In cricket, there is no heartbreak quite like getting out in the nineties. You do all the hard work, battle the new ball, survive the middle overs, and get within touching distance of that magical three-figure mark only to fall just short. It’s the so near, yet so far moment that leaves stadiums silenced and fans with their hands on their heads.
In Indian cricket history, some of our greatest legends have been frequent victims of this Nervous Nineties syndrome. While they scored mountains of runs, they also had their fair share of agonizing exits just before the century milestone.
Here is a look at the Indian batsmen who were dismissed the most times between 90 and 99 in ODI cricket.
It is ironic that the man with the most centuries in cricket history also holds the record for missing the most. The God of Cricket was dismissed a staggering 18 times in the 90s in One Day Internationals.
If you add these 18 missed centuries to his tally of 49 ODI tons, the numbers become even more frightening. For Sachin, the 90s weren't just a number; they were a psychological battle. Bowlers would tighten up, fielders would crowd in, and the pressure of a billion expectations would peak.
Before the modern era of power hitters, Mohammad Azharuddin was the artist who painted the field with his wrists. But Azhar also found himself walking back to the pavilion in the 90s more often than he would have liked.
He was dismissed 7 times between 90 and 99 in ODIs. Known for his aggressive running and risk-taking, Azharuddin often fell prey to the urge to reach the milestone quickly.
The smiling assassin of Indian cricket, Shikhar Dhawan, sits high on this list with seven dismissals in the 90s. "Gabbar" was known for his flamboyant style, but that same aggression sometimes cost him his wicket at the final hurdle.
Dhawan’s game was built on dominance, and unlike some who get "nervous," Dhawan often got out trying to smash a boundary to reach his century in style.
The "Dada" of Indian cricket was known for his steely nerves, but even he wasn't immune to the curse of the nineties. Sourav Ganguly was dismissed 6 times in the 90s in ODI cricket.
Ganguly was an exceptional converter of starts, but on these six occasions, he fell under pressure. His dismissal usually came from trying to clear the ropes against spinners or mistiming a lofted shot over the off-side.
It might surprise you to see the Run Machine here. Virat Kohli is famous for his incredible conversion rate once he gets to 50, he usually gets to 100. However, even the best have their human moments.
Kohli has been dismissed 6 times in the 90s in ODIs. Unlike others who might succumb to anxiety, Kohli’s dismissals in the 90s were often a result of fatigue or trying to accelerate the scoring rate for the team's benefit in the death overs.
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