Top 5 Individual Bowling Performances in an Asia Cup
Mendis bagged 17 wickets in five matches in the 2008 Asia Cup. (Twitter)
The 16th edition of the Asia Cup is on the horizon, featuring top Asian cricket teams competing from August 30th to September 17th. The tournament will be held in the ODI format, as the ICC Men's 50-over World Cup follows the Asia Cup. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Nepal are the main contenders in this prestigious event. Notably, this 16th edition of the Asian Nations tournament will adopt a hybrid model for the first time.
This year's tournament will embrace the ODI format. In 2018, the last ODI format Asia Cup took place in the UAE, where India, led by Rohit Sharma, triumphed over Bangladesh to secure their record 7th Asia Cup title.
Among the 13 matches, defending champions Sri Lanka will host 9 matches, while Pakistan will host the remaining 4 in Multan and Lahore. The tournament opener will see first-time qualifier Nepal facing Pakistan in Multan. Over the past 15 editions of the Asia Cup, there have been remarkable bowling performances and figures. Bowlers have consistently delivered exceptional spells throughout the tournament. With the impending Asia Cup 2023, it's a fitting time to look back and recall the top five bowling performances in the history of an Asia Cup edition.
5) Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev bowling prowess shines in 1990-91 asia Cup [Twitter]
The 1983 World Cup-winning captain boasts an impressive record in the Asia Cup. Accumulating 15 wickets within a mere 7 matches showcases Kapil Dev's evident prowess, achieved in just 54.5 overs.
His notable bowling prowess shines through in the 1990-91 Asia Cup, where he secured a remarkable 9 wickets, the highest in that specific edition. In a tournament involving India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh as the sole participants, Kapil Dev's extraordinary skills stood out. Despite competing in just three matches, he took 9 wickets, playing a pivotal role in India's triumphant claim of their third Asia Cup title.
Among his standout performances, his best bowling returns materialized against Sri Lanka. At the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Kapil Dev seized four wickets for a mere 31 runs. Prior to this achievement, he registered figures of 3/48 against Sri Lanka in Cuttack and 2/17 against Bangladesh in Chandigarh.
| Wickets | Year |
|---|---|
| 9 | 1990-91 |
4) Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman baosts tally of 10 wickets [Twitter]
Mustafizur Rahman boasts a tally of 10 wickets in the annals of the Asia Cup. His impressive record includes being the joint-highest wicket-taker (10) alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Rashid Khan during the 2018 Asia Cup edition. Across five matches in the 2018 Asia Cup, he secured a remarkable 10 wickets, playing a crucial role in propelling his team to the tournament final for the third time – following their appearances in 2012 and 2016.
Fondly known as "The Fizz," Mustafizur Rahman initiated the 2018 edition with a notable performance of 2/20 against Sri Lanka in Dubai. However, at the same venue, he remained wicketless against eventual champions India. He demonstrated his prowess by securing a couple of wickets against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. A pivotal moment came when the left-arm seamer clinched four wickets against Pakistan, guiding his team into the final. Although he managed to claim two wickets in the final, his efforts fell short of securing victory for his team in the tournament.
| Wickets | Year |
|---|---|
| 10 | 2018 |
3) Lasith Malinga
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Lasith Malinga scalps 33 wickets [Twitter]
Lasith Malinga leads the Asia Cup wicket charts with an impressive 33 scalps from 15 innings. This remarkable record includes two instances of four-wicket hauls and an impressive three instances of five-wicket hauls. His standout performance was during the 2014 season when he emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker (11) in that edition, significantly contributing to his team's fifth Asia Cup triumph.
Notably, Malinga's pinnacle moment was his five-wicket haul in the final match, a performance that added to his total of 11 wickets achieved from just 4 innings. He experienced a wicketless outing in just one game. Remarkably, both of his five-wicket hauls were achieved against Pakistan in a single Asia Cup edition, showcasing his exceptional bowling prowess.
| Wickets | Year |
|---|---|
| 11 | 2014 |
2) Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan boasts a tally of 22 wickets in the history of the Asia Cup [Twitter]
Seam-bowling all-rounder Irfan Pathan boasts a tally of 22 wickets in the history of the Asia Cup, a feat accomplished in just 12 games, solidifying his position as one of India's premier bowlers in the tournament's history.
Significantly, he secured 14 of these 22 wickets during the 2004 edition of the Asia Cup, emerging as the leading wicket-taker of that year's tournament. Within Indian players, Irfan Pathan continues to hold the record for the highest number of wickets taken in a single Asia Cup edition. His remarkable performance in the Asia Cup 2004 was complemented by Sachin Tendulkar, who also made a notable contribution with 12 wickets.
Irfan's consistency is evident as he managed to avoid going wicketless across all six games he played in that edition. His achievements included three instances of claiming three-wicket hauls, along with two instances of two-wicket hauls, and a single-wicket spell against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
| Wickets | Year |
|---|---|
| 14 | 2004 |
1) Ajantha Mendis
Ajantha Mendis boasts tally of 26 wickets in 8 matches [Twitter]
Mendis boasts an astounding tally of 26 wickets achieved in just eight matches within the Asia Cup. His mystery spin caused a sensation during the 2008 Asia Cup final, where he dismantled India with remarkable figures of six for 13. In this high-stakes match, the Men in Blue struggled against the then 23-year-old's crafty skills, eventually collapsing for 173 in response to 273.
Before the final, Mendis showed his mastery with the ball against the UAE and Pakistan with figures of five for 22 and four for 47, respectively. His exceptional contributions culminated in the 2008 edition, where he secured 17 wickets in five matches at an astonishing average of 8.52.
Mendis's enigmatic spin played a pivotal role in securing his team's fourth Asia Cup victory. He holds the record for the highest number of wickets taken in a single Asia Cup edition, boasting an exceptional 17 wickets. Moreover, he remains the sole bowler to have claimed six wickets in a single Asia Cup match. For his outstanding impact with the ball, Mendis deservedly clinched the Player of the Series award, single-handedly altering the outcomes of numerous matches in that memorable tournament.
| Wickets | Year |
|---|---|
| 17 | 2008 |
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")
