Asian Games cricket records: Know highest totals, most wickets and other stats 

Cricket is fast emerging as one of the major attractions at the Asian Games.

Cricket made its Asian Games debut at Guangzhou 2010 and featured at the 2014 edition held in Incheon. The sport, however, was dropped from the programme at Jakarta 2018 but returned amidst huge fanfare at Hangzhou, the People's Republic of China, in 2023.

The format at the Asian Games has always been T20 cricket but Hangzhou 2023 marked the first instance that cricket matches at the continental showpiece were accorded international status by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Bangladesh won the men’s cricket gold medal at Guangzhou while Sri Lanka emerged as champions in 2014. In women’s cricket, Pakistan won the gold in the first two editions.

India made its Asian Games cricket debut at Hangzhou 2023. Both the men's and women's teams finished with gold medals in their respective events.

Here’s a look at all the cricket records set at the Asian Games so far.

Asian Games cricket records

Highest team total in Asian Games cricket

Men: The Nepal men’s cricket team hammered 314 for 3 in 20 overs against Mongolia during the group stage of the 2023 Asian Games. This was the first instance that the 300-run mark was breached in men's T20Is. This is not only the highest total in cricket at the Asian Games but also the highest T20 score ever recorded.

Women: The record for the highest team total in women’s cricket at the Asian Games belongs to Hong Kong China, who scored 202/4 against Mongolia in the quarter-final qualifiers of the 2023 Hangzhou Games.

Most runs in Asian Games cricket

Men: Nepal batter Kushal Malla is the highest scorer in men’s cricket at the Asian Games, having scored 213 runs in three matches - all at Hangzhou 2023.

Women: Japan’s Ema Kuribayashi is the highest run scorer in women’s cricket at the Asian Games with 163 runs in six matches. She played in the 2014 and 2018 editions.

Highest individual score in Asian Games cricket

Men: Nepal's Kushal Malla hit an unbeaten 137 against Mongolia at Hangzhou 2023 - the highest individual score in Asian Games cricket.

Women: Hong Kong player Ka Ying Chan’s match-winning 70 off 39 balls vs Mongolia in the 2023 quarter-final qualifiers is the highest score by a batter in women’s cricket at the continental meet.

Highest partnership in Asian Games cricket

Men: Nepal's Kushal Malla and Rohit Paudel stitched together a 193-run partnership for the third wicket against Mongolia in the group stages of Hangzhou 2023. It is the highest partnership for any wicket at the Asian Games.

Women: An opening wicket 106-run stand between Indonesian openers Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini and Ni Luh Dewi against Mongolia in the 2023 group stages is the highest partnership in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.

Biggest win in Asian Games cricket (by runs)

Men: The Nepal men’s cricket team posted a massive score of 314/3 in 20 overs against Mongolia in the 2023 edition and bundled out the opposition for a paltry 41 runs. The 273-run victory is the biggest win in terms of runs at the Asian Games.

Women: Hong Kong China bowled Mongolia out for 22 runs after putting on 202/4 on the board in the 2023 quarter-final qualifiers. Hong Kong China won the game by 180 runs - the biggest win in the women’s competition at the continental event so far.

Best bowling figures in Asian Games cricket

Men: Abinash Bohara of Nepal took six wickets for 11 runs (6/11) against Mongolia in 3.4 overs at Hangzhou 2023 to register the best figures in Asian Games men’s cricket.

Women: In women’s cricket, China’s Xiang Raun took 5/9 against the Republic of Korea in a group game at Incheon 2014 for best bowling figures.

Most wickets in Asian Games cricket

Men: Hong Kong China’s Nadeem Ahmed, with 12 wickets from eight matches (two editions), is the leading wicket-taker in men’s cricket at the Asian Games.

Women: Nida Dar of Pakistan picked up 13 wickets in seven outings (two editions) and is the top wicket-taker in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.

Lowest team total in Asian Games cricket

Men: Kuwait’s 20/10 against Nepal in the 2014 group game is the lowest team total in the men’s cricket tournament at the Asian Games.

Women: The unsavory record belongs to Mongolia, who were bundled out for 15 against Indonesia in the 2023 Hangzhou group game.