Top 5 individual innings in Asia Cup Tournament. 

Asia Cup tournament was started by Asian Cricket Council in the year of 1984 with the aim of improving relationships between asian countries, this historical tournament witnessed some of the best Individual batting performances over the years, here is a list of top 5 Individual Records in the tournament:-

5. 136 by Virat Kohli against Bangladesh, 2014

India has won this tournament 7 times and proved that Indian team has been a dominating team from the subcontinent, 

In 2014, Asia cup was organised in Bangladesh, with 5 participating nations - India, (Defending champions and Runner-up of this tournament) Pakistan, (Champion of this tournament) Sri Lanka, Hosts Bangladesh and Afghanisthan (debutant). 

In the second match of the tournament, hosts Bangladesh faced India, both sides were looking to start the tournament on a positive note, India after winning the toss asked Bangladesh to bat first. 

Bangladesh were in some trouble when they were at 49/2, Opener Anamul Haque (77) alongside Captain and Wicket Keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (117) staged a comeback for the team with an important Partnership of 133 runs. 

Anamul got dismissed and missed a chance of scoring a valuable century against their neighbours and Bangladesh krpt losing their wickets on a regular interval, but Mushfiqur made it sure that Bangladesh reach to a total which their team can defend his century helped Bangladesh to reach at 279/7.

India started magnificently but Lost both of their openers at the score of 54, Captain Kohli (136) played a brilliant knock and stitched a brilliant partnership of 213 runs with Ajinkya Rahane (73) . 

Virat was dismissed before he can finish the game for his team but he made sure that team will not be in further trouble after losing early wickets and by the time he got out team was almost at the finishing line, India won the match with 6 balls to spare and with 6 wickets in hand. 

4. 143 by Shoaib Malik against India, 2004

India vs Pakistan rivalry is among the most  viewed and amongst the most followed rivalries in international cricket, this two sides have been part of some of the most thrilling matches and hopefully this trend will continue in the future as well. 

In 2004, this two teams meet each other in the 10th match of the tournament at Colombo, Pakistan batted first and despite having a bad start, made a good comeback when Shoaib Malik (143) made important partnerships of 103 runs with Yasir Hameed, 66 runs with Captain Inzamam, 63 runs with Mohd. Yousuf and of 44 runs with Abdul Razzaq. 

All the other batsman played second fiddle that day and by the time Shoaib was dismissed he made sure that Pakistan reach to a formidable position, they put 300 runs on the board for the loss of 9 wickets. 

In reply, Sachin Tendulkar (78)scored a fighting half century but that was not enough as Pakistan won the match by 59 runs, Shoaib also proved himself with the ball in the hand by scalping two wickets as well, Shoaib will be featuring in this list again. 

3. 144 by Mushfiqur Rahim against Sri Lanka, 2018

Bangladesh debuted at 1999 cricket World Cup in the international stage and over the years they have performed well in the limited or shortest format of the game, in the longest format especially in the overseas tests they need to improve but over the years Bangladesh has proved everyone that they are not pushovers. 

In 2018, Asia cup was scheduled to be held at India but due to ongoing tensions between host and Pakistan the tournament was moved to UAE,  6 teams participated in the tournament : India (Defending champions, India retained the trophy), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanisthan, Bangladesh (Runner-up) and Hongkong. 

In the first match of the tournament, Bangladesh faced Sri Lanka after winning the toss Bangladesh elected bat first, by the end of first over they lost 2 wickets, situation worsens when their opener batsman Tamim Iqbal got injured, when he fractured left wrist by the end of the 2nd over itself. 

Bangladesh were in trouble, but wicket keeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (144) started rebuilding innings, first he made a 131 runs partnership with Mohammed Mithun (63), but after this partnership Bangladesh kept losing their wickets and at 229/9 it all looked over  with Mushfiqur fighting a lone battle. 

Surprising everyone, Tamim walked out to bat, just so that his team can add some more crucial runs in the score, Mushfiqur made sure that Tamim's brave decisions pays off as he added more 32 runs in the team's total, Bangladesh finish their innings at 261, then Bangladeshi bowlers didn't allowed Lankan batters to settle down and dismissed them for 124, Bangladesh won by 137 runs. 

2. 144 by Younis Khan against Hong kong, 2004

In 2004, Asia cup as held at the Island nation and their were 6 participants in this tournament which includes 4 test playing nations- India (Runners up of this tournament), Host (also winner of this tournament) Sri Lanka, Pakistan (defending champions) and Bangladesh and two associate nations - UAE and Hongkong who were playing their first Asia cup tournament. 

It was the second match of Pakistan and Hongkong and also the third match of group A, Hongkong lost their first match against Bangladesh and Pakistan won their match against Bangladesh. 

Pakistan batted first and were 51/2, the ever so reliable Younis Khan (144) Joined hands with Shoaib Malik and they both made 223 runs, this duo before getting dismissed made sure that Pakistan reach 343/5 in their innings. 

Pakistani bowler then never allowed the opposition to settle down and dismissed Hongkong for 165, Shoaib took 4 wickets as well after hammering a ton earlier in the day and won player of the match award for his all round performance, Pakistan won the match by 173 runs (D/l method). 

1. 183 by Virat Kohli against Pakistan, 2012

Before Virat was included into Indian team, I knew him as the U-19 Indian team captain who won the tournament for India alongwith his team which was full of talented youngsters, seeing him getting included in the Indian squad, I was eager to see how this youngster will fare in international cricket. 

His career defining knock in international cricket was when he smashed 24 runs off Lasith Malinga in a single over and his unbeaten 133 helped India to chase 321 in just 36 overs, he already made everyone aware that this young lad from Delhi is not only here to stay but he will make Mountain of runs and if everything goes right he will create a legacy for himself. 

Just few days later of the wonderful innings India faced Pakistan in the 5th match of Asia Cup tournament,  Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, Openers gave Pakistan a solid start, both Mohammed Hafeez (105) and Nasir Jamshed (112) scored centuries and put on 224 for the first wicket, but both were dismissed in the space of 3 deliveries and 1 run,  but Younis Khan's (52) quickfire half century helped Pakistan to reach at 329/6 . 

India Lost their first wicket without scoring a run but Sachin (52) scored a valuable half century and made a 133 runs important partnership with Virat Kohli (183), after the dismissal of the Great icon, Rohit Sharma (68) came into the crease and both Kohli and Sharma milked Pakistan's bowling attack and they scored 172 runs in this partnership. 

After Rohit's dismissal at 305, Kohli was also dismissed on 318  but by this time Kohli made sure that India is indeed winning this match, India won this match by 6 wickets. 

183 is the highest score of Virat Kohli in One Day International Cricket

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