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Since its start in 1984, the Asia Cup has been the premier cricketing contest for Asian nations. Traditionally played in the One-Day International (ODI)
format, the tournament began rotating between ODIs and T20Is from 2016, due to the succeeding ICC events. This change ensured teams gain valuable preparation ahead of either the ODI or T20 World Cup.
So far, the Asia Cup has been staged in the shorter format twice, first in 2016, and then again in 2022, both preceding T20 World Cups. The 2025 edition, scheduled from September 9 to 28 in the UAE, will be the third time the event takes place as a T20I tournament, keeping in mind the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
This year’s competition is also the biggest in the tournament’s history, featuring eight teams. The five ACC full members, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, will be joined by Hong Kong, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The teams are split into two groups, with the top two from each progressing to the Super 4s. From there, the leading pair will fight it out in the final on September 28.
Ranking T20 Asia Cup-winning captains:
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka, 2022):
In 2022, under skipper Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka clinched the Asia Cup in the T20I format. It was their sixth Asia Cup title, but this one was special, given the team’s struggles in the years leading up to the tournament.
Sri Lanka’s campaign started on a poor note, bowled out for just 105 in the opening game against Afghanistan. While many had written them off, Shanaka’s captaincy ensured the team stayed in the hunt. Following the loss, they had a dream run, including a narrow two-wicket win against Bangladesh, a four-wicket victory over Afghanistan, and a stunning chase against India, where the Shanaka-led team sealed a six-wicket win. They continued their momentum by defeating Pakistan in the Super Four before meeting them again in the final.
In the title clash, Sri Lanka posted 170/6, thanks to a crucial knock from Bhanuka Rajapaksa and an all-round bowling contribution by Wanindu Hasaranga. Pakistan were restricted to 147, handing Sri Lanka a memorable 23-run win. Shanaka himself contributed with valuable cameos by scoring 111 runs in six innings and two wickets under his belt.
MS Dhoni (India, 2016):
Legendary skipper, MS Dhoni registered his name in history books by leading India to the 2016 Asia Cup title, the first-ever edition played in the T20I format. Held in Mirpur's Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, the tournament was a preparation platform for the T20 World Cup later that year, and India went unbeaten throughout to lift the inaugural T20 Asia Cup.
The Men in Blue opened their campaign with a 45-run victory over Bangladesh, thanks to Rohit Sharma’s 83 and Ashish Nehra’s three-wicket haul. Against Pakistan, the team bounced back after struggling at 8/3 with Mohammed Amir’s solid spell. Virat Kohli’s 49 guided the team to a five-wicket win. Kohli continued his purple patch with an unbeaten 56 in the chase against Sri Lanka, along with Yuvraj Singh’s 35. A clinical nine-wicket win over the UAE took India into the final.
In the title clash, rain reduced the match to 15 overs per side. Bangladesh posted 120/5, but India’s top order kept them in the game. Shikhar Dhawan smashed 60, with Kohli chipping in with 41*, and then Dhoni sealed the trophy in style. The Ranchi-born smashed 20 runs off just 6 balls, finishing the game with a six. This win was India’s sixth Asia Cup win, and Dhoni’s impactful captaincy grabbed attention before he stepped down from captaincy in early 2017.
