Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma had a night to forget against Japan as the Indian opener was dismissed for a golden duck in the one-off T20I in Sano on Tuesday, September 22.
The 26-year-old left-handed batter from Amritsar came into the match after producing a stunning 30-ball century against Afghanistan in Delhi on September 17. However, he could not continue that form against Japan. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed by Charlie Hara-Hinze on the sixth ball of the first over without scoring a run.
The dismissal marked Abhishek Sharma’s 10th duck in T20 cricket in 2026, giving him an unwanted record. He is now the player with the most T20 ducks in a single calendar year.
Before Abhishek Sharma, no player had been dismissed for a duck 10 times in T20s during the same calendar year. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan is next on the list as he was dismissed for a duck nine times in 56 T20 matches in 2019.
Abhishek Sharma’s numbers in T20Is this year are also notable. He has played 27 T20Is for India in 2026 and has been dismissed without scoring seven times. That puts him among the players with the most T20I ducks in a calendar year.
Abhishek shares the top spot with Rwanda’s Orchide Tuyisenge and Zappy Bimenyimana, and Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, who have also recorded seven T20I ducks each in a calendar year.
His struggles with the bat have appeared at different stages of 2026. Abhishek Sharma registered two ducks in India’s T20I series against New Zealand in January. He then failed to score in each of his first three matches of the 2026 T20 World Cup. His sixth T20I duck of the year came against Ireland in the second T20I in Belfast on June 28.
Despite those setbacks, Abhishek Sharma has also produced some remarkable performances in 2026, including his explosive 30-ball century against Afghanistan on September 17. His latest dismissal against Japan, however, added an unwanted record to his otherwise eventful year.
Let’s hope he scores well in the next one.
