The Asia Cup has given us countless memories over the years. Teams have fought hard to become the Asian champions.
But along with the champions, there’s always that one player who shines the brightest in every edition. These stars often change the course of games with their performances and walk away with the Player of the Tournament award.
This article will look at the Player of the Tournament award winners in each Asia Cup edition.
Player of the Tournament in Asia Cup: Edition by Edition
| Year | Player of the Tournament | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Surinder Khanna | India |
| 1986 | Arjuna Ranatunga | Sri Lanka |
| 1988 | Navjot Singh Sidhu | India |
| 1990/91 | Not Awarded | – |
| 1995 | Navjot Singh Sidhu | India |
| 1997 | Arjuna Ranatunga | Sri Lanka |
| 2000 | Yousuf Youhana | Pakistan |
| 2004 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka |
| 2008 | Ajantha Mendis | Sri Lanka |
| 2010 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan |
| 2012 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh |
| 2014 | Lahiru Thirimanne | Sri Lanka |
| 2016 | Sabbir Rehman | Bangladesh |
| 2018 | Shikhar Dhawan | India |
| 2022 | Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka |
| 2023 | Kuldeep Yadav | India |
Player of the Tournament Winners in Every Major Competition
Player of the Tournament in ODI World Cup
Player of the Tournament in Champions Trophy
Player of the Tournament in T20 World Cup
1984 | Surinder Khanna
Surinder Khanna was the inaugural Player of the Tournament award winner in the Asia Cup. The Indian keeper-batter scored 107 runs in two matches.
Khanna’s run tally included two fifties while opening in low-scoring affairs against Sri Lanka (51*) and Pakistan (56). He also effected two stumpings and held onto one catch. It was enough to keep India at the top and lift the inaugural Asia Cup.
1986 | Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga made the most of the home conditions to bag the honour. He scored 105 runs and took four wickets in Sri Lanka’s title-winning effort.
Ranatunga’s quick half-century in the final against Pakistan made the title heist possible for Sri Lanka in front of the home crowd.
1988 | Navjot Singh Sidhu
Navjot Singh Sidhu was an audacious stroke maker. And thanks to that, he emerged as the Player of the Tournament in the 1988 Asia Cup.
Sidhu aggregated 179 runs at an average of 59.66 in four innings, including three fifties. His 76-run knock in the final paved the way for India’s second trophy.
1995 | Navjot Singh Sidhu
Sidhu bagged the honour back-to-back since there was no winner in the 1991 edition. And it was all thanks to his solid batting performances.
It was almost a repeat of his 1988 outing. Sidhu scored 197 runs at an average of 98.50 in four innings, including three half-centuries.
His unbeaten 84 in the final against Sri Lanka helped India make a hat-trick of the Asia Cup titles.
1997 | Arjuna Ranatunga
The Asia Cup returned to Sri Lanka in 1997. And as expected, Ranatunga brought out his best in home conditions.
While he didn’t bowl much, he let his bat do the talking. After scoring 28 in the first match against Pakistan, Ranatunga dished out a captain’s knock (131*) against India. Then followed two fifties (51 & 62*), including in the final against India.
Every time Ranatunga scored runs, Sri Lanka won the match. And for his consistent performance, he claimed the Player of the Tournament award in 1997.
2000 | Mohammad Yousuf
Mohammad Yousuf was central to Pakistan’s maiden title triumph in 2000. He opened the tournament with a brilliant 80 against Bangladesh.
Then he brought up an unbeaten 100 against rivals India, followed by an unbroken 90 against Sri Lanka to take Pakistan into the final after 14 years.
Yousuf could muster only 25 runs in the final to take his tally to 295 runs at an incredible average of 147.50. His heavy lifting with the bat saw him win the accolade.
2004 | Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya is among Sri Lanka’s finest all-rounders. And his all-round capabilities were on display in the 2004 Asia Cup.
Playing in home conditions, Jayasuriya struck two consecutive centuries to power Sri Lanka into the final. While he couldn’t score a significant knock in the final, he chipped in with two wickets with the ball to hand Sri Lanka their third title.
In all, Jayasuriya aggregated 293 runs and picked up four wickets in five matches to emerge as the Player of the Tournament.
2008 | Ajantha Mendis
Opponents barely knew Ajantha Mendis. But when they got to know him, they couldn’t decode him.
And that worked in Mendis’ favour as he ran riot in the 2008 Asia Cup edition. He bagged a haul of 17 wickets in five innings with mystery spin!
Mendis’ best came in the final, where he took down India’s six batters for 13 runs. This proved to be the point of difference as Sri Lanka flattened India on 173 to lift another trophy.
2010 | Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi was an asset for Pakistan with the bat and ball. And he proved his utility in the 2010 Asia Cup while leading Pakistan.
Afridi led his unit from the front, scoring 265 runs at an average of 88.33 in three innings. His tally included two centuries, one each against Sri Lanka (109) and Bangladesh (124). Afridi also chipped in with the ball, taking three wickets.
Despite Afridi’s valiant all-round efforts, Pakistan crashed out of the tournament with only one victory.
2012 | Shakib Al Hasan
Another world-class all-rounder bagged this honour in 2012. It was Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan with his solid all-round performance.
The left-hander single-handedly took Bangladesh to their first Asia Cup final in front of the home crowd. He aggregated 237 runs, with three fifties, and took six wickets. But Shakib’s performance went in vain as Bangladesh fell short by two runs in the final.
2014 | Lahiru Thirimanne
Lahiru Thirimanne had a see-saw outing in the 2014 Asia Cup. Despite that, he was crucial in Sri Lanka winning the title.
Thirimanne started the tournament with 102 against Pakistan. Then he had scores of 38, 5, and 33 before he hit the pedal against Pakistan (again!).
Thirimanne’s 101 helped Sri Lanka chase down 261 runs with ease in the final. In all, the former Lankan opener amassed 279 runs across five innings.
2016 | Sabbir Rahman
Sabbir Rahman’s quick knocks saw Bangladesh storm into the final of the 2016 Asia Cup. While Bangladesh again faltered in the final, he won the Player of the Tournament award for his 176 runs in five innings.
2018 | Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan always brought out his best in multinational tournaments. And the same was visible in the 2018 Asia Cup.
He was in superb touch throughout the tournament, scoring two centuries and two 40s. Dhawan’s reliable opening knocks accrued him 342 runs in five innings. This also helped India make the finals and eventually lift the trophy.
2022 | Wanindu Hasaranga
No bowler other than Mendis had won the Player of the Tournament in the Asia Cup before 2022. But Wanindu Hasaranga changed the fact with his impactful spells.
The Sri Lankan leg spinner troubled opposition batters, bagging nine wickets. If that wasn’t enough, Hasaranga frustrated opponents with his handy knocks with the bat.
Hasaranga’s 36 off 21 and 3 for 27 in the final proved to be the difference as Sri Lanka clinched their sixth title.
2023 | Kuldeep Yadav
The 2023 Asia Cup saw another wrist spinner take away the ultimate honour. It was none other than Kuldeep Yadav.
On the spin-friendly decks in Sri Lanka, the Indian wrist spinner claimed nine wickets. His 5 for 25 against Pakistan and 4 for 43 against Sri Lanka were crucial to India’s title-winning campaign.
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