India has been the most accomplished team in the entire history of the Asia Cup. They emerged victorious in the inaugural edition of the competition in 1984, as well as the first-ever T20I edition held in 2016. Currently, no other team has achieved a more significant number of victories in the Asia Cup than India.
India has emerged victorious in the tournament on seven occasions, securing six ODI championships and one T20I crown. Sri Lanka is ranked second on the list with a total of six titles, while Pakistan has won the tournament twice. India has been the most successful team in the game, surpassing all others. Additionally, they have set numerous records in the Asia Cup.
The Indian cricket team will have an opportunity to assert their dominance in the tournament further as the Asia Cup 2023 commences. As the team led by Rohit Sharma prepares for the upcoming game, let's take a glimpse at five significant records held by India in the Asia Cup.
A Significant Number of Individual Centuries Have Been Scored in the Asia Cup (ODI) Tournament
India and Pakistan share the record for the highest number of individual centuries in the Asia Cup. Both teams have recorded 16 individual centuries in the tournament. In the Asia Cup, Navjot Singh Sidhu of India became the pioneer to achieve a century, scoring an unbeaten 104 against Bangladesh in 1990.
Up until now, 11 Indian players have scored a century in the prestigious Asia Cup tournament. Virat Kohli has achieved a remarkable feat by securing the highest number of centuries among Indian players in the continental championship, with an impressive tally of three centuries.
In addition to him, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, and Sachin Tendulkar have also achieved the remarkable feat of scoring multiple centuries in the Asia Cup. Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Sidhu, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma are among the other Indian players who have achieved the remarkable feat of scoring a century in the competition.
Record-Breaking Team Score in the Asia Cup (T20I)
India also holds a significant record in the T20I format of the Asia Cup - they have the highest team total. In the previous iteration of the tournament, the Indian cricket team achieved a commendable score of 212/2 against Afghanistan.
India had already been eliminated from contention for a spot in the final following defeats against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the Super 4 matches. India displayed a remarkable performance against Afghanistan, with Virat Kohli leading the way by scoring his maiden T20I century. This outstanding effort resulted in a commanding total for the team, leaving only pride at stake. It had been over three years since he last scored a hundred in international cricket.
As a response, Afghanistan concluded their innings with a total of 111 for eight, resulting in a significant defeat by 101 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was exceptional with the ball, delivering a standout performance for India. The right-arm fast bowler ended the match with an outstanding performance, taking five wickets for a mere four runs.
Highest Ever Run-Chase Achieved in the History of Asia Cup (ODI)
India currently holds the record for the highest successful chase in the tournament ODI format. In 2012, a memorable victory was achieved against Pakistan in Mirpur, with the mastermind behind it being a talented Virat Kohli, widely recognised as one of the greatest pursuers in the annals of ODI cricket.
Pakistan took control of the match with an impressive batting performance, as Mohammad Hafeez (105) and Nasir Jamshed (112) both reached the milestone of scoring a century. Their partnership of 224 runs was a critical factor in their team's success. Younis Khan's rapid fifty propelled Pakistan to a formidable total of 329/6.
India successfully achieved the target with 13 balls to spare. Kohli excelled with the bat, notching up an impressive score of 183. Following India's unfortunate loss of Gautam Gambhir without scoring a run, Kohli brilliantly formed century-plus partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma, setting the stage for the remarkable victory.
Highest Number of Victories in the Asia Cup (T20I)
India has proven to be the most accomplished team in the tournament T20I format. They emerged victorious in the first-ever T20I edition in 2016 and currently hold the record for the highest number of victories in the T20I format of the Asia Cup. The team has participated in 10 T20I matches in the tournament and emerged victorious in eight of them.
In the initial release in 2016, India emerged victorious in all five matches, with MS Dhoni leading the team. They also defeated Bangladesh on two occasions, including the final match, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2022, India emerged victorious in three out of the five matches.
The team captained by Rohit Sharma emerged victorious in both of their group matches against Pakistan and Hong Kong. In the thrilling Super 4 match, Pakistan achieved a historic victory over India, marking the first time India has been defeated in the T20I format of the Asia Cup. India suffered another defeat against eventual champions Sri Lanka before exiting the tournament with a convincing victory over Afghanistan.
The Majority of the Titles in the Asia Cup
India also boasts the highest number of championships in the ODI format of the Asia Cup. India has been the most successful team in the Asia Cup, winning both the 50-over format and the T20I format multiple times. In the ODIs, India has emerged victorious in the Asia Cup on six occasions. Sri Lanka currently holds the second position on the list, having achieved an impressive five victories.
In 1984, India emerged victorious in the Asia Cup, marking their first triumph in the inaugural edition of the tournament. Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the second edition in 1986, while India secured the following three editions held in 1988, 1990, and 1995. The Indian cricket team emerged victorious in the 2010 Asia Cup, securing their fifth championship by defeating Sri Lanka on their home turf.
In 2018, India emerged victorious in the tournament for an unprecedented sixth occasion, with Rohit Sharma leading the team to glory. In addition, India emerged victorious in the 2016 Asia Cup, a tournament contested in the T20I format. In total, India has emerged victorious in the game on seven occasions, securing six ODI championships and one T20I championship.