Asia Cup 2018: Remembering 5 records before heading into the tournament

All of the top cricket playing nations of Asia are gearing up for the Asia Cup 2018 that is scheduled to be played in UAE from 15 to 28 September. A total number of thirteen matches will be held in two different venues and those are Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, and Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Five Test-playing countries and Hong Kong will participate at the biggest cricketing tournament of Asia. These six teams divided into two groups while India, Pakistan and Hong Kong in group A and Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in group B.

Before the prestigious tournament kicked off we had a deep attention into the ocean of records of this event and found five records that you have to remember before heading to this year’s Asia Cup.

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#5 Highest Team total: Pakistan (385 vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup 2010)

But no team were able to surpass Pakistan’s 385, that they have scored against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup of 2010

There are 21 innings in the Asia Cup when a team scored 300 runs or passed it. But no team were able to surpass Pakistan’s 385, that they have scored against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup of 2010, that was held in Sri Lanka.

Shahid Afridi decided to bat first after winning the toss at Dambulla and that was the start of torture that Bangladesh went through for the next three and half hour. Pakistan scored 385 runs while Afridi smashed an innings of 124 just playing 60 balls.

Shafiul Islam, the Bangladesh pacer conceded 95 runs on that match and put his team in the immense helplessness. Bangladesh got packed scoring 246 runs while chasing the mighty target and lost the match by 139 runs.

That innings of Pakistan still remains as the biggest totals of any team in the history of Asia Cup. Remember this innings and see if any team can surpass it in the upcoming edition of the tournament.

#4 The biggest margin of win (India, 256 runs vs Hong Kong in Asia Cup 2008)

India is the holder of the record of the biggest win in the tournament as they beat Hong Kong by 256 runs back in 2008

Here are only two instances of winning a team in the Asia Cup by a margin of 200 runs or more. India is the holder of the record of the biggest win in the tournament as they beat Hong Kong by 256 runs back in 2008.

India scored 374 runs for 7 wickets in Karachi. MS Dhoni and SK Raina hit centuries while registering a 166-run stand at the fourth wicket. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag scored two fifties while opening the run-fest for India.

Hong Kong found themselves thrown out of the race by India just after concluding the first innings of the match, and were completely outplayed when they got all-out scoring only 118. Piyush Chawla, the leg-break-bowler took 4 scalps for India on the contest.

India won the match by that big margin of 256 runs and that is still the record of the biggest win of a team in Asia Cup. Remember this record and see if any can make it bigger in the upcoming edition of the tournament.

#3 Most number of sixes in an innings (Six, MS Dhoni and Sanath Jayasuriya)

MS Dhoni and Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya come here as they are two batsmen who have the record of hitting most sixes in an innings of Asia Cup

Wickets in UAE are traditionally flat, and those are the heaven-like favourite to batsmen. So, here is an immense probability for the bowlers to get flooded by sixes and boundaries in UAE.

Names of India’s world cup winning captain MS Dhoni and Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya come here as they are two batsmen who have the record of hitting most sixes in an innings of Asia Cup.

Dhoni sent the balls out of the park for six times during their run-fest against Hong Kong at Karachi, Jayasuriya did the same against Bangladesh in the same venue.

The upcoming Asia Cup could see a new name in this record. There are many big hitters in the Asian Teams like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal, Thisara Perera, and Mohammad Shahzad.

Who knows, one or maybe two or three of them might break the record of Dhoni and Jayasuriya.

#2 Best bowling figures (Ajantha Mendis’ 6 for 13 vs India)

Mendis did this damage to India at the grand final of 2008 Asia Cup

The Sri Lankan mysterious bowler Ajantha Mendis is not a part of the team anymore. He played his last international game three years ago and did not seem to get another call to the Lankan side. But, his name is still memorable for his heroic bowling show of six wickets just conceding 13 runs. This is the record of best bowling in Asia Cup.

Mendis did this damage to India at the grand final of 2008 Asia Cup when Sri Lanka posted 273 runs on the board thanks to 125 runs of Jayasuriya.

India stumbled away from the race to clinch the trophy during their chase. They failed to read Mendis’ bowling and gave him away six of their batsmen.

That incredible bowling of mystery spinner helped Sri Lanka to outplay India and clinch the fourth title of Asia Cup.

It will not be an easy task for the bowlers to break this record. Because the game of cricket is becoming tougher for them.

Despite this truth, you may keep your eyes on certain bowlers who have the power on their bowling to write a new chapter of history.

#1 Best ever innings (Virat Kohli, 183 vs Pakistan in Asia Cup 2012)

With the help of 22 fours and one six, Kohli brought his innings to 183 runs

Indian captain Virat Kohli is not a part of this year’s Asia Cup. He was rested by BCCI. He might not be presented at the field during the Asia Cup but his name definitely will. Because he is the batsman who recorded the best ever individual innings of Asia Cup against Pakistan.

Back in 2012, Pakistan scored a huge total of 329 runs against India. After the first innings of the match in Dhaka, they might have a wind comfort. Because it’s not an everyday-thing to chase 329 runs. But India did it very comfortably as Virat Kohli played the best ODI innings of his life.

With the help of 22 fours and one six, Kohli brought his innings to 183 runs, that is the first and only 150-plus innings in the history of Asia Cup.

Will this record of Virat be broken in upcoming Asia Cup? Who knows!