Records & Stats

5 highest batting partnerships in Asia Cup history

The upcoming Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a hybrid model for the first time. Four matches will be hosted by Pakistan and nine matches will be played in Sri Lanka. India will play all their matches in Sri Lanka as they will not be travelling to Pakistan due to the friction in India and Pakistan relations. Pakistan was meant to be the sole host of the upcoming Asia Cup but now will be given joint hosting rights for the tournament along with Sri Lanka.

The matches will be played in the ODI format as a build-up to the World Cup in India. The Men in Blue won the Asia Cup the last time it was hosted in the 50-over format in the United Arab Emirates. India beat Bangladesh in a closely contested final. Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup in 2022 at the same venue when it was played in the T20 format ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup. The tournament will be full of runs as it is played in Asian conditions. Here are the top five batting partnerships in the multilateral tournament.

5. Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli  – 205 runs in 2012 

In the 2012 edition, On a good batting track, Gambhir and Kohli sent the Sri Lankans on a leather hunt as they both scored hundreds in the match. The partnership took place for the second wicket. India scored 304 runs in their 50 overs. In the second innings, barring Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka folded up for 254 giving India a 50-run win. Ashwin and Vinay Kumar picked up three wickets each and Irfan Pathan took a four-wicket haul.

4. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan – 210 runs in 2018 

In the UAE, India picked up wickets at regular intervals after Pakistan elected to bat first. This meant that they were kept down to 237-7 in their 50 overs. Shoaib Malik was the star batter for Pakistan as he made 78 off 90 balls with four fours and two sixes. In the run chase, Rohit Sharma made 111 off 119 balls with seven fours and four sixes. Shikhar Dhawan made 116 off 100 balls with 16 fours and two sixes. India won the match by 8 wickets.

3. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane 213 runs in 2014

This partnership starred Kohli and Rahane in 2014. After the India bowlers kept Bangladesh down to 279-7 led by Mohammed Shami’s four-wicket haul, Kohli smashed 136 off 122 balls with 16 fours and two sixes. Rahane made 73 off 83 balls with two fours and one six. The Men in Blue won the game with an over to spare.

2. Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan 223 runs in 2004

Pakistan won the toss against Hong Kong and decided to bat first. After being reduced to 51-2 at one stage,  Younis and Malik hit centuries and plundered the Hong Kong bowling attack. Younis made 144 off 122 balls with eight fours and three sixes. Maik made 118 off 110 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. Pakistan amassed 343 -5 in 50 overs. In the second innings, Hong Kong was just shot out for 165 giving Pakistan a 173-run win via DLS, the second innings was reduced to 47 overs and the target was changed.

1. Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed 224 runs in 2012

Mohammed Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed hit a wonderful 224-run stand at the top on a batting beauty in Dhaka. This meant that Pakistan made 329-6 in their 50 overs. Hafeez hit 105 off 113 balls with nine fours and one six. Jamshed made 112 off 104 balls with 10 fours and one six. But India aced the chase thanks to a stunning knock of 183 off 148 balls with 22 fours and one six. India won the match with 2.5 overs to spare.