The clash of the Asian giants will be on display as only four days remain for Asia Cup’s opening game. The opening game will feature the tournament’s co-hosts, Pakistan, who will take on this year’s debutant, Nepal. The opening game will take place at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Even though greats of the game like Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara dominate the charts when it comes to the most runs scored in the Asia Cup. As the 16th edition of the highly-anticipated continental tournament nears, we look at the top 5 active players with the most runs in the Asia Cup.
Rohit Sharma: 745 runs
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India and the victor of the most recent 50-over Asia Cup in Dubai, is presently atop the list of all active players for runs scored in the Asia Cup. Rohit Sharma made his Asia Cup debut in 2008 in Pakistan, and in the subsequent ten years, he has represented India in 22 games at the competition. In the competition, Rohit has run for 745 runs at an average of 46.56. Along with six half-centuries, Rohit also scored a century during the competition. In order to surpass Sachin Tendulkar as the all-time highest run-scorer for India in the Asia Cup, he still needs 227 runs.
Mushfiqur Rahim: 699 runs
Since making his debut for Bangladesh, veteran player and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim has been a constant in the team’s batting order. Rahim is ranked second among all-time leading run scorers for the Asia Cup who are also playing in the 2023 tournament, a list that is dominated by primarily Bangladeshis and Indians. Since the 2008 Asia Cup, the 36-year-old wicketkeeper has participated in 21 matches and amassed 699 runs. Rahim has a 36.78 tournament average. In the competition, he has two centuries and two fifties to his credit.
Virat Kohli: 613 runs
Virat Kohli, a former captain of India, competed in just three 50-over Asia Cups, beginning in 2010. In the 2018 edition in Dubai, where India was led by Rohit Sharma and defeated Bangladesh in the final to win the title for a record-breaking sixth time, Virat Kohli requested a break. The same competition hosted Virat Kohli’s highest ODI score of 183 against Pakistan back in 2012. In his three appearances in ODI Asia Cup competitions, Virat has played just 11 games and batted in just 10 innings, but he has amassed 613 runs at an exceptional average of 61.30 and three tournament-winning hundreds.
Tamim Iqbal: 519 runs
Another player from Bangladesh is one of the top 5 run scorers in the competition, pointing to the development of the Bangladesh team in the Asia Cup. In the last three 50-over Asia Cup competitions, Bangladesh has participated in the final twice. Tamim Iqbal debuted at the Asia Cup in 2008, and he has since played in 13 matches. He has six fifty-plus scores and 519 runs with an average of 43.25. Due to an injury, Tamim Iqbal, the opener for Bangladesh, will miss the forthcoming tournament in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Shakib al Hasan: 402 runs
Shakib Al Hasan, the newly selected captain of Bangladesh, is a well-known name in the Asia Cup competition. When Bangladesh last competed in the tournament final in 2018 in Dubai, Shakib has been a part of the team since 2010. In his 13 Asia Cup contests, Shakib has three fifty-plus scores and 402 runs at an average of 33.50. Shakib, who presently ranks among the top 5 run scorers in the competition, will attempt to win the title for Bangladesh for the first time.
