The Women’s Asia Cup was first held in 2004, and since then, it has witnessed eight editions, with four in the ODI format and the other four in the T20 format. Among the many exciting aspects of the tournament, the battle for the leading run-scorer is especially notable. In this article, we look at the top 10 leading run-scorers in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup.
1) Mithali Raj – 1,127 Runs
Former Indian batter Mithali Raj tops the chart as the leading run-scorer in the Women’s Asia Cup with 1,127 runs in 33 matches. The first edition in 2004 was held in Sri Lanka with only two teams participating, India and Sri Lanka, in the ODI format. In that tournament, the right-handed batter scored 88 runs in five matches. It was in the fourth edition of the Women’s Asia Cup that she had a stunning performance with 273 runs, leading India to their fourth consecutive Asia Cup triumph. Mithali Raj also tops the chart with 697 runs in the four editions of the ODI format and is second in the list of most runs in the T20 edition of the Women’s Asia Cup with 430 runs. Her consistent performances have solidified her legacy as a giant in Asian women’s cricket.
2) Jaya Sharma – 560 Runs
The left-handed batter Jaya Sharma is second on the list of most runs scored in the Asia Cup tournament. Surprisingly, she has only played in four editions of the Asia Cup out of the eight editions. She was part of the first four editions for the Indian side, all in the ODI format. The attacking batter scored 112 runs in the first edition and was second in the list of most runs scored during that edition. Jaya Sharma had a commendable tournament in the second edition of the Women’s Asia Cup, held in Pakistan. She amassed 258 runs in three innings, including a century and two fifties. She was also the leading run-scorer during that respective edition. She played a fundamental role in India’s four consecutive title wins in the first four editions of the Asia Cup, scoring 560 runs in 14 matches.
3) Dedunu Silva – 555 Runs
Though the Lankan batter didn’t have an ideal tournament in the first two editions of the Women’s Asia Cup, scoring only 31 runs and 93 runs respectively, the right-handed batter had a spectacular performance in the third edition of the Women’s Asia Cup, scoring 163 runs in five matches. She was not only the leading run-scorer for the Lankan side but also topped the chart in most runs scored during that edition. She scored two fifties during that edition with a highest score of 78. In the 2008 edition, the right-handed batter scored 268 runs in five matches, scoring two fifties, and was the leading run-scorer for the Islanders in that edition.
4) Bismah Maroof – 544 Runs
The Pakistani batter is fourth on the list of leading run-scorers in the Asia Cup tournament. She has scored 544 runs in the Asia Cup out of the 33 matches she has played so far. It was in the third edition of the Asia Cup, held in 2006 in Jaipur, that the right-handed batter had an ordinary outing, scoring 81 runs. In the 2012 edition of the Women’s Asia Cup, which was the first-ever edition in the T20 format, Bismah scored 113 runs in five matches and was the Player of the Tournament, playing a crucial role in Pakistan finishing as runners-up. In the 2018 edition of the Women’s Asia Cup, she was the leading run-scorer for Pakistan with 143 runs in five innings, scoring two fifties.
5) Harmanpreet Kaur – 489 Runs
It was during the 2012 Women’s Asia Cup that Harmanpreet Kaur played her first Asia Cup, where she was named the vice-captain of the side. Harmanpreet Kaur was impressive in that tournament, being the second leading run-scorer with 108 runs in 4 innings, averaging 36. She led her national side during the 2016 Women’s Asia Cup. It was an ordinary outing for her with the bat, scoring 74 runs. She was the leading run-scorer in the 2018 edition, scoring 215 runs in six matches, averaging 53, although India lost to Bangladesh in the final.
6) Shashikala Siriwardene – 471 Runs
The Sri Lankan batter scored only 57 runs in the first edition of the Women’s Asia Cup. In the second edition, she had a decent outing, scoring 115 runs in five matches, including a fifty. She was leading the Lankan side during the 2006 Asia Cup, which was the third edition. The Lankan skipper didn’t have the tournament she would have expected, scoring only 96 runs during that edition.
7) Rumeli Dhar – 401 Runs
The former Indian all-rounder Rumeli Dhar is seventh on the list of most runs scored in the Asia Cup and the fourth Indian in the list. It was in the second edition of the Women’s Asia Cup that Rumeli Dhar played her maiden Asia Cup tournament. The middle-order batter scored 68 runs in that tournament, playing only in two innings, which included a fifty. In the third edition of the Asia Cup, held in India, she scored 96 runs in five innings with a highest score of 42 against Pakistan. The 2008 edition was the standout tournament for her, as she struck 238 runs in six matches, scoring three fifties in that edition, including a highest score of 92.
8) Chamari Polgampola – 337 Runs
Though Polgampola was part of the first edition of the Women’s Asia Cup, played in Sri Lanka, she featured in only two matches. The left-handed batter had a remarkable outing in the second edition of the Asia Cup, scoring 106 runs in five matches, including a fifty, and was also Lanka’s second-leading run-scorer. In the third edition, held in India, she scored 107 runs in five matches. Chamari played a crucial role specifically for the Lankan side, scoring more than 300 runs in the ODI format of the Asia Cup.
9) Sana Mir – 324 Runs
Sana Mir is one of the two Pakistani batters in the top 10 list of leading run-scorers in the Asia Cup tournaments. It was in the second edition of the Women’s Asia Cup, held in Pakistan, that she played her first-ever Asia Cup. She had an ordinary outing, scoring 52 runs in four matches. In the third edition of the Asia Cup, held in India, she scored 80 runs in four matches.
10) Nida Dar – 311 Runs
The right-handed batter is tenth on the list of leading run-scorers in the Women’s Asia Cup. She has scored 311 runs in the tournament so far in 22 matches, playing in 16 innings. In the 2012 edition, she scored 67 runs in four innings. In the 2016 and 2018 editions of the Women’s Asia Cup, Nida Dar scored 30 and 69 runs respectively. It was the 2022 edition that saw the right-handed batter turning up for her side, scoring 145 runs in seven matches, including a fifty, and going unbeaten on three occasions out of the five innings she played.
