Asia Cup is a big tournament that takes place once every two years. This tournament features top teams from the subcontinent competing against each other to show their dominance. It started in 1984 and has so far hosted 15 seasons. Team India has the most titles. However, over the years, there have been a number of big performances in this tournament.
In this article, we will talk about the highest partnerships recorded in the history of the Asia Cup. There have been seven occasions in the Asia Cup when a pair went past the 200-run mark, and the top two belong to Pakistan. So let’s check it out.
Highest Partnership in ODI Asia Cup
| Pair | Runs | Wkt | Vs | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez | 224 | 1st | India | Mirpur | 18 Mar 2012 |
| Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik | 223 | 3rd | Hong Kong | Colombo (SSC) | 18 Jul 2004 |
| Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed | 214 | 5th | Nepal | Multan | 30 Aug 2023 |
| Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane | 213 | 3rd | Bangladesh | Fatullah | 26 Feb 2014 |
| Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan | 210 | 1st | Pakistan | Dubai (DSC) | 23 Sep 2018 |
| Moin-ul-Atiq and Ijaz Ahmed | 205 | 3rd | Bangladesh | Chattogram | 29 Oct 1988 |
| Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir | 205 | 2nd | Sri Lanka | Mirpur | 13 Mar 2012 |
| Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya | 201 | 1st | Bangladesh | Karachi | 30 Jun 2008 |
| Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina | 198 | 2nd | Pakistan | Karachi | 26 Jun 2008 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya and DA Gunawardene | 191* | 1st | Bangladesh | Colombo (RPS) | 23 Jul 2004 |
| Navjot Sidhu and Mphammed Azharuddin | 175* | 3rd | Sri Lanka | Sharjah | 14 Apr 1995 |
6. Moin-ul-Atiq and Ijaz Ahmed (205 runs) vs Bangladesh in 1988
The first pair to cross the 200-run mark in an Asia Cup was Moin-ul-Atiq and Ijaz Ahmed. They added a 205-run third wicket stand against Bangladesh in 1988 Asia Cup in Chattogram. Pakistan scored a tough total of 284/3 (45-over match). Atiq made 105 off 117 balls, and Ijaz scored an unbeaten 124 off 87. In reply, Bangladesh managed 111/6, and Pakistan won by 173 runs.
5. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan (210 runs) vs Pakistan in 2018
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan added a 210-run opening stand against Pakistan in the 2018 edition in Dubai. It came in a chase. Batting first, Pakistan only managed 237/7. Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzi Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each. Chasing the score, both Indian openers scored a century. Skipper Rohit made an unbeaten 111 off 119, with seven fours and four sixes. Dhawan scored 114 off 100 balls, with 16 fours and two sixes, as India made 238/1 in 39.3 overs to win.
4. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane (213 runs) vs Bangladesh in 2014
The fourth biggest partnership was recorded by Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane against Bangladesh in the 2014 edition. This was the second game of the tournament in Fatullah and came in a chase. Bangladesh made 279/7 in the first innings, and India made 280/4 to win by six wickets. Virat and Rahane added 213 runs for the third wicket to help India win. Virat made 136 off 122, while Rahane supported him with an 83-ball 73.
2. Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik (223 runs) vs Hong Kong in 2004
The pair of Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik added the second-biggest Asia Cup partnership for 223 runs, which came for the third wicket. It was a Pakistan vs Hong Kong match in 2004 in Colombo. Pakistan scored a massive total of 343/5, courtesy of a 223-run stand between Malik and Younis. Malik scored 118 off 110 balls, while Younis made a 122-ball 144. Hong Kong were bowled out for 165, and Pakistan won by a massive 173 runs.
1. Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez (224 runs) vs India in 2012
The biggest Asia Cup stand came in a record-breaking game between India and Pakistan in Mirpur in Asia Cup 2012. Batting first, Pakistan scored a big total of 329/6. Both openers added a huge 224-run stand and scored a century each. Mohammad Hafeez made 105 runs, while Nasir Jamshed scored 112 runs. But in the second inning, Virat Kohli smashed his career best of 183, and India made 330/4 to win by six wickets.