Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for the most centuries in Asia Cup history, with six hundreds to his name, a mark that has stood since 2008. But a bare number only tells half the story.
This article goes beyond the leaderboard to show where, against whom, and in which format these centuries were scored, so you understand not just who leads the race, but why the record looks the way it does.
Most Centuries in Asia Cup History (Overall List)
The Asia Cup has been played since 1984, alternating between the 50-over ODI format and, since 2016, the 20-over T20I format. Across all editions, the tournament has produced 62 centuries from 41 different batters, and one Sri Lankan opener sits well clear of the chasing pack.
| Rank | Player | Team | Centuries | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 6 | ODI |
| 2 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 4 | ODI |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 4 (ODI) + 1 (T20I) = 5 total | ODI & T20I |
| 4 | Shoaib Malik | Pakistan | 3 | ODI |
| 5= | Lahiru Thirimanne | Sri Lanka | 2 | ODI |
| 5= | Shikhar Dhawan | India | 2 | ODI |
| 5= | Suresh Raina | India | 2 | ODI |
| 5= | Younis Khan | Pakistan | 2 | ODI |
| 5= | Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | 2 | ODI |
| 5= | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 2 | ODI |
| 5= | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 2 | ODI |
Most Centuries in ODI Asia Cup
Since the ODI format has been used far more often across the tournament’s history, this is where nearly every century record lives.
- Sanath Jayasuriya (6 centuries) — He reached three figures three times against Bangladesh and three times against India, striking at an average of over 102 across 25 innings. His best, an unbeaten 130, came in the 2008 final against India.
- Kumar Sangakkara (4 centuries) — Unlike Jayasuriya’s aggression, Sangakkara built his hundreds through patience. He is the only man to score three centuries in a single edition (2008), a record that still stands.
- Virat Kohli (4 ODI centuries) — Kohli’s 183 against Pakistan in Mirpur, 2012, remains the highest individual score in Asia Cup history, in any format.
- Shoaib Malik (3 centuries) — Malik’s 143 against India in 2004 is still remembered as one of Pakistan’s most composed Asia Cup innings.
Team-Wise Century Count in Asia Cup
Individual leaderboards are only part of the picture, which country has produced the most century-makers overall matters too, and it isn’t necessarily who you’d expect based on the individual top spots.
| Team | Total Centuries (approx.) |
|---|---|
| India | 20 |
| Sri Lanka | High (led by Jayasuriya, Sangakkara, Thirimanne) |
| Pakistan | Multiple contributors (Malik, Younis Khan, Afridi) |
| Bangladesh | Fewer, led by Mushfiqur Rahim |
India tops the team charts despite no single Indian batter topping the individual list outright, a reflection of squad depth (Kohli, Dhawan, Raina, Tendulkar, and more recently Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul all contributing) rather than one dominant record-holder.
Other Key Asia Cup Century Records
- Highest individual score: Virat Kohli — 183 vs Pakistan (2012)
- Most centuries in a single edition: Kumar Sangakkara — 3 (2008)
- Most centuries in a single tournament (all players combined): 2008 edition — 13 centuries
- Most centuries by a captain: Shahid Afridi — 2 (2010)
- First-ever Asia Cup century: Moin-ul-Atiq, Pakistan — 105* vs Bangladesh (1988), in the same match where teammate Ijaz Ahmed also scored 124*
- Most half-centuries in Asia Cup history: Rohit Sharma — 9
Centuries That Actually Won Titles
A century’s true value isn’t just the milestone, it’s whether it changed the result. A few stand out for shifting an entire tournament:
- Jayasuriya’s unbeaten 130 in the 2008 final helped seal Sri Lanka’s title over India.
- Sangakkara’s two centuries in the 2014 edition anchored Sri Lanka’s campaign en route to the trophy.
- Kohli’s 183 against Pakistan in 2012, while not a final, remains the single most talked-about innings in tournament history for its sheer dominance.
Also Read:
- Biggest Victories in Asia Cup ODI & T20I (2026 Updated)
- Highest Partnership in Asia Cup ODI (2026 List)
Conclusion
Jayasuriya’s six centuries remain the benchmark, but the numbers around him tell a richer story: Kohli’s rare double-format feat, Sangakkara’s single-edition record, and the stark 20-to-1 gap between ODI and T20I hundreds all show that “most centuries” isn’t just a ranking, it’s a window into how the tournament itself has evolved.
As Asia Cup formats keep shifting, this list is far from finished.
FAQs
Sanath Jayasuriya, with six centuries, all in the ODI format.
Virat Kohli, with four ODI centuries plus one T20I century, five in total, and the only player with hundreds in both formats.
Virat Kohli’s 183 against Pakistan in 2012.
62 centuries by 41 different players, across all editions through 2025.
