Abhishek Sharma, opener for Sunrisers Hyderabad, created an unwanted record after registering his seventh duck of 2026, overtaking Rohit Sharma for the most ducks by an Indian batter in a single calendar year.
The milestone came during IPL 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals, where the explosive left-hander was dismissed for a golden duck while attempting an aggressive shot early in the innings.
Golden Duck Against Jofra Archer Leads To Unwanted Record
Abhishek’s dismissal came off a short delivery bowled by Jofra Archer. Attempting to go big from the outset, the batter mistimed his shot and was caught by Ravi Bishnoi, marking his seventh duck in just 18 innings in 2026.
With this, Abhishek surpassed Rohit Sharma’s previous record of six ducks in 32 innings in 2018, as well as Sanju Samson’s tally of six ducks in 32 innings in 2024.
The record reflects a mixed run of form for the young batter, who has alternated between explosive performances and early dismissals throughout the year.
Mixed Form In IPL 2026 Despite Explosive Strike Rate
Despite the unwanted record, Abhishek has shown flashes of brilliance in the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
In five innings, he has scored 129 runs at an average of 25.80 and an impressive strike rate of 215.80, including one half-century. His best performance so far remains a quickfire 74-run knock, highlighting his attacking style at the top of the order.
Underwhelming T20 World Cup Debut Added To Struggles
Earlier this year, Abhishek faced disappointment during his debut appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where expectations were sky-high following his standout performances in 2025.
However, he struggled to replicate that form, scoring 141 runs in eight innings at an average of 17.62 and a strike rate of 158.42. He did manage two half-centuries, including one in the final against New Zealand national cricket team, contributing to a winning effort.
Overall T20I Numbers Show Both Promise And Inconsistency
In 18 T20 Internationals this year, Abhishek has accumulated 452 runs at an average of 26.58 and an impressive strike rate of 203.60.
His tally includes five half-centuries but also seven ducks, underlining the inconsistency that has defined his performances in 2026. His highest score in the format this year stands at 84 runs.
Match Update: Rajasthan Royals Opt To Bat First
In the match itself, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bat first against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Playing XIs
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga
Rajasthan Royals:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (w), Riyan Parag (c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande