India holds the record for the most number of Asia Cup titles won by a team. They have emerged victorious in a total of seven Asia Cup tournaments. Out of these, six titles were won in the One Day International (ODI) format, while one title was secured in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format. This impressive achievement has established India as the most successful team in the history of the Asia Cup.
India has established itself as the most successful team in the history of the Asia Cup. They claimed victory in the initial edition of the tournament in 1984 and also emerged triumphant in the first T20I edition held in 2016. Currently, no other team has surpassed India's record in terms of the number of Asia Cup titles won.
With a total of seven tournament wins, India holds the distinction of being the most successful team. They have secured six titles in the One Day International (ODI) format and one title in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format. Sri Lanka is in second place with six titles, while Pakistan has won the tournament twice.
India's dominance in the Asia Cup is also reflected in the various records they hold. As the Rohit Sharma-led side prepares for the upcoming Asia Cup in 2025, they have the opportunity to further extend their dominance. Here, we take a look at five significant records held by India in the Asia Cup.
5. Most individual centuries in Asia Cup (ODI)
India and Pakistan share the record for the most individual centuries in the Asia Cup, with both teams having registered 16 centuries each. Navjot Singh Sidhu was the first Indian player to score a century in the tournament, achieving an unbeaten 104 against Bangladesh in 1990.
In total, 11 Indian players have scored centuries in the Asia Cup. Leading the way is Virat Kohli, who holds the record for the most centuries by an Indian player in the tournament, with three centuries to his name. Other Indian players with multiple centuries in the Asia Cup include Shikhar Dhawan (2), Suresh Raina (2), and Sachin Tendulkar (2). Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma have also contributed with individual centuries in the competition.
4. Record-Breaking team total in Asia Cup (T20I)
India has engraved its name in the record books of the Asia Cup once again, this time for achieving the highest team total in the T20I format. During the previous edition of the tournament, the Indian team accumulated an impressive 212/2 against Afghanistan.
Although India had already been eliminated from contention for a spot in the final due to losses against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the Super 4 stage, they showcased their bravery against Afghanistan. Led by the dynamic Virat Kohli, who notched his first T20I century, India put up a clinical performance and set a massive target. Remarkably, it had been a span of 1,021 days since Kohli's last century in international cricket.
In response, Afghanistan struggled and managed to reach only 111 for eight in their innings, suffering a significant 101-run defeat. India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar shone with the ball, delivering an impressive performance by taking five wickets for a mere four runs.
3. Record-Breaking Run Chase Achievement in Asia Cup (ODI)
India holds the prestigious record for achieving the highest successful chase in the One Day International (ODI) format of the Asia Cup. This remarkable feat was accomplished against their arch-rivals, Pakistan, in Mirpur in 2012. The mastermind behind this incredible chase was none other than the talented Virat Kohli, widely recognised as one of the best chasers in the history of ODI cricket.
Pakistan had initially taken control of the match, displaying a stunning batting performance. Openers Mohammad Hafeez (105) and Nasir Jamshed (112) both scored centuries, forging an enormous partnership of 224 runs. Younis Khan's quickfire fifty further propelled Pakistan to a formidable total of 329/6.
In response, India showcased their exceptional batting mastery and successfully chased down the target with 13 balls to spare. Virat Kohli emerged as the star of the innings, amassing a phenomenal 183 runs. Following Gautam Gambhir's early dismissal, Kohli formed vital century-plus partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma, laying the foundation for this historic win.
2. Most Victories in Asia Cup (T20I)
India continues to dominate the T20I format of the Asia Cup, establishing itself as the most successful team in the tournament. Their success includes winning the debut T20I edition in 2016 and holding the record for the most victories in the T20I format of the Asia Cup. Out of the ten T20I matches they have played in the competition, India has emerged triumphant in eight of them.
In the first edition of the T20I Asia Cup in 2016, under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, India showcased an impeccable performance by winning all five of their matches. They dominated Bangladesh twice, including in the final, as well as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. In 2022, India secured three wins out of their five matches.
Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian team demonstrated their supremacy in the group stage by defeating both Pakistan and Hong Kong. However, in the Super 4 stage, India suffered their first-ever defeat in the T20I format of the Asia Cup at the hands of Pakistan. They faced another loss against eventual champions Sri Lanka. Despite these setbacks, India concluded their campaign on a high note, securing a significant victory over Afghanistan before dropping out of the competition.
1. Most Championships in Asia Cup
India stands tall as the team with the most titles in the ODI format of the Asia Cup. No other team has achieved as many victories as India in both the 50-over format and the T20I format of the tournament. In the ODI format, India has triumphed in the Asia Cup on six occasions, while Sri Lanka follows closely with five wins to their account.
India's journey in the Asia Cup began with its first title in the first edition of 1984. Sri Lanka claimed victory in the second edition held in 1986, but India quickly regained their dominance by securing the next three consecutive titles in 1988, 1990, and 1995. The Men in Blue added their fifth Asia Cup title to their name in 2010, edging out Sri Lanka on their home turf.
Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India clinched the tournament for a record sixth time in 2018. Prior to that, they had also succeeded in the 2016 edition, which was played in the T20I format. In total, India has an impressive tally of seven Asia Cup titles to their credit, with six in the ODI format and one in the T20I format.