The proverb ‘so near, yet so far’ perfectly encapsulates Sachin Tendulkar’s struggles in the nervous nineties. Despite coming agonizingly close to a century numerous times across formats, he fell just short. These near-misses highlight both his consistency and the fine margins that sometimes kept greatness just out of reach.
Tendulkar, regarded as the greatest batsman in cricket history, holds numerous records, but one of the more frustrating ones for the ‘Master Blaster‘ is being dismissed the most times in the nineties in international cricket.
Tendulkar was dismissed 28 times in the nervous nineties across all formats — 10 times in Tests and 18 times in ODIs — more than any other player. This remarkable statistic highlights both his extraordinary consistency and the fine margins that sometimes defined his innings.
Sachin’s all dismissal in nervous 90s in Test
In Tests, Tendulkar’s 10 dismissals in the nineties underline how frequently he came agonizingly close to adding to his record 51 Test centuries. His technical prowess and ability to handle pressure were often on display, but the nervous nineties proved to be an elusive hurdle on a few occasions.
Sachin’s all nervous 90s dismissal in ODI cricket
In ODIs, Tendulkar was dismissed 18 times in the nineties — more than any other cricketer in this format. This frequent occurrence became a talking point during his career, as he repeatedly fell short of what would have been match-defining centuries. However, Tendulkar’s record 49 ODI centuries speak volumes about his ability to overcome those disappointments and consistently deliver match-winning performances.
Though unlucky in this regard, Tendulkar’s frequent entries into the nineties reflect his unparalleled consistency and longevity, remaining a testament to his greatness in international cricket despite these near-misses.