Top 5 Slowest Innings in T20Is Cricket History
Cricket is a game of agility, aggression and adaptability. Of all the formats, T20 International (T20I) demands the best explosive performances of cricket. With just 20 overs, every over counts, and teams are looking for boundaries and fearless batting to leave their opponents in the dust. This list of batsmen presets strike rates of over 120, with many finishers and openers averaging 150 or even 200+.
But cricket, a game of uncertainty, also spells out moments of response. Cricket, even the biggest names in cricket, play Nike in a way that just gives you and fireworks. Over the years, prices have risen when batsmen couldn’t judge the ball and could score the slowest innings in T20I history.
Here, we revisit the top 5 slowest innings in T20I cricket history, our innings that turned into disasters for all the wrong reasons.
1. MS Dhoni: 9 (27 balls) vs Australia, 2008 Melbourne T20I
Yes, you read that right! Known as the best finisher in world cricket, MS Dhoni surprisingly holds the record for the slowest innings in T20I history.
In a T20I against Australia at Melbourne in 2008, Dhoni scored 9 runs in just 27 balls at a strike rate of 33.33. India were all out for just 74 runs, and Australia chased down the total with nine wickets in hand and 52 balls to spare. Dhoni, who usually plays with composure and match awareness, looked completely unstoppable in this game.
Even though he is one of India’s most celebrated captains and finishers, this innings is still remembered as one of his rare off-days.
2. Alok Kapali: 14 (35 balls) vs South Africa, 2007 T20 World Cup
The second entry is from Bangladesh’s Alok Kapalini, who bowled the slowest innings against the USA during the 2007 T20 World Cup. Once a promising cricketer, and also considered by some early fans as a match-winner for Pakistan and Brian Lara, he scored 14 runs in 35 overs.
With a strike rate of 40.00, the format and context of the game shocked the officials. Bangladesh were completely outclassed by the African bowling. Kapalini’s inability to bowl or bowl at the right angle made the situation worse. His T20 I was always going forward and only ran for four years (2007-2011). This innings is a stain on his international record.
3. Yuvraj Singh: 14* (32 balls) vs Pakistan, 2016 Asia Cup
When fans think of Yuvraj Singh in T20 cricket, the first image that comes to mind is the six consecutive sixes he hit against Stuart Broad in the 2007 World Cup. Aggression, temperament and explosiveness were synonymous with Yuvraj’s batting.
But during a match against Pakistan in Dhaka in 2016, he surprised everyone by scoring 14 runs in 32 balls. His strike rate of 43.75 shocked fans, as India still managed to win the game thanks to Virat Kohli’s talent.
This innings is a reminder that even the greatest players can have their bad days. Usually a match winner, Yuvraj played the slowest innings that fans expected.
4. Majid Haq: 14 (31 balls) vs Pakistan, 2007 T20 World Cup
Scottish cricketer Majid Haque came into the limelight for an innings that became one of the most forgettable innings in T20Is.
During the 2007 T20 World Cup in Durban, Haque scored 14 runs off 31 balls against Pakistan at a strike rate of 45.16. Scotland suffered a complete defeat, and Haque’s slow batting became a subject of jokes among fans. Unfortunately, this batting effort led to the perception that he was “too slow” for the fast-paced T20 format.
5. Lendl Simmons: 16 (35 balls) vs South Africa, 2007
West Indies have always been synonymous with power-hitting in T20 cricket. With experienced players like Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, fans expect aggressive batting and powerful sixes. But not every Caribbean batsman has been able to perform so consistently.
Trinidad batsman Lendl Simmons shocked the cricketing world by scoring just 16 runs in 35 balls in a T20I match against South Africa. His strike rate was 45.71 against the West Indies batting culture.
Also Read: Top 15 Fastest Balls Ever Bowled in Cricket History
The Common Thread in These Innings
Looking at these knocks, a few things stand out:
- Pressure and Conditions: Most of these innings came in pressure situations or on difficult pitches. However, even then, the inability to rotate strike or clear the field made them infamous.
- Reputation Clash: Big names like MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh feature in this list, proving that even legends can struggle badly on their off days.
- Impact on Team: In every case, these innings hurt their team’s chances, either leading to defeat or putting immense pressure on other batters.
Conclusion
From MS Dhoni’s rare off-days to Yuvraj Singh’s unexpected struggles, these innings underline the unpredictability of cricket. Fans may remember these innings as moments of disappointment, but they also highlight the human side of the game. T20 cricket will always celebrate big sixes and half-centuries, but these slow innings will only happen when the format loses momentum.
FAQs
Q1. Why are slow innings in T20 cricket criticized so much?
T20 cricket is based on an aggressive and fast-scoring style. Batsmen bowl a lot of balls without scoring runs, which deprives the team of opportunities to make competitive scores. Unlike ODIs or Tests, there is no recovery time in T20, which has led to severe criticism of slow innings.
Q2. Who holds the record for the slowest innings in T20I history?
The record for the slowest innings in T20I cricket is held by MS Dhoni, who scored 9 runs off 27 balls against Australia in 2008. With a strike rate of just 33.33, this innings tops the list of slowest T20I innings.
Q3. Can great players also have slow innings in T20 cricket?
Absolutely. Even famous players like Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni have played very slow innings in T20. This shows the unpredictability of cricket and the fact that conditions, form or pressure can affect even the best players.
Q4. Are slow innings always considered bad in T20 cricket?
Mostly yes, but context matters. If the pitch is very difficult to bat on, a slow innings that strengthens the team can still retain value. However, in most cases, strike rotation is important, and long slow innings usually hurt a team’s chances.
Q5. Has anyone from West Indies, known for their power-hitting, played a slow T20I knock?
Yes, surprisingly. West Indies’ Lendl Simmons played one of the slowest innings in T20I history, scoring just 16 runs off 35 balls against South Africa. This was shocking considering West Indies’ reputation as a T20 powerhouse.
