Top Five 'Most' Run-Getters For India In Asia Cup (ODIs)
Sachin Tendulkar has scored 971 runs in Asia Cup ODI for India [Source: Twitter]
As other nations prepare for the upcoming Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2023, the Asian giants India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal gear up to take on each other in the highly-anticipated Asia Cup 2023 after multiple disagreements between a few boards.
In anticipation of the CWC 2023, the Asia Cup 2023 will also be played in 50-over formats acting as an apt precursor to the global tournament. In 14 appearances, India have won the most Asia Cup titles (7), six of which have come in the One-Day International (ODI) format.
With 1,220 and 1,075 runs, respectively, Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara lead the batting charts, followed by India's Sachin Tendulkar with 971 runs.
This article list down the Top 5 batters with the most runs scored for India in Asia's premier ODI cricket tournament.
1.Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar played in Asia Cup between 1990 and 2012 [Source: Twitter]
Almost every batting list for India is headed by Sachin Tendulkar, and the Asia Cup is no different. Fondly Known as 'Master Blaster' Tendulkar first played in Asia Cup in 1990 and the last in 2012, featuring in 23 matches, winning three titles (1990, 1995 & 2010). Overall, the Mumbai-born scored seven fifties and two centuries, at a healthy average of 51.1., amassing 971 runs across eight editions.
Tendulkar was the leading run-getter in the 1995 edition (205).
| Matches | Runs | Avg | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 971 | 51.10 | 7 | 2 |
2.Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma captained India in the 2018 Asia Cup [Source: Twitter]
Current all-format skipper Rohit Sharma comes in second, having won led India in Asia Cup 2018 winning campaign. Sharma, who made his Asia Cup debut in the 2008 edition in Pakistan, has played 22 matches and slammed 745 runs, which include six fifties and one hundred. The 36-year-old's top score in the continental competition is 111*, which came against Sri Lanka in Dubai during a super four encounter.
| Matches | Runs | Avg | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 745 | 45.56 | 6 | 1 |
3.MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni captained India in 14 Asia Cup matches [Source: Twitter]
India's most celebrated captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni comes third in the list, having featured in the Asia Cup between 2008 and 2018. Dhoni, who has lifted two Asia Cup titles (2010 & 2016), played in 19 matches and ended up scoring 648 runs, at a staggering average of 64.80, with three fifties and one hundred. The explosive finisher made an instant name for himself in his maiden Asia Cup in 2008, scoring 327 runs in six games.
The 42-year-old has also played the most Asia Cup matches as captain, apart from holding the record for most dismissals as a keeper.
| Matches | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 648 | 64.80 | 3 | 1 |
4.Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli registered his highest ODI score against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2012 [Source: Twitter]
A modern-day great, Virat Kohli's ascendency into superstardom came in the Asia Cup 2012 edition. In his second-ever tournament appearance, the former skipper stockpiled 357 runs, which include a masterclass in a chase, hitting an unbeaten 183* against Pakistan. This was Tendulkar's final ODI match as well. Overall, Kohli in 11 matches has accumulated 413 runs with one fifty and three tons.
However, if we include Asia Cup T20 statistics as well, Kohli leapfrogs above the rest and becomes the highest-run score for India with 1,042 runs including four centuries and as many fifties.
| Matches | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 613 | 61.30 | 1 | 3 |
5.Gautam Gambhir
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Gautam Gambhir played three Asia Cup editions [Source: Twitter]
One of the mainstays in India's batting during the early 2010s, Gautam Gambhir has a decent record in Asia Cup despite featuring in just three editions (2008, 2010, 2012). The left-handed opener, known for anchoring India's innings in crucial title matches in 13 games, slammed 573 runs with five half-centuries and one solitary hundred. Gambhir's infamous on-field incident against Kamran Akmal came during an Asia Cup 2010 encounter in Dambulla, where the former top-scored in India's win over Pakistan.
| Matches | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 573 | 44.07 | 5 | 1 |
With as many as five ODIs guaranteed in the upcoming Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Kohli and Sharma have a great prospect of climbing up the ladder.
Most Runs for India in Asia Cup (ODI)
| Name | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 971 | 51.10 | 2 | 7 |
| Rohit Sharma | 745 | 46.56 | 1 | 6 |
| MS Dhoni | 648 | 64.80 | 1 | 3 |
| Virat Kohli | 613 | 61.30 | 3 | 1 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 573 | 44.07 | 1 | 5 |
| Suresh Raina | 574 | 60.77 | 2 | 3 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 534 | 59.33 | 2 | 2 |
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