The Asia Cup 2025 is heating up both on and off the field as the continental tournament progresses. The Super Four stage has already seen two matches, with India and Bangladesh securing one win each. While cricket is a team sport and success relies on collective performance, there are always individuals who shine and carry their teams almost single-handedly.
Here, CricTracker delves deep into three such players who have been instrumental in their teams’ journeys so far in the 2025 season of the 20-overs-a-side
continental competition, being played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
3 players leading their teams single-handedly in Asia Cup 2025
3. Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka has guided his team with steady and impactful batting. He has accumulated a decent tally of 146 runs in four matches thus far, and scored 50 against Bangladesh and 68 against Hong Kong, performances that helped his team secure wins in both games.
While his returns in the following two outings were modest, his ability to provide solid starts remains crucial for the Lankan Lions. His consistency at the top ensures that his team is always well-placed to challenge for victories, and he will be expected to continue this form in the remainder stages of the competition.
2. Towhid Hridoy (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh’s opener Towhid Hridoy has been another standout performer, scoring 127 runs in four matches at an average of 42.33. Against Hong Kong, he remained unbeaten on 35, steering his team to a comfortable victory. Though his performances against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka were relatively below par, he delivered when it mattered most.
In the crucial first Super Four match against Sri Lanka, the right-handed batter scored 58 runs, allowing his team to secure a vital win while giving teammate Saif Hassan the freedom to play his natural game. His contributions at the top have been key to the Bangla Tigers' progress in the tournament.
1. Abhishek Sharma (India)
Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has been a revelation for the Men in Blue. He is known for his aggressive style and explosive batting, providing quick starts in the powerplay, easing the pressure on the middle-order batters. In India’s opening match against the UAE, he scored 30 runs off just 16 balls, a quick fire innings that helped set the tone despite a modest team total. He followed it up against Pakistan with 31 runs from a mere 13 deliveries, once again maintaining an exceptional strike rate.
In the clash against Oman, Sharma’s 38 runs from 15 balls further highlighted his ability to turn the momentum in India’s favour. Across the three group matches, his strike rate remained above 200. However, his most outstanding performance came against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super Four clash, where he smashed 74 runs off 39 balls. Currently, he is the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 173 runs, consistently carrying India forward.
