Asia Cup: 10 records that might never be broken

Cricket fans all around the globe will be witness to some entertaining cricket as the Asia Cup 2025 is set to be played in September. The 2025 edition will be the third one to be played in the 20-over format.

The eight teams to be participating in the upcoming tournament are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Hong Kong and hosts United Arab Emirates. Before the start of what promises to be an enthralling tournament, here is a look at ten Asia Cup records which might never be bettered.

Asia Cup: 10 records that might never be broken

10. Pakistan’s 38 extras conceded in a match (twice)

Pakistan hold an unwanted record of conceding 38 extras in a single innings; not once, but twice. However, they ended up winning both the contests (by 44 runs in 2000 and by 59 runs in 2004). The chances of this 38-run figure being eclipsed is highly improbable.

9. India’s 256-run win

India emerged as convincing victors against Hong Kong by a mammoth 256 runs as Suresh Raina (101 off 68) and Piyush Chawla (4/23 in 10 overs) emerged as the star performers for India. The colossal margin still remains the heaviest margin of victory by runs in the tournament history.

8. Rohit Sharma’s 40 sixes

The aggressive Rohit Sharma has hit 40 ballsbeyond the ropes in the tournament history. There is a significant difference between him and the second player on the six-hitting chart, with Shahid Afridi with 26 sixes.

7. Lasith Malinga’s three five-wicket hauls

Lasith Malinga has three five-wicket hauls in the history of the Asia Cup. He has picked up five wickets in an innings against Pakistan thrice – 5/34 in 2010, 5/52 in 2014 group-stage and 5/56 in 2014 final. Ajantha Mendis, who retired in 2015, is the only bowler to have picked up two five-fers in the tournament.

6. Muttiah Muralitharan’s 30 wickets

Muttiah Muralitharan leads the Asia Cup wicket tally with 30 wickets to his name. There are two bowlers tied on 29 ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup: Mendis and Ravindra Jadeja. While Mendis has already retired, Jadeja will not be playing in 2025 having retired from T20Is.

5. Sanath Jayasuriya’s 378 runs

Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for scoring the most number of runs in a single edition of the Asia Cup: 378 in five matches in 2008. Even in the current format of the group-stage, Super Fours and final (a maximum of seven matches for the teams reaching the final), a batter will have to average 54 runs per game to surpass the 378-run mark, which is not an easy feat.

4. Sanath Jayasuriya’s six centuries

As many as 25 out of Jayasuriya’s 445 ODIs came at the Asia Cup, spanning from 1990 to 2008. No other batter has scored six tons in the Asia Cup. With Virat Kohli (second with five tons) having retired from T20I, it is quite probable that the record will not be broken.

3. Virat Kohli’s 183

Virat Kohli‘s 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup is the highest individual score in the storied history of the tournament. Babar Azam’s 151 (against Nepal in 2023) remains the second-highest score. It will take a batting masterclass to get past Kohli’s iconic 183.

2. Ajantha Mendis’ 6/13

Ajantha Mendis wreaked havoc on India to power the Lankans to a 100-run win. The fantastic performance in 2008 in Karachi proved to be his best ODI bowling performance and the best-ever at the Asia Cup. Mohammed Siraj is the only other bowler (ahead of Asia Cup 2025) to have picked up six wickets in an innings.

1. Rohit Sharma’s 37 matches

Rohit has played 37 matches in the Asia Cup so far (28 in ODI format and nine in T20Is). The second-most appearances amongst active players is Ravindra Jadeja, with 26. However, as mentioned previously, Jadejae has retired from T20Is and Rohit’s record is set to stay with him.