In the way cricket is played these days, everyone is in a hurry to score runs as fast as one could. A target of 350 seems to be as easy as a cakewalk these days. However, things used to be totally different even a few days back. 300 used to be like a hallowed benchmark and batsmen used to struggle in scoring runs.
We have seen AB De Villiers and Virat Kohli competing with each other in the race to score the fastest century. We have seen Rohit Sharma smashing double-centuries with consummate ease. However, today in this article we will see five instances of Indian batsmen scoring slow centuries for their team in ODI cricket. It probably felt like an eternity for them, but they did not lose their patience and showed extraordinary resilience in the face of their team’s calamity.
5. Saurav Ganguly (136 balls):
It was way back on 12th March, 2000 when India was pitted against South Africa. Saurav Ganguly played a crucial innings for his team, taming the mighty bowling force of the Proteas. He took 136 balls to score his century.
After a brilliant bowling spell by Sunil Joshi, South Africa was bundled out for 199. India didn’t have to break sweat as Saurav Ganguly led from the very front to usher India to victory. He stayed unbeaten on 105 from 139 deliveries.
4. Sachin Tendulkar (138 balls):
The little master batted his way throughout the Indian innings facing the Bangladeshi bowling. This was his 100th century which he scored against Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2012. Sachin shared an infamy which used to be that he used to go extremely slow in his innings whenever he used to enter the nervous nineties. This was also one such innings where he took considerable time to score his century and it was a staggering 138 balls.
India could manage to post 289 from 50 overs which was easily chased down by Bangladesh with 4 balls to spare.
3. Sachin Tendulkar (138 balls):
Tendulkar unfortunately found himself featuring again in the list as he once again consumed 138 balls to score his century. This was against Sri Lanka on 20th October 2002 in Sharjah. His sole efforts helped India to reach a respective 224 but the Lankans made quick work of their opponents as they racked up the total from 43.5 overs.
2.
Ajay Jadeja (138 balls):
India was facing the mighty Australians in ICC Champions Trophy in 1999 at the Oval. India’s resistance started wavering early as the Australian fast bowlers ripped through the Indian batting line up. However, Ajay Jadeja and Robin Singh fighting their way through the initial fiasco, did try their very best to stave away the defeat.
Despite the best of their efforts, they failed as India fell short by 77 runs. Jadeja took 138 deliveries to stitch his century.
1.
Saurav Ganguly (141 balls):
This was a one man show by Saurav Ganguly against Sri Lanka on 22nd March 1999 at Nagpur. In fact this was the slowest century by an Indian in One dayers. Heroics from Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid propelled India to 287.
Ganguly shone with the ball in his hand too, picking up 4 wickets as India managed a stunning victory by 80 runs over their continental neighbours.
