Meanwhile, we see the teams braving with ease over the 300 mark: is 350 the new 300, and is 400 the updated 350? The transformation of the game has been quite staggering, say the last couple of years, requirements have changed, and most teams nowadays have a strike rate of 100 or more. Professional hitters such as Heinrich Klaasen, Glenn Maxwell, and Aiden Markram score in excess of 150 strike rate plus this totally transforms the whole spectrum concerning ODI cricket.

The irony is, in the older days, such innings were looked upon as a selfish act, one to be avoided for the greater good of the team.Here’s a look at 10 of the slowest innings ever played in World Cup history.

1. Sunil Gavaskar vs England (1975) – 36 off 174 Balls

As for the 1975 World Cup (Prudential Cup), India was making an entry for the first time. Chasing 335 runs in 60 overs from England, rather than playing aggressively, Sunil Gavaskar defended most of the time during the innings, scoring just 36 runs off 174 balls at a strike rate of merely 20.68. Despite wickets falling around him, he continued his ultra-defensive approach, making this knock one of the slowest and most criticized innings in World Cup history.

2. Imran Khan vs England (1979) – 21 off 82 Balls

Imran Khan, Pakistan’s World Cup-winning captain, played his slowest ODI innings in the 1979 World Cup against England at Leeds.Pakistan, having opted to bowl first, had set a target of 166. With the team struggling at the onset, a recovery was led by Iqbal with a half-century. Imran Khan’s costliest innings were 21 runs off 82 balls, as Pakistan fell short of the target by 14 runs, making his innings one of the slowest in World Cup history.

3. Bill Athey vs. Australia (1987) – 58 off 103 balls

The 1987 World Cup final between England and Australia was a close match. In an effort to chase down 254, England relied upon a strong partnership between Graham Gooch and Bill Athey. However, Athey’s painful 58 off 103 balls at only 56 runs per hundred deliveries had begun to exert pressure. England eventually lost the final by seven runs, making his innings one of the costliest slow knocks in a World Cup final.

4. Ravi Shastri vs. Australia (1992) – 25 off 67-balls

Defensive and astute former Indian cricketer and coach, Ravi Shastri was another whose slow innings drew India’s ire in the 1992 World Cup match against Australia. Mohammad Azharuddin played a blistering innings of 93 runs, but Shastri’s slow 25 off 67 balls at a strike rate of 37 slowed the chase dramatically. India lost the match by a mere run, and Shastri’s innings were one of the chief causes for the defeat.

5. Javed Miandad vs India (1992) – 40 off 110 Balls

Regarded as Pakistan’s best middle-order batsman, Javed Miandad was often known for his resilience in crunch situations. However, his knock against India in the 1992 World Cup was disappointingly slow. Chasing 217, Pakistan saw an impressive 62-run contribution from Aamer Sohail. However, Miandad’s 40 off 110 balls at a strike rate of 36 created pressure on the other batters, leading to Pakistan’s 43-run defeat.

6. Geoff Marsh vs Pakistan (1992) – 39 off 91 Balls

In another 1992 World Cup match, Australia faced Pakistan in a must-win encounter. After opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 221 runs, courtesy of Aamer Sohail’s 76. In reply, Geoff Marsh played an ultra-defensive innings, scoring 39 off 91 balls with just one boundary. Despite the efforts of Dean Jones and Mark Waugh, Marsh’s slow innings hurt Australia, leading to a 48-run defeat.

7. Robin Smith vs New Zealand (1992) – 38 off 73 Balls

During the 1992 World Cup, England faced New Zealand at Wellington. After a strong start, England looked set to post a big total. However, Robin Smith’s slow 38 off 73 balls at a strike rate of 52 reduced their momentum. England ultimately fell 50 runs short of what could have been a competitive target, and New Zealand won the match comfortably by seven wickets.

8. Mohammad Kaif vs New Zealand (2003) – 68 off 129 Balls

Unlike other slow knocks that resulted in losses, Mohammad Kaif’s innings against New Zealand in the 2003 World Cup was a match-winning effort. After bowling out New Zealand for just 146, India struggled early, with Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Sourav Ganguly departing cheaply. Kaif and Dravid’s partnership steadied the chase, with Kaif scoring 68 off 129 balls at a strike rate of 52. While slow, his knock ensured India’s successful chase.

9. Joe Root vs Bangladesh (2015) – 29 off 47 Balls

The 2015 World Cup was a disaster for England, as they failed to qualify for the knockouts after a shocking loss to Bangladesh. Chasing 276, England’s innings started well, but Joe Root’s sluggish 29 off 47 balls at a strike rate of 61 killed their momentum. As a result, England fell 15 runs short, with Bangladesh securing a historic victory.

10. Mohsin Khan vs West Indies (1983) – 70 off 176 Balls

In the 1983 World Cup semi-finals, Pakistan faced West Indies for a place in the final. Batting first, Pakistan needed a strong total to challenge the two-time champions. However, Mohsin Khan’s 70 off 176 balls at a strike rate of 39 slowed the innings significantly, putting pressure on other batters. Viv Richards’ quick 80-run knock made the chase easy for West Indies, who won by eight wickets.

Final Thoughts
Cricket has undergone a dramatic transformation, especially in ODI World Cups, where high strike rates and power-hitting dominate the game. However, earlier eras saw some painfully slow innings that either cost their teams crucial matches or ended up being controversial knocks.

While defensive cricket has its place, these 10 slowest innings in World Cup history highlight how lack of intent and poor strike rates can negatively impact a team’s chances, especially in the high-pressure World Cup stage.