T20 International (T20I) cricket is recognised as the most dynamic and aggressive format in the sport. In a span of mere 20 overs, players are pushed to deliver explosive performances, to meet the standards of the real nature of the game. The demands of this format are intense, requiring players to excel in agile fielding, effective wicket-taking, and powerful batting. In T20Is, every aspect of a player's game must be sharp and precise. Given the high expectations, discussions often arise when players are not able to perform explosively, particularly batsmen who are expected to maximize runs in as few deliveries as possible. However, there are occasions when even the most skilled cricketers do not perform well and deliver slower innings. Even some of the legendary players have experienced such moments. With T20 World Cup 2024 around the corner, let's explore the five slowest innings in the history of T20 International cricket.
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Kumar Sangakkara
Among batsmen who have faced 500 or more balls in T20 World Cups, Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara holds the record for the slowest strike rate. Sangakkara amassed 661 runs in 31 T20 World Cup matches, with a strike rate of just 112.2. He scored these runs in 589 balls.
Kane Williamson
New Zealand's T20 captain Kane Williamson finds himself second on the list with a strike rate of 113.8. Over 25 matches, he has scored 699 runs in 614 balls, a rate considered slow in the modern T20 game. However, Williamson is set to play in the 2024 T20 World Cup and will be aiming to improve his strike rate.
Martin Guptill
New Zealand's Martin Guptill finds himself third on the list with a strike rate of just 114.2 from 617 runs in 28 matches. This comes as a surprise considering his reputation for aggressive batting.
Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh's veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has also not been able to master the art of T20 batting. He has scored 742 runs in 36 T20 World Cup matches, facing 606 balls and maintaining a strike rate of only 122.4.
Shoaib Malik
Rounding out the top five is Pakistan's all-rounder Shoaib Malik. Malik has amassed 646 runs in 34 T20 World Cup matches, but his strike rate during this period is a mere 123.2.
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