Players dismissed most often in nervous 90s in international cricket

Scoring a hundred is one of cricket’s greatest honours, a feeling so profound that words often fall short. Every debutant dreams of raising the bat for that first century, yet for many, the dream remains unfulfilled. A century demands skill, patience, and mental resilience. 

It requires a batter to pierce gaps with precision, choose the right bowlers to attack, and show the discipline to wait for opportunities. But once a player enters the 90s, the heart races, nerves tighten, and the looming prospect of three figures can cloud judgment. All too often, this pressure leads to dismissal just short of the milestone, a cruel twist at the doorstep of glory.

Here’s a look at the players who have most frequently fallen in the nervous 90s across formats in men’s internationals:

1. Sachin Tendulkar (27 times)

The former India captain tops this unenviable list. Despite being the most prolific century‑maker in cricket history with 100 international hundreds, Sachin’s tally could have been even greater. He was dismissed in the 90s a staggering 27 times, 10 in Tests and 17 in ODIs.

2. Kane Williamson (13 times)

Widely regarded as New Zealand’s finest batter, Kane Williamson has 48 international centuries to his name. Yet he too has been undone by the 90s, falling 13 times, five in Tests, seven in ODIs, and once in T20Is (on 95 against India in Hamilton, January 2020).

3. AB de Villiers and Rahul Dravid (12 times each)

Sharing third place are two legends of the game.

• De Villiers was dismissed in the 90s eight times in Tests and four times in ODIs.
• Dravid, the “Wall” of Indian cricket, fell nine times in Tests and three times in ODIs.

Players dismissed most times in the nervous 90s