Asia Cup has always been a topic of massive discussion amongst all the cricket experts and also the fans whenever the tournament is around the corner. For several years until now the tournament has provided the world with the team that has been the best in Asia at that point time.
India is the most successful team in the competition’s history with 7 titles to their name and shall also be carrying the defending champions tag among themselves as they enter this edition of the tournament. The men in blue have provided their fans with several moments to cherish in the 14 editions of the competition that’ve been played so far. Here are three of India’s most famous and memorable matches in Asia Cup history so far.
Check out India’s most memorable Asia Cup matches on the below pages –
India Vs Pakistan (2016)
A famous Asia Cup game between India and Pakistan took place back in the year 2016. The game shall be remembered due to the incredible environment of suspense that it provided all its viewers with throughout both the innings. Pakistan batting first found themselves in total trouble as they had no answer to the incredible bowling line up of India which kept on picking wickets for fun right from the first over.
The bowling department that had Bumrah, Nehra, Jadeja and Pandya bundled out Pakistan for a mere 83. The total though seemed to be a mediocre one for India was made to look unbelievably difficult as Mohammed Amir took matters into his own hands. The left-arm pacer removed Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane for ducks in the first over of the Indian innings.
With the fall of Raina and the Indian scorecard reading 8/3 after 3 overs, it seemed to be anybody’s game. It was then that Virat Kohli brought India back into the match with his fantastic strokeplay and ability to assess the match situation calmly.
The right-handed at first quietly survived the difficult stage of amir’s fiery opening spell and then smashed the other Bowlers for boundaries later on. He was eventually dismissed at 49 but helped India register a 5-wicket win in a high-voltage match against the odds.
India vs Pakistan (2012)
Another famous encounter between India and Pakistan took place in the 2012 edition of the Asia Cup. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium. Openers Mohammed Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed Shamshad centuries to put their side in their driver’s seat. Pakistan finished with a mammoth 329/6 in their registered 50 overs.
India had the worst possible start as they lost Gautam Gambhir for 0 in the second ball of their innings itself. Virat Kohli who came in at no.3 stitched a beautiful 133-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar before the latter was dismissed for 52. Virat then started batting Pakistan out of the game as he started to counterattack incredibly well and put the opposition bowlers under immense pressure.
He got ample support from Rohit Sharma who also scored a sublime half-century. Virat finished with an r cord breaking innings of 183 runs as he steered India to a comprehensive 6-wicket win.
India vs Bangladesh (2018 final)
A famous match that India played in the Asia Cup was in 2018 when they faced Bangladesh in an epic final of the tournament that had been highly intense until then. Bangladesh batting first had a magnificent start thanks to a sublime century from opener Liton Das.
He found some able support from his opening partner Mehidy Hasan. However, no other Bangladeshi batsman could capitalise on the wonderful start as the innings never got going thereon and ultimately commenced at 222. India while chasing the total seemed rather fade as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
The middle order tried to steer the innings but at no stage was it clear as to who would win the match. The game ultimately went on until the last ball of the match where India managed to score a run of a leg bye and clinched the 2018 Asia Cup title in style.
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