Asia Cup 2023: Top 5 highest individual scores in Asia Cup

Virat Kohli & Babar Azam Asia Cup. (Photo Source: ASIF HASSAN/AFP, MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

The Asia Cup returns to Pakistan after 15 long years., and it can be said it has returned with a bang. A thumping century from Babar Azam against Nepal in the very first match has set the tone high. The top-ranked ODI batter completed his record 19th ODI century with this performance. 

There have been many instances where batters have produced significant individual performances in the Asia Cup history. Once they got over the 100-run mark, they always intended to make it big. Eventually, they have been successful on many occasions. Most importantly, some of them came in a tricky situation for the team which made their score even more significant. 

Let’s take a look back at the top 5 highest scores in Asia Cup history. Among the top 5, the three highest scores came from the bat of Pakistan batters. Over the years, they have delivered strong individual performances. The other two instances belong to a Bangladesh batter and an Indian cricketing icon. 

5. Shoaib Malik : 143 vs India – Asia Cup 2004

Shoaib Malik Asia Cup 2004. (Photo Source: ICC)

Former Pakistan middle-order batter Shoaib Malik’s 143 runs score against India stands at the fifth position even after 19 years. He has a stellar record in Asia Cup averaging 66, way higher than his career average. In this particular match against India, young Shoaib came to bat one down. 

He started collecting boundaries against the likes of Irfan Pathan, and Lakshmipathy Balaji to get his eyes settle in. He always looked busy at the crease and beautifully played Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh toward the later part of the inning. He struck the century in 95 balls with fourteen fours. He capitalised on batting powerplay to maximise those runs. 

Eventually, he got out to Sachin Tendulkar at the score of 143 off 127 balls. Later in the second half of the game, he took revenge by getting Sachin out of his bowling. With his exemplary all-round performance, Pakistan clinched a comfortable victory over India.

4. Mushfiqur Rahim : 144 vs Sri Lanka – Asia Cup 2018

Mushfiqur Rahim Asia Cup 2018. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Bangladesh wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim is the only representative from his country on the list of top scorers in the Asia Cup. Thanks to his brilliant 144, Bangladesh snatched victory from Srilanka in the first match of group B in Asia Cup 2018. Under scorching heat, he produced a hard-fought batting display when other batters were struggling. 

Bangladesh lost two early wickets in quick succession and in came Rahim. He consumed the pressure along with Mohammad Mithun and established a strong foundation. Their rescue operation was going well till Mithun was there. From there it was up to Rahim to take Bangladesh to a respectable score. 

He stayed in the crease and brought out his productive sweep shots against spinners. Rahim took no risk before the team score touched the 200-run mark. By that time, Mushfiqur had brought up his sixth ODI hundred. Post that at the business end of the innings, he went all over Thisara Perera three sixes and two fours before getting out. In this match, Bangladesh had a thumping win over Srilanka by 137 runs with Rahim writing his name in the Asia Cup top scorers list.  

3. Younis Khan : 144 vs Hong Kong – Asia Cup 2004

Younis Khan Asia Cup 2004. (Photo Source:  Getty Images)

Pakistan’s modern batting great Younis Khan scored his career-best 144 against Hong Kong in an Asia Cup match. In the fifth match of the tournament, they were up against Hong Kong at Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo. After electing to bat first, Pakistan lost Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat inside the first ten overs. From there on, Younis had a mammoth 231-run partnership with Shoaib Malik. 

Khan relied more on running between the wickets than on boundaries. He built his innings in a very progressive manner, staying true to the team’s requirements. Post the 35th over, he started batting aggressively. He reached his hundred in 99 balls. In the next 22 balls, he scored at a strike rate of 200. During this phase of the game, he smashed three sixes as well. 

Later he got out to Afzaal Haider after scoring 144 off 122 balls. Pakistan posted 343 runs on the board. Unfortunately, he couldn’t continue the batting form going into the next games. This was a truly special knock in Younis’s ODI career that put him at 3rd on the list of highest top scorers in Asia Cup history.

2. Babar Azam : 151 vs Nepal – Asia Cup 2023

Babar Azam Asia Cup 2023. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam hit a scintillating 151 in the very first match of the Asia Cup 2023. Up against Nepal, Babar found himself early to the crease. After two early wickets, Babar held the innings with Mohammad Rizwan, playing through the initial phase with no risk. 

He showed proper respect to the bowlers as he waited for them to bowl loose balls to fetch early runs. Initially, he had a slow start but after his century he changed gears. With this innings, Babar Azam became the quickest in the World to reach the 19 ODI hundreds (in terms of innings). 

In no time, Babar brought up his second ODI 150. He went after the spinners who missed their line and length in front of someone like Babar. He was toying with the fielders. Also, the lack of big match experience affected Nepal’s game. In the end, Pakistan thrashed Nepal in their first-ever Asia Cup game by a huge margin.  

1. Virat Kohli : 183 vs Pakistan – Asia Cup 2012

Virat Kohli Asia Cup 2012. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

The love story of Virat Kohli and ODI chases is a match made in heaven. One such instance was the Mirpur ODI back in 2012 between India and Pakistan. It was a must-win game for India to stay in the contest for the finals. Pakistan set up a 330-run target for the men in blue to chase down. And they got India one down in the second ball of the chase. 

Outcame Virat Kohli at number three, and Sachin Tendulkar was standing at non-striker’s end. He constructed the innings according to the situation. He took no risks against Hafeez and Ajmal before settling down to pacers. He reached the 100-run mark in just 97 balls. After that, he started attacking more to close down the required runs. 

He went berserk on Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz in no time. He was taking along the scoreboard with his batting. Virat showed authority all over the ground, especially on the leg side. Though he got out 16 runs before, but his knock of 183 is edged into every Indian fan’s memories. It’s also Virat’s highest score in limited-overs cricket and the highest top score in Asia Cup history.