4 Indians to have scored a duck on T20I debut ft. Abhishek Sharma
In an unexpected turn of events, India lost the opening T20I of the five-match series to host Zimbabwe in Harare on Saturday, July 6, 2024. The visitors dominated the first half of the contest, restricting Zimbabwe to just 115 for the loss of nine wickets. It was expected to be an easy chase for India. However, Zimbabwe displayed the utmost grit and determination to pull off the unthinkable.
India struggled to remain in the hunt, losing wickets all the way through. They were eventually bundled out for just 102, losing the game by 13 runs. Sikandar Raza and his men were magnificent with the ball to bowl India out and gain a 1-0 lead with four T20Is to go.
Abhishek Sharma was one of the three debutants for India, along with Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. However, it wasn't a memorable outing for young Abhishek, as he joined an unwanted list, failing to score in this contest.
Only three other Indian batters have failed to score a single run on their T20I debut. Here is the list of all four Indians to have scored a duck in their maiden game in the shortest format of the game.
4 Indians to have scored a duck on T20I debut
#4 Abhishek Sharma: ZIM vs IND, 2024
Abhishek Sharma was picked in the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe series on the back of an exceptional display in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.
The left-hander proved to be explosive as an opener for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), smashing 484 from 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 204.21.
However, he failed to replicate his success against Zimbabwe in the first T20I of his career. Opening the batting, he was dismissed on the fourth ball of the first over by Brian Bennett during India's chase. The four-ball duck made him only the fourth Indian to achieve this unwanted record.
#3 Prithvi Shaw: SL vs IND, 2021
Shikhar Dhawan-led India toured Sri Lanka in 2021. In the first T20I of the series at Colombo, Prithvi Shaw opened the batting as India opted to bat first.
Shaw, who was looked upon as the next big thing in Indian cricket at the time, could not impress in his debut outing for the country in the shortest format of the game.
He edged the very first delivery of the innings from Dushmantha Chameera straight back to the wicketkeeper. Shaw registered a 'golden' or a first-ball duck in his only T20I appearance.
#2 KL Rahul: ZIM vs IND, 2016
KL Rahul is another Indian batter on this list to have scored a duck in his first-ever T20I outing for India, playing against Zimbabwe.
When MS Dhoni & Co. traveled to Zimbabwe in 2016, Rahul made his T20I debut in the first game of the three-match series. Along with Prithvi Shaw, he is the only other Indian batter to be dismissed for a first-ball duck in the format as well.
India were chasing 171 runs as Rahul opened the batting along with Mandeep Singh. It was a game to forget for Rahul as he chopped the first delivery of the very first over from Donald Tiripano back onto the stumps. India ended up losing the game by an agonizingly short margin of 2 runs eventually.
#1 MS Dhoni: SA vs IND, 2006
First on this list is one of India's greatest white-ball captains, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. During India's tour of South Africa in 2006, the two teams squared off in the only T20I at Johannesburg.
The Indian bowlers put up a fine show, holding the hosts at 126 for the loss of nine wickets from their 20 overs. Making his T20I debut, Dhoni walked out to bat at number four.
However, it did not go as planned for the keeper-batter, who was sent back by Charles Langeveldt for a duck. All he could do was manage to chop the ball back onto his off-stump, thus registering a two-ball duck.