IND vs NED: Abhishek Sharma Records Third Duck in T20 World Cup 2026

The Indian cricket team faced the Netherlands in their final group stage match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After Captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bat first, expectations were high for opener Abhishek Sharma to find his form. However, the young left-hander's struggles continued as he was dismissed for a duck, lasting only three deliveries before being bowled by Dutch spinner Aryan Dutt. This dismissal has led to several unwanted records for the Indian opener in the history of the tournament.

Unprecedented Record in a Single T20 World Cup Edition

Abhishek Sharma has become the first Indian cricketer to be dismissed for a duck three times in a single edition of the T20 World Cup. Prior to the 2026 tournament, no Indian player had ever reached this tally in one season. His failure to open his account against the Netherlands follows two previous ducks in the earlier stages of the competition. According to official match statistics, this performance places him alongside a small group of international players who have struggled similarly in the global showpiece event.

Comparison with Indian Cricket Legends and Peers

With this third dismissal for zero, Abhishek Sharma has equaled the record for the most career ducks by an Indian in T20 World Cup history, a record previously held solely by former pacer Ashish Nehra. Also, Abhishek has become only the second Indian player to record three consecutive ducks in T20 Internationals, joining Washington Sundar in this statistical category. In his last 7 innings for the national side, Abhishek has failed to score in five of them, with his only notable contributions being 68 and 30 runs.

Global Context of Multiple Ducks in One Tournament

Abhishek Sharma now joins an unwanted global list of players who have recorded three ducks in a single T20 World Cup edition. This list includes Andre Fletcher of the West Indies (2009), Richie Berrington of Scotland (2021), Regis Chakabva of Zimbabwe (2022), Roger Mukasa of Uganda (2024), and Tanzid Hasan of Bangladesh (2024). Also, in the broader context of Indian T20 International cricket, Abhishek is now tied with Suryakumar Yadav for the fourth-highest number of career ducks for the country.

The Jersey Incident and Recent Performance Trends

During the match against the Netherlands, observers noted that Abhishek Sharma walked out to bat wearing a jersey belonging to teammate Mohammed Siraj. Such actions are often interpreted as superstitious attempts to change one's luck during a lean patch, while despite this, the move proved ineffective as he was cleaned up by Aryan Dutt. His recent form has been a matter of statistical concern, with five ducks in his last seven outings. The dismissal in Ahmedabad left the player visibly disappointed as he walked back to the pavilion without contributing to the scoreboard.

Statistical Breakdown of Indian Players in T20 World Cups

The list of Indian players with the most ducks in T20 World Cup history is now led by Abhishek Sharma and Ashish Nehra with three each. They're followed by several prominent names who have recorded two ducks in the tournament, including Shivam Dube, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, and Axar Patel. As the Indian team prepares for the subsequent stages of the tournament, the opening slot's performance remains a key statistical point for the team management and selectors based on the current tournament data.