Virat Kohli fell seven runs short of his 85th international century on Sunday, January 11, when he was dismissed for 93 off 91 balls in the first One-Day International against New Zealand in Vadodara. The dismissal was particularly significant as it marked the eighth time the former India captain has been dismissed in the nervous 90s in ODI cricket, placing him among an elite but unwanted list of batsmen who have experienced this heartbreak most frequently in the 50-over format.
Understanding the Nervous Nineties
The term “nervous nineties” refers to a batsman getting dismissed while batting in the 90s, just before reaching the coveted three-figure landmark. This phase is widely regarded as the most psychologically challenging part of a batter’s innings, where the pressure of approaching a milestone can affect even the most accomplished players. The anticipation, the proximity to glory, and the fear of falling short create a unique mental battle that has claimed many victims throughout cricket history.
Tendulkar Tops the Unwanted List
Sachin Tendulkar, despite being the player with the most centuries in international cricket, tops this unwanted chart with a staggering 18 dismissals between scores of 90 and 99 in ODI cricket. This statistic highlights how even the greatest batsmen in history were not immune to the pressure of reaching three figures, serving as a reminder of the mental fortitude required at the highest level.
Former New Zealand all-rounder Nathan Astle has been dismissed in the nervous 90s on nine occasions, sharing the joint second-most dismissals in ODI history. He is accompanied in this bracket by Sri Lanka’s Aravinda de Silva, Zimbabwe legend Grant Flower, and current New Zealand superstar Kane Williamson, all with nine dismissals each.
Kohli, who made his ODI debut in 2008, now has eight nervous nineties in the 50-over format, tying him with South African legend Jacques Kallis. The 37-year-old remains the player with the most ODI hundreds in history, boasting a remarkable tally of 53 centuries to his name.
Most Nervous 90s in ODI Cricket
Apart from Kohli and Tendulkar, several other prominent Indian batters feature on this list of nervous 90s dismissals. This includes legendary names such as Mohammad Azharuddin (7 times), Shikhar Dhawan (7 times), MS Dhoni (6 times), and Sourav Ganguly (6 times), demonstrating that even India’s finest have experienced the agony of falling short in the 90s.
| Player | Dismissals in 90s |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 18 |
| Nathan Astle (New Zealand) | 9 |
| Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka) | 9 |
| Grant Flower (Zimbabwe) | 9 |
| Kane Williamson (New Zealand) | 9 |
| Jacques Kallis (South Africa) | 8 |
| Virat Kohli (India) | 8 |
