Top 5 Highest Individual Scores In Men’s T20 Asia Cup Ft. Virat Kohli

The wait is almost over. Cricket fans across the globe are counting down the days until the Asia Cup 2025, set to unfold in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28. Eight of Asia’s top cricketing nations will lock horns in the T20I format, bringing together a festival of high-voltage rivalries, nail-biting thrillers, and breathtaking individual brilliance.

Over the years, the Asia Cup has served as a unique battleground. It is more than just another tournament; it’s a celebration of Asian cricketing culture where fierce rivalries between India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and emerging teams ignite global attention. Amidst the drama of last-ball finishes and unforgettable collapses, the tournament has also gifted us some of the finest batting performances ever seen in T20 cricket.

From gritty rearguard efforts that saved teams from collapse to fearless displays of power-hitting that demolished world-class attacks, the Asia Cup has been a showcase for batting genius. As the 2025 edition draws closer, it’s the perfect time to rewind the clock and revisit the Top 5 highest individual scores in Men’s T20 Asia Cup history.

These knocks are not just about numbers on the scoreboard — they tell stories of resilience, redemption, and raw talent that define cricket at its very best.

5) Sabbir Rahman – 80 vs Sri Lanka (2016)

When the Asia Cup adopted the T20 format for the very first time in 2016, many players were looking to cement their reputations on the big stage. For Bangladesh, a nation steadily rising as a competitive force in world cricket, Sabbir Rahman became an overnight hero with his spirited 80 against a seasoned Sri Lankan side.

Venue & Context: Dhaka, Asia Cup 2016 group stage. Bangladesh needed a stabilizing hand after early wickets.
Scorecard Impact: Sabbir scored 80 runs off 65 balls, striking at 148.14.

Why It Was Special

Bangladesh were in trouble early, with Sri Lanka’s experienced bowlers dictating terms. Sabbir walked in with responsibility heavy on his shoulders. What followed was a masterclass in controlled aggression. He rotated the strike when needed, weathered the pressure, and then unleashed counter-attacks with elegant boundaries.

Facing Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews wasn’t easy, but Sabbir absorbed the heat. His knock not only kept Bangladesh in the contest but also showed the world that the Tigers could stand tall against giants.

Legacy of the Innings

Though Bangladesh didn’t win that night, Sabbir’s 80 became a symbol of the team’s growing maturity in T20 cricket. For a player often overshadowed by Shakib Al Hasan or Mushfiqur Rahim, this innings was his statement of intent on Asia’s grand stage.

4) Rohit Sharma – 83 vs Bangladesh (2016)

If there’s one name synonymous with elegance in T20 cricket, it is Rohit Sharma. Nicknamed the “Hitman,” Rohit’s effortless stroke play can dismantle any attack. In the 2016 Asia Cup, he produced a breathtaking 83 off 55 balls against hosts Bangladesh.

Venue & Context: Dhaka, opening match of Asia Cup 2016. India needed a strong start in tricky conditions.
Scorecard Impact: Rohit struck at 150.90, peppering the field with four boundaries and three towering sixes.

Why It Was Special

The Sher-e-Bangla pitch was sluggish, and Bangladesh’s bowlers were disciplined, making run-scoring difficult. Early wickets fell, and India were in danger of stumbling. But Rohit decided to shift gears, mixing patience with exquisite timing.

The hallmark of this innings was his ability to pierce gaps with surgical precision. His cover drives were pure artistry, while his lofted shots over long-on left the Dhaka crowd gasping.

Legacy of the Innings

This innings set the tone for India’s campaign. Rohit proved why he was not just a great ODI opener but equally devastating in T20 cricket. For Indian fans, this knock reinforced their faith that when Rohit fired, India rarely lost.

3) Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 84 vs Sri Lanka (2022)

If 2016 gave us Sabbir’s grit and Rohit’s grace, then 2022 was the year of Afghanistan’s fearless brand of cricket, and at the heart of it was Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Against Sri Lanka, the young wicketkeeper-batter lit up Dubai with a dazzling 84 off 45 balls, striking at a jaw-dropping 186.66.

Venue & Context: Dubai, Asia Cup 2022 group stage opener. Afghanistan wanted to send a message against a former champion.
Scorecard Impact: Gurbaz’s assault included six sixes and four boundaries.

Why It Was Special

Facing a side known for crafty bowlers, Gurbaz didn’t hold back. From the very first ball, he went after the attack, fearlessly lofting deliveries over the infield. His six-hitting spree stunned Sri Lanka’s bowlers, and Afghanistan rocketed to a powerplay score few teams could dream of.

It wasn’t reckless hitting; it was calculated aggression. Gurbaz picked his bowlers, targeted weak spots, and executed with precision.

Legacy of the Innings

This knock wasn’t just about runs; it was a declaration that Afghanistan were no longer underdogs. Gurbaz became the face of their fearless cricketing approach, inspiring millions and putting world cricket on notice.

2) Babar Hayat – 122 vs Oman (2016)

Few stories in cricket are as heartwarming as that of Babar Hayat, the Hong Kong batter who etched his name into Asia Cup history books with a stunning 122 off 60 balls against Oman in 2016.

Venue & Context: Fatullah, qualifying stage of Asia Cup 2016. Hong Kong needed a big win to stay alive.
Scorecard Impact: Hayat struck at an astonishing 203.33, blasting seven sixes and nine boundaries.

Why It Was Special

This was no ordinary innings. Playing for an Associate Nation, Hayat faced the pressure of keeping Hong Kong relevant against more established sides. But he didn’t just anchor the innings — he tore Oman’s bowling to shreds.

Hayat played with complete freedom, smashing bowlers to every corner. His six-hitting ability was breathtaking, and his acceleration after reaching fifty was reminiscent of the great T20 finishers.

Legacy of the Innings

Hayat’s 122 remains one of the highest T20 scores by a player from an Associate Nation in a major tournament. More importantly, it was a proud moment for Hong Kong cricket, proving that the Asia Cup was not just a stage for giants, but also for dreamers with raw talent.

1) Virat Kohli – 122* vs Afghanistan (2022)

At the very top of this illustrious list is none other than Virat Kohli. Known for his unmatched intensity and hunger for runs, Kohli rediscovered his mojo in the 2022 Asia Cup with a magical unbeaten 122 off 61 balls against Afghanistan.

Venue & Context: Dubai, Super Four stage, Asia Cup 2022. India were out of final contention, and Kohli was under scrutiny after a prolonged lean patch.
Scorecard Impact: Strike rate of 200, 12 boundaries, and 6 sixes — his maiden T20I century.

Why It Was Special

This innings was more than just runs; it was about redemption. For over 1,000 days, Kohli had not scored an international century, and critics began questioning his place in the shortest format. But on that September night in Dubai, Kohli silenced the doubters with a masterclass in controlled aggression.

He started steadily, gauging the pace of the wicket, and then unleashed an array of strokes that reminded fans why he is called the “Chase Master.” His six over fine leg, his cover drives, and his flicks off the pads oozed class.

By the time he reached his century, Kohli had not just broken a personal drought but also reignited belief among Indian fans ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Legacy of the Innings

This remains the highest individual score in Men’s T20 Asia Cup history. But beyond the records, it was an emotional moment — a champion finding his way back to form in front of millions.

Asia Cup 2025: Will Records Tumble Again?

As we look ahead to Asia Cup 2025, one burning question excites fans: Will we see a new entry into this elite list?

The UAE’s flat pitches, coupled with the power-packed batting line-ups of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, make it a real possibility. With players like Suryakumar Yadav, Babar Azam, Ibrahim Zadran, and Towhid Hridoy in sensational form, another record-breaking innings may just be around the corner.

The Asia Cup has always been about drama, pressure, and big-match players. Whether it’s Sabbir’s resilience, Rohit’s elegance, Gurbaz’s fearless assault, Hayat’s dream knock, or Kohli’s redemption story — each innings is a reminder of cricket’s unique magic.

And as the world prepares for the carnival of Asian cricket in September 2025, fans will watch closely to see who writes the next unforgettable chapter.

The Top 5 highest individual scores in Men’s T20 Asia Cup history are not just statistics — they are tales of character, courage, and cricketing artistry. Each of these knocks came in pressure situations, against quality opposition, and on stages where millions were watching.

As the Asia Cup 2025 approaches, one thing is certain: the stage is set for another round of breathtaking performances, and somewhere out there, a batter is dreaming of joining — or even topping — this elite list.

Because in the Asia Cup, heroes are not born quietly; they rise in front of packed stadiums, under the brightest lights, and against the fiercest rivals.

Please check for information on the best betting sites in India – https://selectory.org/best-betting-sites/