shubman Gill emerged as the leading run-scorer with 302 runs in 6 matches.
Asia Cup T20: Top batting records
Asia Cup took place in the T20 format for the first time in 2016, following the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) restructuring of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2015. Asian Cricket Council is a regional cricket body that has been assigned the responsibility to organise the Asia Cup every two years.
So far, the Asia Cup has only taken place twice in T20 format, once in 2016 and then again in 2022. Both times, the tournament served as a precursor to the ICC T20 World Cup.
Virat Kohli stands out as the highest run-scorer in the tournament’s T20 format. The former Indian skipper scored a total of 429 runs from 10 matches and 9 innings across the 2016 and 2022 editions. His impressive average of 85.80 includes a magnificent unbeaten 122 knock against Afghanistan in 2022, which marks the highest individual total achieved by any single player in the tournament’s T20 format.
Kohli is closely followed by Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan at the second spot with 281 runs in 6 matches. India’s ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, ranks as the third-highest scorer in the tournament’s T20 history with 271 runs in 9 matches. Hong Kong’s Babar Hayat also features fourth in the top scorers list, accumulating 235 runs in 5 matches, including a century
Asia Cup: Highest Wicket-takers
On the Bowling front, Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar lead the wicket tally in ODI and T20 format, respectively.
In the ODI format, Sri Lanka’s ‘wizard of spin’ Muttiah Muralitharan leads the table with 30 wickets in 24 matches, including a five-wicket haul.
Mulridharan is followed by another Sri Lankan bowling legend, Lasith Malinga, at the second spot. Known for his ‘slingy’ action, the ‘yorker expert’ took 29 wickets in just 14 matches, including three five-wicket hauls to book his spot in the table.
Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner Mendis ranks third in the table. Despite his short career, Mendis made a significant impact on the game by taking 26 wickets in just 8 matches.
Known for his ability to swing the new ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the wicket tally in the tournament’s T20 format with 13 wickets in 6 matches, showcasing his mastery in the shortest format of the game. Amjad Javed, from the UAE, surprised many by claiming 12 wickets in 7 matches to arrive at the second spot in the rankings.
Mohammad Naveed of the UAE, along with Rashid Khan of Afghanistan, and India’s Hardik Pandya, share the third spot with 11 wickets each