History of Asia Cup in T20 format: Top batters, bowlers & other numbers

Explore the history of Asia Cup in T20 format, featuring top run-getters like Virat Kohli and leading wicket-takers including Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

The Asia Cup 2025 will begin on September 9 with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in the curtain raiser in Abu Dhabi. India will begin their title defense on the following day against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, who won the last 20-over edition of the event three years ago, will come late in the event alongside Pakistan. 

Dubai will host the most anticipated affair between India and Pakistan on September 14. The Suryakumar Yadav-led side will head into the event with eight wins in 10 encounters of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup. Sri Lanka (six) and Pakistan (five) follow them in the table. 

Team’s performances in Men’s T20 Asia Cup

Virat Kohli holds record for most runs in Men’s T20 Asia Cup
Virat Kohli won’t feature in the competition, having already retired from the shortest format more than a year ago. He is currently the leading run-getter of the T20 Asia Cup. The right-handed batter has smashed 429 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 132 with three half-centuries and one century. 

Read More: Asia Cup 2025: India squad analysis & Probable XI

Most Runs among batters in Men’s T20 Asia Cup

Kohli also holds the record for the most fifty-plus scores (four) in the competition. Mohammed Rizwan is second on the table. Interestingly, he won’t be part of the tournament either, as the selectors have ignored his position in the squad.

Rizwan is the leading run-getter of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Even though Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran has an average of 65.33, his strike rate of just over 100 isn’t accepted in modern T20Is.

Read More: India’s bowlers have taken 185 wickets in middle overs (7-15) in T20Is post T20 World Cup 2022

Most runs among batters in Men’s T20 Asia Cup in UAE

Hardik Pandya has chance to become most successful Men’s T20 Asia Cup bowler 
Bhuvneshwar Kumar perhaps enjoyed the Men’s T20 Asia Cup the most with 13 wickets in six innings. His economy rate is also under the 5.50 mark, with the best figures of 5/4 in an innings. If Hardik Pandya can pick more than two wickets, he can then climb up the ladder and take the top spot.

Most wickets among bowlers in Men’s T20 Asia Cup

In the UAE, it seems to be a different story with the ball. Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga sits second on the list with nine wickets in six innings. Pakistan’s Mohammed Nawaz has an economy rate of under six. Haris Rauf has also used his pace to collect rewards.

Read More: Numerical story of India’s batting dominance in T20Is post T20 WC 2022

Most wickets among bowlers in Men’s T20 Asia Cup in UAE

In the inaugural T20I edition of the tournament, India secured the title after defeating Bangladesh in the final. In the 2022 edition, Sri Lanka blew away Pakistan in the final in Dubai. 

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decided that they would shuffle the format of the competition based on the upcoming ICC World Cups. That would offer the players a great opportunity to prepare for the event. Just like that, this Asia Cup 2025 will be the perfect preparation for T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. 

Read More: Pressing need for India to stick to format specialists in T20Is