Ahead of the 2025 T20 edition, a look back at the ODI giants who defined Asia’s continental battleground
The Asia Cup has never simply been a tournament. It is where Asia’s fiercest rivals clash, where form meets pressure, and where batters are either crowned kings or humbled under the desert sun. With the 2025 edition returning to T20 format in the UAE this September, it feels fitting to pause and honour the players who have built their legacies in the ODI Asia Cups of the past.
Here are the top five active players with the most runs in ODI Asia Cup history — the run machines who transformed a continental contest into their personal stage.
At the summit sits Rohit Sharma, with 939 runs in 26 innings, making him not just the highest run-scorer among active players but also one of the top five of all time. His average of 46.95 is complemented by 1 century and 9 fifties, and no batter has cleared the boundaries more often — his 28 sixes are the most in Asia Cup ODI history.
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A three-time Asia Cup winner and twice a captain, Rohit epitomises the perfect combination of elegance and power. When he bats, the contest often feels secondary; it becomes an exhibition of timing, audacity, and unshakable composure.
When the history of the Asia Cup is recounted, Virat Kohli’s 183 against PAK in Dhaka, 2012, will have a chapter all of its own. It was not merely his highest ODI score but also a statement of intent — a masterclass in pressure batting.
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In just 13 innings, Kohli has amassed 742 runs at an average of 61.83, striking at nearly a run a ball. 4 centuries and several fifties showcase his unmatched ability to turn starts into monumental innings. For India, and for the Asia Cup itself, Kohli has been more than a prolific run-scorer; he has been an inevitable force.
Few names define Bangladesh cricket like Shakib Al Hasan. Across 18 Asia Cup innings from 2010 to 2023, he has scored 575 runs at a strike rate of 101. His 5 half-centuries demonstrate consistency, though he still hasn't scored a century.
But Shakib’s greatness lies in the context. In a team often dependent on individual brilliance, he has carried the burden as both batter and all-rounder, ensuring Bangladesh remains competitive in a tournament where underdogs seldom get second chances.
Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket has been one of sport’s most captivating stories, and Hashmatullah Shahidi has been central to it. With 373 runs in just seven matches between 2018 and 2023, his average of 62.16 is almost double his career figure. The left-hander has scored five half-centuries, often anchoring Afghanistan’s innings with composure and resilience.
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For a team once regarded as outsiders, Shahidi has become a symbol of belonging — evidence that Afghan batsmen can stand tall among Asia’s giants.
Babar Azam bears the weight of a nation every time he steps onto the field. Across the 2018 and 2023 editions, he has scored 363 runs in nine innings, averaging 40.33. His standout moment came in Multan, 2023, when he crafted a masterful 151 against Nepal — a knock that demonstrated control, perfect timing, and the commanding presence of a contemporary great.
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Although his Asia Cup statistics are below his overall ODI brilliance (career average 54.23), Babar remains Pakistan’s most reliable run-scorer as the team moves into the next phase of its journey.
