5 Batsmen With The Lowest Strike-Rate In A T20 Innings For India

The strike rate plays a huge part in T20 cricket nowadays, and the batsman must keep their strike rate above 120 as it could be a headache for the whole team. Usually, the teams have now preferred the attacking batsmen at the top of the innings so that they can make use of the powerplay.

Strike rates can change a whole game on its head especially in a low scoring game and the smallest of margins could be very decisive. The situation demands are a rare case, and let us look at the 5 batsmen with the lowest strike rate in a T20 innings for India.

5 Batsmen With The Lowest Strike Rate In A T20 Innings For India(Min. 40 Runs):

Shikhar Dhawan – 100 vs SL, 2016:

Shikhar Dhawan sits fifth in the list of batsmen with the lowest strike rate in T20 innings and this came against Sri Lanka in 2016 in the 3rd T20 international. Batting first, Sri Lanka could only post 82 on the board, thanks to a brilliant spell of bowling from Ravichandran Ashwin who picked up 4 wickets for just 8 runs.

India chasing 83 to win got off to an excellent start but Rohit Sharma perished early. Dhawan and Rahane joined together and they took their time to get going. Dhawan stayed not out in the end scoring 46 off 46 balls with a strike rate of 100 despite the late burst and India won the game by nine wickets in the end.

Shikhar Dhawan – 97.61 vs Ban, 2019:

Shikhar Dhawan finds himself again in the fourth place and this happened in a 1st home T20I against Bangladesh in 2019. Rohit Sharma captaining the side were put in to bat first by the visitors and India managed to get to 148 for the loss of 6 wickets in their 20 overs.

Mushfiqur Rahim played a blinder of an innings and surprisingly, Bangladesh won the game by 3 wickets. Dhawan’s slow knock of 41 off 42 balls did not help India’s total and his strike rate of 97.61 is the fourth-lowest for Indian batsmen in T20 internationals.

Virat Kohli – 96.97 vs Pak, 2016:

This was in the 2016 Asia cup when Pakistan met India in one of the biggest rivalries. Pakistan were all out for 83 in their first innings on the back of some good bowling from the Indian team. However, the job wasn’t done as Mohammad Amir came steaming into the Indian batting.

With Rohit and Rahane went for a duck, the onus was on Virat Kohli to take the team home and it was one of the most exciting battle between Amir and Kohli. The Indian batter prevailed in the battle and was dismissed when he neared the chase for 49 off 51 deliveries. His strike rate was 96.97 which is the third-lowest by an Indian batsman in T20i but it was the need of the hour for India.

Shikhar Dhawan – 95.23 vs SL, 2021:

This happened recently in the second T20 international against Sri Lanka in 2021, when India were left with just 5 batsmen in the squad. With almost 10 players undergoing isolation, Dhawan had to field a playing XI consisting of 5 batsmen and 6 bowlers with the lack of all-rounders.

India batted first and Dhawan had to stay for a long time as he scored 40 off 42 deliveries with a strike rate of 95.23 which is the second-lowest strike rate by Indian batsmen in T20 internationals. India went on to lose the game by 4 wickets in the end.

Gautam Gambhir – 93.33 vs AUS, 2021:

This was in 2012 in the 2nd T20 international against Australia at Melbourne and India managed to restrict Australia to a score of 131 in their first innings. Praveen Kumar and Rahul Sharma starred with the ball and the batsmen had to get India over the line.

Virender Sehwag was dismissed for 23 and Gambhir’s role was to bat till the end. He did stay till the end alongside MS Dhoni with a well constructed 56 run knock of 60 balls at a strike rate of 93.33 which is the lowest for Indian batsmen in T20 internationals who had hit a minimum of 40 runs.