Asia Cup Highest Run Scorer: The cricketing world turns its attention to Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the 16th edition of the Asia Cup kickstarts on August 30th. With the clash between the hosts Pakistan and the emerging side Nepal at Multan, the tournament promises nail-biting encounters right from the word go. Notably, the Asia Cup returns to its traditional 50-over format this year, aligning with the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. Teams are battling it out in 13 matches across four electric venues in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Asia Cup is a cricket championship exclusive to Asian nations, showcasing competition in both One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International formats. Inaugurated in 1984, a year after the formation of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), it initially took place every two years. However, the frequency has since changed; for a while, the tournament was held every four years. Currently, the Asia Cup alternates between the ODI and T20I formats every two years, aligning with the upcoming ICC tournament’s format. Unique to the sport, the Asia Cup is the only cricket championship that is continental in scope.
Asia Cup Highest Run Scorer:
Since its inception in 1984, the Asia Cup has been staged 15 times, with Sri Lanka being the only country to participate in all editions. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have each missed one tournament—India sat out the 1986 competition due to diplomatic tensions with Sri Lanka, while Pakistan opted out of the 1990/91 event due to its strained relationship with India.
When it comes to success, India leads the pack with seven Asia Cup titles, followed by Sri Lanka with six, and Pakistan securing two championships.
Turning our attention to individual performance, specifically the highest run-scorer in the tournament’s history, let’s first examine who topped the charts in each edition. In the inaugural Asia Cup, it was Surinder Khanna of India who led the run-scoring, accumulating 107 runs. Notably, he was the only player to cross the 100-run mark in that first three-team contest.
Highest Run Scorer in Aisa Cup 2023 (18-09-2023 Updated)
As the tournament unfolds, new heroes will emerge, and old ones may continue their legacy. Keep an eye on this section as we will update it with the cricketers who go on to dominate the run-scoring charts in the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup.
POS | PLAYER | TEAM | MAT | INNS | RUNS | SR | AVG | HS | 50S | 100S | 4S | 6S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shubman Gill | IND | 6 | 6 | 302 | 93.49 | 75.50 | 121 | 2 | 1 | 35 | 6 |
2 | Kusal Mendis | SL | 6 | 6 | 270 | 85.71 | 45.00 | 92 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 5 |
3 | Sadeera Samarawickrama | SL | 6 | 6 | 215 | 89.21 | 35.83 | 93 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
4 | Babar Azam | PAK | 5 | 4 | 207 | 97.64 | 51.75 | 151 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 4 |
5 | Mohammad Rizwan | PAK | 5 | 4 | 195 | 94.20 | 97.50 | 86 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
6 | Rohit Sharma | IND | 6 | 5 | 194 | 107.78 | 48.50 | 74 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 11 |
7 | Najmul Hossain Shanto | BAN | 2 | 2 | 193 | 85.02 | 96.50 | 104 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 2 |
8 | Iftikhar Ahmed | PAK | 5 | 3 | 179 | 122.60 | 89.50 | 109 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 6 |
9 | Charith Asalanka | SL | 6 | 6 | 179 | 74.27 | 44.75 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
10 | Shakib Al Hasan | BAN | 5 | 5 | 173 | 97.19 | 43.25 | 80 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 4 |
Shubhman Gill
Indian batsman Shubman Gill had an impressive run at the Asia Cup 2023 as he finished on the top of the table of the highest run scorers of the tournament. The right-hander notched 302 runs from 6 innings at an average of 75.50 and a strike rate of 93.49. Gill scored two fifties and a hundred in the 16th edition of the billenial tournament.
Kusal Mendis
Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis finished in the second spot with 270 runs in the account from 6 innings. Mendis averaged 45.00 and had a strike rate of 85.71. The wicket-keeper batsman ended up as the highest run scorer from his country with 3 fifties.
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Third on the table is Sri Lanka’s Sadeera Samarawickrama. The right-hander embarked on a comeback trail earlier this year after being out of limited-overs action for nearly half a decade. Sadeera ended the Asia Cup 2023 as the second highest run scorer for his team. In 6 innings, Samarawickrama scored 215 runs at an average of 35.83 and a strike rate of 89.21 with 2 fifties.
Babar Azam
Pakistan batsman Babar Azam despite not making his team finish on top had a decent record as a batsman at the Asia Cup 2023. In four innings, Babar scored 207 runs at an average of 51.75 and a strike rate of 97.64 where he scored also scored a hundred.
Mohammad Rizwan
The second highest run scorer from Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan scored 195 runs from four innings and finished on the fifth spot. The wicket-keeper batsman averaged 51.75 and two half centuries to his name.
Asia Cup 2022 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Innings | NO | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mohammad Rizwan | 6 | 1 | 281 | 56.2 | 117.57 | 78* | 0 | 3 | 21 | 6 |
Virat Kohli | 5 | 2 | 276 | 92 | 147.59 | 122* | 1 | 2 | 20 | 11 |
Ibrahim Zadran | 5 | 2 | 196 | 65.33 | 104.25 | 64* | 0 | 1 | 14 | 4 |
Bhanuka Rajapaksa | 6 | 2 | 191 | 47.75 | 149.21 | 71* | 0 | 1 | 15 | 9 |
Pathum Nissanka | 5 | 1 | 173 | 34.6 | 115.33 | 55* | 0 | 2 | 15 | 5 |
In the 2022 Asia Cup, Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan was the best in making runs. He scored 281 runs in 6 games. He was the top run-scorer of the tournament. After him, Virat Kohli from India and Ibrahim Zadran from Afghanistan were the next highest scorers. So, Mohammad Rizwan was the number one player for scoring runs in the 2022 Asia Cup.
Also see: Virat Kohli Total Centuries in All Formats 2023
Asia Cup 2018 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | HS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shikhar Dhawan | 5 | 342 | 68.4 | 102.08 | 127 |
Rohit Sharma | 5 | 317 | 105.66 | 93.51 | 111* |
Mushfiqur Rahim | 5 | 302 | 60.4 | 81.18 | 144 |
Mohammad Shahzad | 5 | 268 | 53.6 | 83.23 | 124 |
Hashmatullah Shahidi | 5 | 263 | 65.75 | 72.25 | 97* |
In the 2018 Asia Cup, Shikhar Dhawan from India was the star with the bat. He scored the most runs in the tournament. Dhawan made 342 runs in just 5 games. He was the highest run-scorer. Rohit Sharma, also from India, and Mushfiqur Rahim from Bangladesh came after him in the list. So, Shikhar Dhawan was the top player in scoring runs in the 2018 Asia Cup.
Also see: Top 10 Highest Team Score in ODI Cricket
Asia Cup 2016 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Innings | Runs | NO | Avg | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sabbir Rahman | 5 | 176 | 1 | 44 | 123.94 | 80 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 |
Virat Kohli | 4 | 153 | 2 | 76.5 | 110.86 | 56* | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 |
Dinesh Chandimal | 4 | 149 | 0 | 37.25 | 109.55 | 58 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 2 |
Rohit Sharma | 5 | 138 | 0 | 27.6 | 132.69 | 83 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 |
Tillakaratne Dilshan | 4 | 132 | 1 | 44 | 121.1 | 75* | 0 | 1 | 18 | 4 |
The 2016 Asia Cup was special because it was the first time the tournament was played in the T20 format. Sabbir Rahman from Bangladesh made history in this tournament. He scored the most runs! He made 176 runs in 5 games. He beat other top players like Virat Kohli from India and Dinesh Chandimal from Sri Lanka to become the highest run-scorer.
Also see: Top 10 Highest Fours in ODI Cricket by Batsmen
Asia Cup 2014 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Runs | NO | Avg. | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lahiru Thirimanne | 5 | 279 | 0 | 55.8 | 79.94 | 102 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
Umar Akmal | 5 | 253 | 0 | 84.33 | 110.48 | 102* | 1 | 2 | 23 | 6 |
Kumar Sangakkara | 5 | 248 | 0 | 49.6 | 96.49 | 103 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 2 |
Ahmed Shehzad | 5 | 228 | 0 | 45.6 | 80 | 103 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 1 |
Anamul Haque | 4 | 227 | 0 | 56.75 | 68.16 | 100 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 8 |
The 2014 edition of the Asia Cup was hosted by Bangladesh and featured some stellar batting performances. However, one batsman stood head and shoulders above the rest with his sublime form throughout the tournament. Sri Lankan opener Lahiru Thirimanne was the leading run-getter and the batting mainstay for his team. Thirimanne compiled a mammoth 279 runs in just 5 matches at an incredible average of 93.00. His runs included 2 brilliant centuries against Pakistan and India. Thirimanne displayed immaculate timing and placement, effortlessly finding the gaps and boundaries. His sublime touch play was a delight to watch. Thanks to his prolific run-scoring, Sri Lanka comfortably made the finals where they beat Pakistan to lift the trophy. Although Umar Akmal and Kumar Sangakkara had good tournaments, Thirimanne was clearly the batting star of the 2014 Asia Cup. His performance emphasized his emerging status as one of the best batting talents in Asian cricket at the time.
Also see: Most Runs in T20 World Cup
Asia Cup 2012 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Run | Average | SR | HS | 100s | 50s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virat Kohli | 3 | 357 | 119 | 102 | 183 | 2 | 1 |
Tamim Iqbal | 4 | 253 | 63.25 | 80.831 | 70 | 0 | 4 |
Mohammad Hafeez | 4 | 245 | 61.25 | 67.867 | 105 | 1 | 1 |
Shakib Al Hasan | 4 | 237 | 59.25 | 110.233 | 68 | 0 | 3 |
Nasir Jamshed | 4 | 193 | 48.25 | 96.02 | 112 | 1 | 1 |
In the 2012 Asia Cup, guess who stole the limelight by scoring the most runs? It was none other than India’s Virat Kohli! He was in jaw-dropping form, scoring an incredible 357 runs during the tournament.
And get this — he hit two centuries and even added a fifty to his name. That’s like hitting a home run not once or twice but three times in different matches!
While Kohli was making waves, players from other countries were also showing their skills. Tamim Iqbal from Bangladesh and Mohammad Hafeez from Pakistan were also on fire, scoring plenty of runs. But they couldn’t beat Kohli’s massive total.
So, to sum it up, Virat Kohli was the true star of the 2012 Asia Cup. He didn’t just score runs; he scored them big and how! Thanks to his sensational batting, he became the highest run-scorer of the tournament.
Also see: Top 10 Highest Run Chase in ODI History
Asia Cup 2010 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Inns | Runs | Avg | Sr | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shahid Afridi | 3 | 3 | 265 | 88.33 | 164.6 | 27 | 12 |
Gautam Gambhir | 4 | 4 | 203 | 50.75 | 82.86 | 17 | 1 |
Kumar Sangakkara | 4 | 4 | 184 | 46 | 72.73 | 20 | – |
MS Dhoni | 4 | 4 | 173 | 57.67 | 79 | 13 | 3 |
Mahela Jayawardene | 4 | 4 | 161 | 53.67 | 87.03 | 15 | 1 |
The 2010 edition of the Asia Cup was held in Sri Lanka and saw some thrilling batting performances. While there were many batsmen who scored heavily throughout the tournament, Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi emerged as the leading run-getter. Afridi was in blazing form with the bat and amassed 265 runs in just 4 matches at an incredible average of 132.50.
His tally included one century and two fifties, with a best of 124 against India. Afridi displayed his trademark aggressive batting, hitting bowlers all around the park with power and flair. His whirlwind innings provided impetus to the Pakistani batting lineup on numerous occasions.
Thanks to his prolific run-scoring, Pakistan reached the final where they lost narrowly to India. Although Gautam Gambhir and Kumar Sangakkara also scored heavily, Shahid Afridi’s brilliance made him the undisputed batting star and highest run-scorer of the 2010 Asia Cup. His performance highlighted his explosive batting abilities which made him one of the most dangerous limited overs batsmen in Asian cricket.
Also see: Top-10 Leading Run-Scorers In ODIs
Asia Cup 2008 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Innings | NO | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sanath Jayasuriya | 5 | 0 | 378 | 75.6 | 126 | 130 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 16 |
Suresh Raina | 6 | 1 | 372 | 74.4 | 110.38 | 116* | 2 | 2 | 34 | 11 |
Virender Sehwag | 5 | 0 | 348 | 69.6 | 143.8 | 119 | 1 | 2 | 49 | 10 |
Kumar Sangakkara | 6 | 0 | 345 | 57.5 | 99.13 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 2 |
MS Dhoni | 5 | 2 | 327 | 109 | 91.34 | 109* | 1 | 2 | 19 | 8 |
In the 2008 Asia Cup, the cricket legend from Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya, became the star of the tournament by scoring the most runs. Hold your breath, because the number is huge—378 runs in just a few matches!
What’s even more awesome? Jayasuriya hit not one but two centuries and also a fifty! That means he scored 100 or more runs in two different games and also got a half-century in another. But wait, there’s more! From our Indian team, Suresh Raina and Virender Sehwag also played superbly. They were right behind Jayasuriya in the run-scoring list, which means they also did a fantastic job.
So, in easy words, Sanath Jayasuriya was the big hero of the 2008 Asia Cup. He scored the highest runs and made everyone’s jaw drop with his incredible batting. Even though Raina and Sehwag were great, Jayasuriya was just unbeatable that year.
Asia Cup 2004 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Runs | SR | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shoaib Malik | 5 | 316 | 100.32 | 36 | 3 |
Sanath Jayasuriya | 5 | 293 | 91.85 | 29 | 2 |
Sachin Tendulkar | 6 | 281 | 72.42 | 30 | 2 |
Sourav Ganguly | 6 | 244 | 60.55 | 20 | 4 |
Avishka Gunawardene | 6 | 227 | 59.89 | 21 | 1 |
In the 2004 Asia Cup, Shoaib Malik from Pakistan stole the show by scoring the most runs. Guess how many runs he made? A whopping 316 runs in just 5 games! That’s like hitting more than a half-century in every match he played.
Shoaib Malik was not alone in playing well, though. Sanath Jayasuriya from Sri Lanka and our very own Sachin Tendulkar also batted brilliantly. But in the end, it was Malik who stood at the top of the run-scoring charts.
So, to put it simply, Shoaib Malik was the hero of the 2004 Asia Cup. He scored the most runs and really showed off his skills. Even though we had big names like Sachin Tendulkar playing, Malik managed to outscore everyone.
Asia Cup 2000 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mohammad Yousuf | 4 | 4 | 295 | 147.5 | 73.75 | 100* | 1 | 2 | 23 | 4 |
Marvan Atapattu | 4 | 4 | 245 | 81.66 | 72.27 | 100 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 1 |
Sanath Jayasuriya | 4 | 4 | 183 | 45.75 | 87.55 | 105 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Inzamam-ul-Haq | 4 | 4 | 175 | 87.5 | 109.37 | 75* | 0 | 2 | 16 | 3 |
Sourav Ganguly | 3 | 3 | 156 | 78 | 92.85 | 135* | 1 | 0 | 9 | 7 |
The 2000 Asia Cup was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh and won by Pakistan. Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf, then known as Yousuf Youhana, was the highest run getter in the tournament. Yousuf scored a total of 295 runs in the 4 matches at a staggering average of 147.50. This was the second time a Pakistan batsman finished as the highest run scorer in Asia Cup after Shahid Afridi in 1996.
The 2000 Asia Cup format was a round robin with 4 teams – India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Yousuf’s tournament included brilliant knocks of 148 against Bangladesh, 82 against India and an unbeaten 53 in the final against Sri Lanka. His innings of 148 came off just 98 balls with 11 fours and 8 sixes.
Thanks to Yousuf’s phenomenal form, Pakistan won their second Asia Cup title in 2000. His performance proved crucial to Pakistan’s victory. Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu scored 249 runs and Sanath Jayasuriya made 237 runs to finish 2nd and 3rd among run scorers respectively.
Atapattu hit 2 hundreds including 117 in the final while Jayasuriya also scored a century against India. Yousuf’s sensational batting in Asia Cup 2000 marked him as one of Pakistan’s most talented young batsmen. He would go on to have an illustrious career for Pakistan over the next decade.
Asia Cup 1997 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arjuna Ranatunga | 4 | 4 | 272 | 136 | 88.02 | 131* | 1 | 2 | 29 | 3 |
Marvan Atapattu | 4 | 4 | 255 | 85 | 73.91 | 84* | 0 | 3 | 18 | 1 |
Sanath Jayasuriya | 4 | 4 | 204 | 51 | 115.25 | 108 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 6 |
Mohammad Azharuddin | 4 | 3 | 185 | 185 | 82.22 | 81* | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
Athar Ali Khan | 3 | 3 | 157 | 52.33 | 62.3 | 82 | 12/30 | 1 | 17 | 2 |
The 1997 Asia Cup was held in Sri Lanka and was won by the hosts. Sri Lankan batsman Arjuna Ranatunga was the highest run scorer of the tournament. Ranatunga scored a total of 272 runs in the 4 matches he played. This was the third time he became the top run-getter in the Asia Cup after also achieving the feat in 1988 and 1990-91.
The 1997 edition was a round robin format with 4 teams – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Ranatunga batted brilliantly throughout and showed his class as one of Sri Lanka’s all-time great ODI batsmen. He scored an unbeaten 92 against Bangladesh, 80 against Pakistan, 65 against India and an unbeaten 35 in the final again Pakistan. His innings of 92 against Bangladesh came off just 80 balls and included 5 sixes.
Ranatunga’s 272 runs at an average of 68 helped Sri Lanka win the 1997 Asia Cup title under his leadership.
After Ranatunga, his Sri Lankan teammates Marvan Atapattu (244 runs) and Sanath Jayasuriya (237 runs) were the 2nd and 3rd highest run scorers of the tournament respectively. Atapattu hit 2 centuries including 117 in the final. Jayasuriya also scored a ton against Bangladesh.
Ranatunga’s batting exploits and leadership ensured Sri Lanka continued their dominance in the Asia Cup in the 1990s. His performance underscored his credentials as one of Asia’s best ever ODI captains and batsmen.
Asia Cup 1995 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sachin Tendulkar | 4 | 4 | 205 | 68.33 | 109.62 | 112* | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
Navjot Singh Sidhu | 4 | 4 | 197 | 98.5 | 80.4 | 84* | 0 | 3 | 19 | 0 |
Inzamam-ul-Haq | 3 | 3 | 190 | 95 | 86.75 | 88 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 3 |
Sanath Jayasuriya | 4 | 4 | 134 | 33.5 | 87.01 | 51 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
Manoj Prabhakar | 4 | 4 | 122 | 40.66 | 64.89 | 60 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0 |
The 1995 Asia Cup was held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. India legend Sachin Tendulkar had his best ever performance in the Asia Cup that year. He scored a total of 205 runs and was the tournament’s highest run scorer. The 1995 edition was a round robin tournament with 4 teams – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It was the first time Bangladesh participated in the Asia Cup.
Sachin Tendulkar was in brilliant form throughout the tournament. He scored 84 against Pakistan, 65 against Sri Lanka and 56 against Bangladesh. His innings of 84 against Pakistan is considered one of his finest ODI knocks. Chasing 264, India were struggling at 109/4 when Tendulkar played a masterful innings under pressure. His brilliant 84 helped India chase down the target and win by 2 wickets.
Tendulkar’s 205 runs in the 1995 Asia Cup remained his highest aggregate runs in any Asia Cup edition. He won his first and only ‘Player of the Tournament’ award in the Asia Cup that year.
After Tendulkar, India’s Navjot Singh Sidhu scored 174 runs and was 2nd highest run getter. Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq came 3rd with 166 runs. Tendulkar’s batting in the 1995 Asia Cup showed his mastery in ODI cricket at a young age. His innings under pressure served notice that he would go on to become one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time.
Asia Cup 1990/91 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Innings | NO | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arjuna Ranatunga | 3 | 3 | 1 | 166 | 83 | 73.45 | 64* | 0 | 2 |
Navjot Singh Sidhu | 3 | 3 | 1 | 144 | 72 | 81.45 | 104* | 1 | 0 |
Aravinda de Silva | 3 | 3 | 0 | 126 | 42 | 120 | 89 | 0 | 1 |
Athar Ali Khan | 2 | 2 | 1 | 122 | 122 | 71.34 | 78* | 0 | 1 |
Sanjay Manjrekar | 3 | 3 | 2 | 112 | 112 | 65.88 | 75* | 0 | 1 |
Abdul Qadir | 3 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 17 | 3.92 | 3/27 | 0 | 0 |
In the 1990/91 Asia Cup cricket tournament, Arjuna Ranatunga from Sri Lanka was the star player when it came to scoring runs. Guess what? He became the first player ever to be the highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup for the second time!
He made a total of 166 runs in the tournament, which is really amazing. Players like Navjot Singh Sidhu from India and Aravinda de Silva from Sri Lanka also played well, but Ranatunga was the best among them.
So, if you’re keeping score, Ranatunga was the top run-getter, followed by Sidhu and then de Silva. His awesome batting made sure he was the talk of the tournament and helped his team Sri Lanka perform really well. Isn’t it cool how one player can shine so brightly among so many talented cricketers? That’s what makes Arjuna Ranatunga a true cricket hero in the 1990/91 Asia Cup!
Asia Cup 1988 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Innings | NO | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 0 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ijaz Ahmed | 3 | 3 | 1 | 192 | 96 | 103.78 | 124* | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Navjot Sidhu | 4 | 4 | 1 | 179 | 59.66 | 77.82 | 76 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Moin-ul-Atiq | 2 | 2 | 0 | 143 | 71.5 | 79 | 105 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Athula Samarasekera | 4 | 4 | 1 | 140 | 46.66 | 75.67 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Aravinda de Silva | 4 | 3 | 0 | 135 | 45 | 107.14 | 69 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
The 1988 Asia Cup took place in Bangladesh and had some good batting performances. But one Pakistani batsman stood out from the rest – Ijaz Ahmed.
Even though India had Navjot Sidhu and Pakistan had Saleem Yousuf, it was Ijaz Ahmed who was the top run scorer. Facing quality bowlers like Kapil Dev, Ijaz batted brilliantly throughout the tournament. He hit the ball powerfully to all corners of the ground.
His best knock was an unbeaten century against India. He remained not out on 115 off just 97 balls. It was a terrific innings under pressure. Overall, Ijaz Ahmed amassed 192 runs in just 3 matches at an excellent average. Thanks to his aggressive batting, Pakistan reached the final of the 1988 Asia Cup.
So while Sidhu also batted well, Ijaz Ahmed was clearly the leading run getter in the 1988 edition. His big hitting made him the standout batsman of the tournament.
Asia Cup 1986 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Innings | NO | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arjuna Ranatunga | 3 | 3 | 1 | 105 | 52.5 | 92.1 | 57 | 0 | 1 |
Javed Miandad | 3 | 3 | 0 | 91 | 30.33 | 61.48 | 67 | 0 | 1 |
Mohsin Khan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 24.66 | 64.91 | 39 | 0 | 0 |
Brendon Kuruppu | 3 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 22.33 | 59.29 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
Aravinda de Silva | 3 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 32 | 66.66 | 52 | 0 | 1 |
Shaheedur Rahman | 2 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 31 | 57.41 | 37 | 0 | 0 |
In the second edition of the Asia Cup, held in 1986, Arjuna Ranatunga from Sri Lanka emerged as the highest run-scorer of the tournament. Ranatunga, who would later become one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic skippers, made a significant impact in this edition. He scored a total of 105 runs across three games, which included a fifty as well. Notably, he was the only player in the tournament to cross the 100-run milestone.
His performance not only made him the star of the series but also highlighted his importance in the Sri Lankan lineup. At a time when the tournament was still gaining traction, Ranatunga’s standout showing contributed to building the Asia Cup’s reputation as a platform for individual excellence and fierce competition among Asian cricketing nations.
Asia Cup 1984 Highest Run Scorer
Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surinder Khanna | 2 | 2 | 107 | 107 | 75.88 | 56 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 2 |
Zaheer Abbas | 2 | 2 | 74 | 37 | 65.48 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
Roy Dias | 2 | 2 | 62 | 62 | 50.81 | 57* | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mohsin Khan | 2 | 2 | 62 | 31.71 | 31 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Ghulam Parkar | 2 | 2 | 54 | 54 | 43.9 | 32* | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
In the very first edition of the Asia Cup, which took place in 1984, it was Surinder Khanna of India who stood out as the top run-scorer of the tournament. Remarkably, he was the only player to amass more than 100 runs, finishing with a total of 107 runs. His performance set the standard for what would become one of the premier cricket tournaments for Asian countries. While specific data about the number of matches he played or the fifties he scored in that edition may not be readily available, his contribution was clearly significant. Khanna’s achievement laid an early foundation for the competitive spirit and individual brilliance that the Asia Cup has come to be known for over the years.
Year-Wise Asia Cup Highest Run Scorer
Edition | Year | Player | Team | Runs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1984 | Surinder Khanna | India | 107 |
2nd | 1986 | Arjuna Ranatunga | Sri Lanka | 105 |
3rd | 1988 | Ijaz Ahmed | Pakistan | 192 |
4th | 1990–91 | Arjuna Ranatunga | Sri Lanka | 166 |
5th | 1995 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 205 |
6th | 1997 | Arjuna Ranatunga | Sri Lanka | 272 |
7th | 2000 | Yousuf Youhana | Pakistan | 295 |
8th | 2004 | Shoaib Malik | Pakistan | 316 |
9th | 2008 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 378 |
10th | 2010 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 265 |
11th | 2012 | Virat Kohli | India | 357 |
12th | 2014 | Lahiru Thirimanne | Sri Lanka | 279 |
13th | 2016 | Sabbir Rahman | Bangladesh | 176 |
14th | 2018 | Shikhar Dhawan | India | 342 |
15th | 2022 | Mohammad Rizwan | PAK | 281 |
If we switch gears and talk about the ODI format of the Asia Cup, the crown for the all-time highest run-scorer goes to none other than Sri Lanka’s former captain, Sanath Jayasuriya. This legendary player scored a whopping 1220 runs in the tournament during his career. And get this—he hit 6 centuries and 3 fifties in just 25 matches! Trailing behind him in the top 5 list are greats like Kumar Sangakkara, Sachin Tendulkar, Shoaib Malik, and Rohit Sharma. So, when it comes to the Asia Cup ODI run charts, Sanath Jayasuriya is the undisputed king!
Asia Cup Highest Run Scorer (ODI format)
Player | Team | Matches | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100 | 50 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 25 | 24 | 1220 | 130 | 53.04 | 102.52 | 6 | 3 |
Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 24 | 23 | 1075 | 121 | 48.86 | 84.51 | 4 | 8 |
Sachin Tendulkar | India | 23 | 21 | 971 | 114 | 51.1 | 85.47 | 2 | 7 |
Shoaib Malik | Pakistan | 17 | 15 | 786 | 143 | 65.5 | 90.65 | 3 | 3 |
Rohit Sharma | India | 22 | 21 | 745 | 111* | 46.56 | 84.94 | 1 | 6 |
Arjuna Ranatunga | Sri Lanka | 19 | 19 | 741 | 131* | 57 | 82.79 | 1 | 6 |
Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | 21 | 21 | 699 | 144 | 36.78 | 84.52 | 2 | 2 |
Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 28 | 26 | 674 | 78 | 29.3 | 87.64 | 0 | 7 |
MS Dhoni | India | 19 | 16 | 648 | 109* | 64.8 | 87.68 | 1 | 3 |
Aravinda de Silva | Sri Lanka | 24 | 22 | 645 | 96* | 32.25 | 83.44 | 0 | 4 |
Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | 13 | 12 | 642 | 100 | 64.2 | 71.09 | 1 | 6 |
Virat Kohli | India | 11 | 10 | 613 | 183 | 61.3 | 97.14 | 3 | 1 |
Inzamam-ul-Haq | Pakistan | 15 | 13 | 591 | 88 | 59.1 | 89.27 | 0 | 6 |
Gautam Gambhir | India | 13 | 13 | 573 | 100 | 44.07 | 89.95 | 1 | 5 |
Suresh Raina | India | 13 | 13 | 547 | 116* | 60.77 | 113.95 | 2 | 3 |
Younis Khan | Pakistan | 14 | 13 | 546 | 144 | 49.63 | 100.55 | 2 | 3 |
Shikhar Dhawan | India | 9 | 9 | 534 | 127 | 59.33 | 91.43 | 2 | 2 |
Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 23 | 21 | 532 | 124 | 35.46 | 140.74 | 2 | 1 |
Navjot Singh Sidhu | India | 14 | 12 | 530 | 104* | 66.25 | 77.71 | 1 | 6 |
Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | 13 | 13 | 519 | 70 | 43.25 | 81.34 | 0 | 6 |
When it comes to the all-time best run-makers in the T20I format of the Asia Cup, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan sits at the top. He has racked up 281 runs in just 6 games! Following him is India’s Virat Kohli. Then come Ibrahim Zadran, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Pathum Nissanka. So, if you’re looking for the king of runs in Asia Cup T20Is, it’s Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan!
Asia Cup Highest Run Scorer (T20I format)
Player | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100 | 50 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | 6 | 281 | 78* | 56.2 | 117.57 | 0 | 3 |
Virat Kohli | India | 5 | 276 | 122* | 92 | 147.59 | 1 | 2 |
Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | 5 | 196 | 64* | 65.33 | 104.25 | 0 | 1 |
Bhanuka Rajapaksa | Sri Lanka | 6 | 191 | 71* | 47.75 | 149.21 | 0 | 1 |
Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | 6 | 173 | 55* | 34.6 | 115.33 | 0 | 2 |
Kusal Mendis | Sri Lanka | 6 | 155 | 60 | 25.83 | 156.56 | 0 | 2 |
Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | 5 | 152 | 84 | 30.4 | 163.44 | 0 | 1 |
Suyarkumar Yadav | India | 5 | 139 | 68* | 34.75 | 163.52 | 0 | 1 |
Rohit Sharma | India | 4 | 133 | 72 | 33.25 | 151.13 | 0 | 1 |
KL Rahul | India | 5 | 132 | 62 | 26.4 | 122.22 | 0 | 1 |
Dasun Shanaka | Sri Lanka | 6 | 111 | 45 | 22.2 | 138.75 | 0 | 0 |
Iftikhar Ahmed | Pakistan | 6 | 105 | 32 | 26.25 | 100.96 | 0 | 0 |
Fakhar Zaman | Pakistan | 6 | 96 | 53 | 16 | 103.22 | 0 | 1 |
Hazratullah Zazai | Afghanistan | 5 | 93 | 37* | 23.25 | 102.19 | 0 | 0 |
Mohammad Nawaz | Pakistan | 6 | 79 | 42 | 15.8 | 143.63 | 0 | 0 |
Mosaddek Hossain | Bangladesh | 2 | 72 | 48* | – | 180 | 0 | 0 |
Najibullah Zadran | Afghanistan | 5 | 72 | 43* | 24 | 171.42 | 0 | 0 |
Babar Azam | Pakistan | 6 | 68 | 30 | 11.33 | 107.93 | 0 | 0 |
Chamika Karunaratne | Sri Lanka | 6 | 66 | 31 | 33 | 103.12 | 0 | 0 |
Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 6 | 66 | 36 | 22 | 150 | 0 | 0 |
Cricket isn’t just a game; it’s a religion for millions, and the Asia Cup is one of its holiest shrines. Whether new records will be set or old ones shattered, one thing is for sure: the tournament will deliver cricket of the highest quality. So grab your popcorn, and brace yourself for an exhilarating cricketing ride that Asia Cup 2023 promises to be. Stay tuned for updates!