The Asia Cup has seen some of the best players in the game. These players together have made strong partnerships, helping their team give match-winning scores. Basically, strong partnerships help to dominate games, and these top five highest partnerships in Asia Cup history still remain unbreakable.
Every individual player makes records and achieves great marks, but what stands out is the teamwork as a team. Above all, they create great pressure on opponents and help the team to change the game. In addition, it helps to improve the confidence of the team to take over the win.
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The top five highest partnerships in Asia Cup history
1. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are two of the best batsmen in India. They stand in the top position of the Highest partnership in the Asia Cup history. During the Asia Cup 2023 in the Super 4, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli remain undefeated at 233 runs for the third wicket against Pakistan.
It was an intense game, but KL and Virat changed the game in no time. In addition, India won the match, but it was KL Rahul and Virat Kohli’s strong performance that stood out in the game. They are a perfect balance, as Rahul plays steadily with a calm approach, whereas Virat is a aggressive and bold player.
2. Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez
Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez are the star performers of Pakistan because of their powerful gameplay. During the 2012 Asia Cup, they showcased great performance with Nasir hitting boundaries, and Hafeez anchored the score. In addition, this duo scored a strong 224 runs against India for the first wicket.
They helped to dominate the match and created great pressure on the Indian bowlers. However, Pakistan lost that match, but the duo impressed the world with their strong partnership and consistency in the game. It was one of the biggest moments for Pakistan.
3. Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik
Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik are two of the most steady players of Pakistan. They played and handled the pressure very well, even attacking the bowlers. During the 2004 Asia Cup ODI, they scored a strong 223 runs for the third wicket against Hong Kong in the tournament.
However, Hong Kong was a weak team at that time and was not able to chase the target. Hence, Pakistan won the match, and it was Younis and Shoaib’s great partnership that dominated the game. It was one of the iconic moments for Pakistan.
4. Iftikhar Ahmed and Babar Azam
Iftikhar Ahmed and Babar Azam showed great skills as partners. The duo dominated the game and showcased their impact in a crucial match. During the 2023 Asia Cup, the duo scored a very strong 214 for the fifth wicket against Nepal. In addition, to score such a big score in the middle order, they were brilliant.
It helped the team to completely change the game and dominate Nepal. The duo showcased great consistency in the game and helped the team create an impact in the tournament.
5. Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli are both very strong players of India. During the 2014 Asia Cup ODI, the duo scored a strong 213 runs for the third wicket against Bangladesh. It was a great chase with India dominating the game. In addition, the duo created a great partnership with aggression and calmness, making them unbeatable.
They dominated the Bangladesh spinners easily and helped the team to grab the win. Above all, the standout performance by the duo is still remembered and said to be one of the most iconic partnerships.
Top 10 Highest Partnerships in Asia Cup History
| Rank | Partners | Runs | Opponent | Venue | Date | Result | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KL Rahul & Virat Kohli | 233* | Pakistan | Colombo (RPS) | 10 Sep 2023 | Won | ODI |
| 2 | Mohammad Hafeez & Nasir Jamshed | 224 | India | Mirpur | 18 Mar 2012 | Lost | ODI |
| 3 | Younis Khan & Shoaib Malik | 223 | Hong Kong | Colombo (SSC) | 18 Jul 2004 | Won | ODI |
| 4 | Iftikhar Ahmed & Babar Azam | 214 | Nepal | Multan | 30 Aug 2023 | Won | ODI |
| 5 | Ajinkya Rahane & Virat Kohli | 213 | Bangladesh | Fatullah | 26 Feb 2014 | Won | ODI |
| 6 | Rohit Sharma & Shikhar Dhawan | 210 | Pakistan | Dubai | 23 Sep 2018 | Won | ODI |
| 7 | Sanath Jayasuriya & Kumar Sangakkara | 201 | Bangladesh | Karachi | 30 Jun 2008 | Won | ODI |
| 8 | Sanath Jayasuriya & Avishka Gunawardene | 191* | Bangladesh | Colombo | 23 Jul 2004 | Won | ODI |
| 9 | Anshuman Rath & Nizakat Khan | 174 | India | Dubai | 18 Sep 2018 | Lost | ODI |
| 10 | Sanath Jayasuriya & Marvan Atapattu | 171 | Bangladesh | Colombo | 22 Jul 1997 | Won | ODI |
Can anyone break them in 2025?
The Asia Cup 2025 will start from 9 September 2025 in the T20 format. The squads are full of strong players and powerful hitters like Litton Das, Babar Azam, Abhishek Sharma, and Yashavi Jiaswal. Basically, these players have shown incredible performance in the T20 format, scoring big centuries.
However, this year the tournament is not in ODI format, so we might not see big partnerships of 210+ runs. Meanwhile, such players may bring thrilling new records to the tournament.
Also Check: Who are the top five batters with the most fours in Asia Cup history?
