Abhishek Sharma Joins Unwanted List: 5 Ducks In 2026, Matches Sanju Samson
Abhishek Sharma gets a third straight duck, equalling Sanju Samson's 5 in 2026.
Indian opener Abhishek Sharma entered the unwanted record books after registering his third consecutive duck during India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash against the Netherlands national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The left-hander was bowled by Aryan Dutt in the opening over, extending a worrying run of form in the tournament. Having already fallen for ducks against the USA and Pakistan, Sharma is yet to score in the ongoing World Cup.
With this dismissal, Abhishek equalled Sanju Samson for the most ducks in T20 Internationals by an Indian in a single calendar year. Both batters now share the record with five ducks. The statistic highlights a rare slump for the otherwise explosive opener, who currently holds the No. 1 ranking in T20I batting.
The poor run also placed Abhishek among openers with the most ducks in a calendar year in T20Is. Pakistan’s Saim Ayub tops the list with six ducks in 2025, while Abhishek joins players such as Parvez Hossain Emon and Kushal Bhurtel, who also recorded five ducks in a year. The numbers underline how quickly fortunes can swing in the shortest format.
Also Read: Three Consecutive Ducks Leave Abhishek Sharma Yet To Score At T20 World Cup
Despite the early setback, India recovered strongly thanks to a blistering knock from Shivam Dube, who smashed 66 off 31 balls. He shared a crucial 76-run partnership with Hardik Pandya, powering India to a competitive 193/6 after captain Suryakumar Yadav elected to bat first.
Earlier, the Dutch attack kept India in check during the powerplay, also removing Ishan Kishan cheaply. Veteran all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe produced a sharp catch to dismiss Tilak Varma, but India accelerated in the death overs to cross the 190 mark. While India maintained their unbeaten run, Abhishek’s prolonged lean patch remains a concern heading into the knockout stages.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2026: India Face Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan Concerns vs Namibia
