Indian cricket has seen many great batsmen come and go. While most of their innings are celebrated till date, some of them remain to be a point of debate, years after they were played. Some might regard them to be an off day for the players in focus, or some might call it to be an act that was a result of the player doing what the situation demanded. But, the fact remains that the players did go out of their characters to forge innings that made them look self-centred on that particular day.

While some of the innings may have resulted in the completion of a milestone or a victory for the Indian team, but those happenings are overshadowed by those particular innings, which are still talked about in the cricketing circles.

So, here’s a look at five such innings which earned a few individuals the badge of being selfish:

1. Dinesh Karthik (32 off 31 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2009)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-395255" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik-111.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395255" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik. (Photo credit should read LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

An inning that might look good when on the scorecard, but was the cause of something that angered the cricket fans really badly. On the 21st of December in 2009, Dinesh Karthik hit a four and won India match, but denied Sachin Tendulkar a century, which was not liked by the ‘little master’s’ fans at all.

Chasing a total of 240 runs set by the Lankans, led by Upul Tharanga’s 73 off 81 deliveries, India looked in control right from the start. All thanks to the opening combination of Virender Sehwag and Sachin. They got India to 55 runs in the 6th over itself, before Sehwag departed after scoring 44 runs, leaving behind a foundation for a comfortable chase.

Sachin was joined by Gautam Gambhir and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/yuvraj-singh-and-wasim-akram-to-feature-in-the-charity-bushfire-relief-bash-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Yuvraj Singh</a>, both of whom got out after scoring a modest 32 and 23 respectively. Then came on to the field, Dinesh Karthik, who was about to do something that would get his name etched in the history books as a selfish player, be it only for that one match.

Karthik joined Sachin when India required 75 runs, with 17 overs to go and Sachin&#8217;s ton was on the cards. They both got India close to the win by the 42nd over. And, then it happened. India required seven at the start of the 43rd over which was to be bowled by Lasith Malinga.

Having hit a four at the start of the over, Sachin took a single and gave the strike to Karthik. And, the inexperienced man did what he shouldn’t have done. India required just 3 runs to win the match and everyone wanted Sachin who was on 96 to score a ton. But, Karthik hit a four and got India to a win, but received a boatload of flak for having denied Sachin a well-deserved century.

2. Sunil Gavaskar (36 off 174 balls vs England, ICC Cricket World Cup, 1975)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-196440" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Gavaskar-of-India.jpg" alt="Sunil Gavaskar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-196440" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Gavaskar of India. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

Sunil Gavaskar, the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in international cricket, one of the finest batsmen India ever produced, came in a bad light during the first-ever <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/icc-u19-world-cup-2020-pakistan-defeat-afghanistan-to-set-up-a-semi-final-clash-against-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Cup</a> match. Playing against England, at their home ground, the ‘underdogs’ at that point in time, India, were given a total of 334 runs to chase in their quota of 60 overs. Yes, the ODI matches were of 60 overs back then.

Sunil Gavaskar, who had built a reputation for himself by that point, played an inning that didn’t represent the player he was. India had lost three wickets when there were only 108 runs on the board. At that point, it was expected off Gavaskar to slow down a bit. But, once he slowed down, he was never able to pick the pace back up in that match.

By the end, accompanied by Birjesh Patel, who scored 16 off 57 balls, Gavaskar managed to take the score to just 132 runs at the end of 60 overs. India lost the match by a margin of 202 runs, biggest one at that point of time. Gavaskar’s scoring rate was 20.68 in that match and this was not liked at all by the cricket community, especially given the fact that how refined a batsman he was.

3. Ravi Shastri (25 off 67 balls vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup, 1992)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-306909" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravi-Shastri.jpg" alt="Ravi Shastri" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-306909" class="wp-caption-text">Ravi Shastri. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

The Gabba on the 1st of March 1991, became witness to an encounter which every Indian fan criticised at that point in time. The World Cup match being played between India and Australia was about to have in it, one of the most debated innings ever played by an Indian in the World Cup.

India had dismissed <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/im-sorry-for-my-mistake-amy-jones-apologizes-for-claiming-dropped-catch-of-smriti-mandhana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Zealand</a> for 237 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their quota of 50 overs and were looking in control of the situation at the end of the first half of the match. Having lost his opening partner early, Shastri went into a cocoon and that cost India a win that could have propelled them into the semi-finals.

Shastri slowed down to the level that he a mere 25 runs off 67 deliveries. That means, his scoring rate was just 37.31 and eventually cost India the match. The team fell short of the target, which was reduced to 236 in 47 overs due to rain, and were denied a semi-final berth.

This inning was majorly criticised because it was in the second consecutive encounter that Shastri had chosen not to accelerate in, even when the team was in dire need of it. In the match played prior to this one, Shastri in the first 10 overs, had scored just three runs after facing 27 deliveries and ended with a score of 57 runs off 112 balls, with India losing the match by a margin of just 9 runs.

4. Sachin Tendulkar (114 off 147 balls vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup, 2012)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-395251" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sachin-Tendulkar.jpg" alt="Sachin Tendulkar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395251" class="wp-caption-text">Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo credit should read MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

A milestone that the entire country waited for, but wasn’t cherished by many. Such was the story of Sachin Tendulkar becoming the first individual to score 100 international centuries. The 100th ton came on the 16th of March in 2012, in a losing cause against Bangladesh. India had lost the match to Bangladesh by a margin of 5 wickets and the loss was attributed to the slow inning that Sachin played that day.

India had gotten off to a decent start in the Asia Cup, having defeated Sri Lanka by a margin of 50 runs. But, Dhaka wasn’t going to be kind at all for the Men in Blue. Batting first India got off to a shaky start, losing the opener Gautam Gambhir in the fifth over itself.

The responsibility now lay on the shoulders of Sachin Tendulkar to forge a partnership with his upcoming partners and get his team to a decent total. And, he did the same. He partnered with <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/what-a-game-virat-kohli-tweets-after-winning-yet-another-super-over/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Virat Kohli</a> for a 148-run partnership and continued to scratch runs off even after the departure of Kohli.

Sachin scored 114 off 147 deliveries, but the thing that remained under question was the pacing of his inning. He had slowed down considerably while approaching his ton and, in the opinion of the fans and some cricket pundits, who side-lined the milestone and looked at the inning itself as a separate thing, it was the factor that cost India the match and the place in the finals of the tournament.

5. MS Dhoni (35 off 59 balls vs England, 2018)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-395252" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-1.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395252" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India touring England again after the humiliating tour that they had last time around was a highly anticipated phenomenon. The Indian team led by Virat Kohli won the T20I series comfortably and were eyeing a win in the ODI series too, but little did they know that one inning by one of the most celebrated cricketers would cost them the series.

Having won the first ODI convincingly, India headed to the iconic <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-had-no-fear-sourav-ganguly-on-scoring-a-century-on-his-test-debut-at-lords-in-1996/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lord’s</a> cricket ground, where there was to be played an inning that would remain a centre for many discussions in the years to come. Batting first, England posted a total of 323 for India to chase. But, the Indian inning got off to a nightmare of a start. India lost its first four batsmen for 140 runs by the 27th over and everyone waited for an MS Dhoni special.

When MS got in to bat, the scoreboard read, 140 for the loss of 4 wickets, and Dhoni had with him, Kuldeep Yadav on the other end. Things were not at all in favour of India, but with the greatest finisher of Indian cricket on the crease, and Hardik Pandya still to come, there was a slight ray of hope.

But, the former Indian skipper tried to take the game deep, and in the process kept losing partners, and was himself dismissed on 35 runs after facing 59 deliveries. The loss was mainly attributed to Dhoni’s slow scoring rate and him being responsible for the dismissals of the batsmen with him. This resulted in this knock of Dhoni, earning the label of a ‘selfish inning’.

Indian cricket has seen many great batsmen come and go. While most of their innings are celebrated till date, some of them remain to be a point of debate, years after they were played. Some might regard them to be an off day for the players in focus, or some might call it to be an act that was a result of the player doing what the situation demanded. But, the fact remains that the players did go out of their characters to forge innings that made them look self-centred on that particular day.
While some of the innings may have resulted in the completion of a milestone or a victory for the Indian team, but those happenings are overshadowed by those particular innings, which are still talked about in the cricketing circles.
So, here’s a look at five such innings which earned a few individuals the badge of being selfish:
<h3>1. Dinesh Karthik (32 off 31 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2009)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_395255" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395255" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-395255" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik-111.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395255" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik. (Photo credit should read LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
An inning that might look good when on the scorecard, but was the cause of something that angered the cricket fans really badly. On the 21st of December in 2009, Dinesh Karthik hit a four and won India match, but denied Sachin Tendulkar a century, which was not liked by the ‘little master’s’ fans at all.
Chasing a total of 240 runs set by the Lankans, led by Upul Tharanga’s 73 off 81 deliveries, India looked in control right from the start. All thanks to the opening combination of Virender Sehwag and Sachin. They got India to 55 runs in the 6th over itself, before Sehwag departed after scoring 44 runs, leaving behind a foundation for a comfortable chase.
Sachin was joined by Gautam Gambhir and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/yuvraj-singh-and-wasim-akram-to-feature-in-the-charity-bushfire-relief-bash-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Yuvraj Singh</a>, both of whom got out after scoring a modest 32 and 23 respectively. Then came on to the field, Dinesh Karthik, who was about to do something that would get his name etched in the history books as a selfish player, be it only for that one match.
Karthik joined Sachin when India required 75 runs, with 17 overs to go and Sachin’s ton was on the cards. They both got India close to the win by the 42nd over. And, then it happened. India required seven at the start of the 43rd over which was to be bowled by Lasith Malinga.
Having hit a four at the start of the over, Sachin took a single and gave the strike to Karthik. And, the inexperienced man did what he shouldn’t have done. India required just 3 runs to win the match and everyone wanted Sachin who was on 96 to score a ton. But, Karthik hit a four and got India to a win, but received a boatload of flak for having denied Sachin a well-deserved century.

<h3>2. Sunil Gavaskar (36 off 174 balls vs England, ICC Cricket World Cup, 1975)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_196440" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-196440" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-196440" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Gavaskar-of-India.jpg" alt="Sunil Gavaskar" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-196440" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Gavaskar of India. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Sunil Gavaskar, the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in international cricket, one of the finest batsmen India ever produced, came in a bad light during the first-ever <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/icc-u19-world-cup-2020-pakistan-defeat-afghanistan-to-set-up-a-semi-final-clash-against-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Cup</a> match. Playing against England, at their home ground, the ‘underdogs’ at that point in time, India, were given a total of 334 runs to chase in their quota of 60 overs. Yes, the ODI matches were of 60 overs back then.
Sunil Gavaskar, who had built a reputation for himself by that point, played an inning that didn’t represent the player he was. India had lost three wickets when there were only 108 runs on the board. At that point, it was expected off Gavaskar to slow down a bit. But, once he slowed down, he was never able to pick the pace back up in that match.
By the end, accompanied by Birjesh Patel, who scored 16 off 57 balls, Gavaskar managed to take the score to just 132 runs at the end of 60 overs. India lost the match by a margin of 202 runs, biggest one at that point of time. Gavaskar’s scoring rate was 20.68 in that match and this was not liked at all by the cricket community, especially given the fact that how refined a batsman he was.

<h3>3. Ravi Shastri (25 off 67 balls vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup, 1992)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_306909" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-306909" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-306909" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravi-Shastri.jpg" alt="Ravi Shastri" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-306909" class="wp-caption-text">Ravi Shastri. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The Gabba on the 1st of March 1991, became witness to an encounter which every Indian fan criticised at that point in time. The World Cup match being played between India and Australia was about to have in it, one of the most debated innings ever played by an Indian in the World Cup.
India had dismissed <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/im-sorry-for-my-mistake-amy-jones-apologizes-for-claiming-dropped-catch-of-smriti-mandhana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Zealand</a> for 237 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their quota of 50 overs and were looking in control of the situation at the end of the first half of the match. Having lost his opening partner early, Shastri went into a cocoon and that cost India a win that could have propelled them into the semi-finals.
Shastri slowed down to the level that he a mere 25 runs off 67 deliveries. That means, his scoring rate was just 37.31 and eventually cost India the match. The team fell short of the target, which was reduced to 236 in 47 overs due to rain, and were denied a semi-final berth.
This inning was majorly criticised because it was in the second consecutive encounter that Shastri had chosen not to accelerate in, even when the team was in dire need of it. In the match played prior to this one, Shastri in the first 10 overs, had scored just three runs after facing 27 deliveries and ended with a score of 57 runs off 112 balls, with India losing the match by a margin of just 9 runs.

<h3>4. Sachin Tendulkar (114 off 147 balls vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup, 2012)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_395251" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395251" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-395251" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sachin-Tendulkar.jpg" alt="Sachin Tendulkar" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395251" class="wp-caption-text">Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo credit should read MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
A milestone that the entire country waited for, but wasn’t cherished by many. Such was the story of Sachin Tendulkar becoming the first individual to score 100 international centuries. The 100th ton came on the 16th of March in 2012, in a losing cause against Bangladesh. India had lost the match to Bangladesh by a margin of 5 wickets and the loss was attributed to the slow inning that Sachin played that day.
India had gotten off to a decent start in the Asia Cup, having defeated Sri Lanka by a margin of 50 runs. But, Dhaka wasn’t going to be kind at all for the Men in Blue. Batting first India got off to a shaky start, losing the opener Gautam Gambhir in the fifth over itself.
The responsibility now lay on the shoulders of Sachin Tendulkar to forge a partnership with his upcoming partners and get his team to a decent total. And, he did the same. He partnered with <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/what-a-game-virat-kohli-tweets-after-winning-yet-another-super-over/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Virat Kohli</a> for a 148-run partnership and continued to scratch runs off even after the departure of Kohli.
Sachin scored 114 off 147 deliveries, but the thing that remained under question was the pacing of his inning. He had slowed down considerably while approaching his ton and, in the opinion of the fans and some cricket pundits, who side-lined the milestone and looked at the inning itself as a separate thing, it was the factor that cost India the match and the place in the finals of the tournament.

<h3>5. MS Dhoni (35 off 59 balls vs England, 2018)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_395252" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395252" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-395252" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-1.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395252" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
India touring England again after the humiliating tour that they had last time around was a highly anticipated phenomenon. The Indian team led by Virat Kohli won the T20I series comfortably and were eyeing a win in the ODI series too, but little did they know that one inning by one of the most celebrated cricketers would cost them the series.
Having won the first ODI convincingly, India headed to the iconic <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-had-no-fear-sourav-ganguly-on-scoring-a-century-on-his-test-debut-at-lords-in-1996/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lord’s</a> cricket ground, where there was to be played an inning that would remain a centre for many discussions in the years to come. Batting first, England posted a total of 323 for India to chase. But, the Indian inning got off to a nightmare of a start. India lost its first four batsmen for 140 runs by the 27th over and everyone waited for an MS Dhoni special.
When MS got in to bat, the scoreboard read, 140 for the loss of 4 wickets, and Dhoni had with him, Kuldeep Yadav on the other end. Things were not at all in favour of India, but with the greatest finisher of Indian cricket on the crease, and Hardik Pandya still to come, there was a slight ray of hope.
But, the former Indian skipper tried to take the game deep, and in the process kept losing partners, and was himself dismissed on 35 runs after facing 59 deliveries. The loss was mainly attributed to Dhoni’s slow scoring rate and him being responsible for the dismissals of the batsmen with him. This resulted in this knock of Dhoni, earning the label of a ‘selfish inning’.

Indian cricket has seen many great batsmen come and go. While most of their innings are celebrated till date, some of them remain to be a point of debate, years after they were played. Some might regard them to be an off day for the players in focus, or some might call it to be an act that was a result of the player doing what the situation demanded. But, the fact remains that the players did go out of their characters to forge innings that made them look self-centred on that particular day.
While some of the innings may have resulted in the completion of a milestone or a victory for the Indian team, but those happenings are overshadowed by those particular innings, which are still talked about in the cricketing circles.
So, here’s a look at five such innings which earned a few individuals the badge of being selfish:
<h3>1. Dinesh Karthik (32 off 31 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2009)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_395255" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395255" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-395255" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dinesh-Karthik-111.jpg" alt="Dinesh Karthik" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395255" class="wp-caption-text">Dinesh Karthik. (Photo credit should read LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
An inning that might look good when on the scorecard, but was the cause of something that angered the cricket fans really badly. On the 21st of December in 2009, Dinesh Karthik hit a four and won India match, but denied Sachin Tendulkar a century, which was not liked by the ‘little master’s’ fans at all.
Chasing a total of 240 runs set by the Lankans, led by Upul Tharanga’s 73 off 81 deliveries, India looked in control right from the start. All thanks to the opening combination of Virender Sehwag and Sachin. They got India to 55 runs in the 6th over itself, before Sehwag departed after scoring 44 runs, leaving behind a foundation for a comfortable chase.
Sachin was joined by Gautam Gambhir and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/yuvraj-singh-and-wasim-akram-to-feature-in-the-charity-bushfire-relief-bash-match/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Yuvraj Singh</a>, both of whom got out after scoring a modest 32 and 23 respectively. Then came on to the field, Dinesh Karthik, who was about to do something that would get his name etched in the history books as a selfish player, be it only for that one match.
Karthik joined Sachin when India required 75 runs, with 17 overs to go and Sachin&#8217;s ton was on the cards. They both got India close to the win by the 42nd over. And, then it happened. India required seven at the start of the 43rd over which was to be bowled by Lasith Malinga.
Having hit a four at the start of the over, Sachin took a single and gave the strike to Karthik. And, the inexperienced man did what he shouldn’t have done. India required just 3 runs to win the match and everyone wanted Sachin who was on 96 to score a ton. But, Karthik hit a four and got India to a win, but received a boatload of flak for having denied Sachin a well-deserved century.

<h3>2. Sunil Gavaskar (36 off 174 balls vs England, ICC Cricket World Cup, 1975)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_196440" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-196440" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-196440" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Gavaskar-of-India.jpg" alt="Sunil Gavaskar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-196440" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Gavaskar of India. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Sunil Gavaskar, the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in international cricket, one of the finest batsmen India ever produced, came in a bad light during the first-ever <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/icc-u19-world-cup-2020-pakistan-defeat-afghanistan-to-set-up-a-semi-final-clash-against-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Cup</a> match. Playing against England, at their home ground, the ‘underdogs’ at that point in time, India, were given a total of 334 runs to chase in their quota of 60 overs. Yes, the ODI matches were of 60 overs back then.
Sunil Gavaskar, who had built a reputation for himself by that point, played an inning that didn’t represent the player he was. India had lost three wickets when there were only 108 runs on the board. At that point, it was expected off Gavaskar to slow down a bit. But, once he slowed down, he was never able to pick the pace back up in that match.
By the end, accompanied by Birjesh Patel, who scored 16 off 57 balls, Gavaskar managed to take the score to just 132 runs at the end of 60 overs. India lost the match by a margin of 202 runs, biggest one at that point of time. Gavaskar’s scoring rate was 20.68 in that match and this was not liked at all by the cricket community, especially given the fact that how refined a batsman he was.

<h3>3. Ravi Shastri (25 off 67 balls vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup, 1992)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_306909" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-306909" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-306909" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravi-Shastri.jpg" alt="Ravi Shastri" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-306909" class="wp-caption-text">Ravi Shastri. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The Gabba on the 1st of March 1991, became witness to an encounter which every Indian fan criticised at that point in time. The World Cup match being played between India and Australia was about to have in it, one of the most debated innings ever played by an Indian in the World Cup.
India had dismissed <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/im-sorry-for-my-mistake-amy-jones-apologizes-for-claiming-dropped-catch-of-smriti-mandhana/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Zealand</a> for 237 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their quota of 50 overs and were looking in control of the situation at the end of the first half of the match. Having lost his opening partner early, Shastri went into a cocoon and that cost India a win that could have propelled them into the semi-finals.
Shastri slowed down to the level that he a mere 25 runs off 67 deliveries. That means, his scoring rate was just 37.31 and eventually cost India the match. The team fell short of the target, which was reduced to 236 in 47 overs due to rain, and were denied a semi-final berth.
This inning was majorly criticised because it was in the second consecutive encounter that Shastri had chosen not to accelerate in, even when the team was in dire need of it. In the match played prior to this one, Shastri in the first 10 overs, had scored just three runs after facing 27 deliveries and ended with a score of 57 runs off 112 balls, with India losing the match by a margin of just 9 runs.

<h3>4. Sachin Tendulkar (114 off 147 balls vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup, 2012)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_395251" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395251" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-395251" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sachin-Tendulkar.jpg" alt="Sachin Tendulkar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395251" class="wp-caption-text">Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo credit should read MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
A milestone that the entire country waited for, but wasn’t cherished by many. Such was the story of Sachin Tendulkar becoming the first individual to score 100 international centuries. The 100th ton came on the 16th of March in 2012, in a losing cause against Bangladesh. India had lost the match to Bangladesh by a margin of 5 wickets and the loss was attributed to the slow inning that Sachin played that day.
India had gotten off to a decent start in the Asia Cup, having defeated Sri Lanka by a margin of 50 runs. But, Dhaka wasn’t going to be kind at all for the Men in Blue. Batting first India got off to a shaky start, losing the opener Gautam Gambhir in the fifth over itself.
The responsibility now lay on the shoulders of Sachin Tendulkar to forge a partnership with his upcoming partners and get his team to a decent total. And, he did the same. He partnered with <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/what-a-game-virat-kohli-tweets-after-winning-yet-another-super-over/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Virat Kohli</a> for a 148-run partnership and continued to scratch runs off even after the departure of Kohli.
Sachin scored 114 off 147 deliveries, but the thing that remained under question was the pacing of his inning. He had slowed down considerably while approaching his ton and, in the opinion of the fans and some cricket pundits, who side-lined the milestone and looked at the inning itself as a separate thing, it was the factor that cost India the match and the place in the finals of the tournament.

<h3>5. MS Dhoni (35 off 59 balls vs England, 2018)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_395252" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395252" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-395252" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-1.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395252" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
India touring England again after the humiliating tour that they had last time around was a highly anticipated phenomenon. The Indian team led by Virat Kohli won the T20I series comfortably and were eyeing a win in the ODI series too, but little did they know that one inning by one of the most celebrated cricketers would cost them the series.
Having won the first ODI convincingly, India headed to the iconic <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-had-no-fear-sourav-ganguly-on-scoring-a-century-on-his-test-debut-at-lords-in-1996/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lord’s</a> cricket ground, where there was to be played an inning that would remain a centre for many discussions in the years to come. Batting first, England posted a total of 323 for India to chase. But, the Indian inning got off to a nightmare of a start. India lost its first four batsmen for 140 runs by the 27th over and everyone waited for an MS Dhoni special.
When MS got in to bat, the scoreboard read, 140 for the loss of 4 wickets, and Dhoni had with him, Kuldeep Yadav on the other end. Things were not at all in favour of India, but with the greatest finisher of Indian cricket on the crease, and Hardik Pandya still to come, there was a slight ray of hope.
But, the former Indian skipper tried to take the game deep, and in the process kept losing partners, and was himself dismissed on 35 runs after facing 59 deliveries. The loss was mainly attributed to Dhoni’s slow scoring rate and him being responsible for the dismissals of the batsmen with him. This resulted in this knock of Dhoni, earning the label of a ‘selfish inning’.

A few players did go out of their characters to forge innings that made them look self-centred on that particular day.

Top 5 selfish knocks in Indian cricket history

A few players did go out of their characters to forge innings that made them look self-centred on that particular day in the game of cricket