LisIPL Players With Most Ducks: The Unwanted Record Holders
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The Unwanted Side of T20 Excellence
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been a stage where batting greatness is measured with towering sixes, high-pressure match-winning knocks, and consistent run-scoring. Amid the glamour of exquisite stroke-play and the roar of the crowds, there lies a more humbling statistic that even the greatest legends cannot always avoid: the dreaded ‘duck’.
While tailenders are often expected to account for a portion of scoreless outings due to their lower order positions, even experienced batters with lengthy, celebrated IPL careers find themselves accumulating an unwanted tally. Understanding this statistic requires nuance, as it highlights the volatile nature of the T20 format. Here is a look at the LisIPL Players With Most Ducks, providing insight into the high-stakes world of IPL cricket.
The 16-Duck Club: Piyush Chawla and Rashid Khan
Two of the most impactful spinners in the history of the tournament find themselves tied with 16 ducks each. Piyush Chawla, a veteran of 192 matches, registered these 16 scores of zero in 92 innings. Having played for four different franchises over a 16-season career, Chawla has notched up 624 runs. While his batting average sits at a modest 11.14, his contribution to the league is undeniable. Chawla remains one of the leading wicket-takers in tournament history, with his most memorable batting moment being a decisive cameo in the IPL 2014 final for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Similarly, Rashid Khan has tallied 16 ducks in his storied IPL career across 72 innings. Unlike Chawla, the Afghanistan all-rounder is recognized for his aggressive approach. As a key player for the Gujarat Titans, he possesses a striking ability to score quick runs at the death. He boasts an IPL fifty to his name and maintains an impressive career strike rate of 157.36.
The 18-Duck Threshold: Dinesh Karthik and Sunil Narine
Moving up the list, we find two stalwarts who have shared the field for Kolkata Knight Riders. Dinesh Karthik, a quintessential IPL journeyman, finished his 17-season career with 18 ducks. Spanning from 2008 to 2024, Karthik played an impressive 257 matches. Despite the high number of ducks, he remains one of the most prolific wicketkeeper-batters, having aggregated 4,842 runs across 234 innings for various franchises, including RCB, Delhi Capitals, and Mumbai Indians.
Sunil Narine, the Kolkata Knight Riders zealot, also sits at 18 ducks. However, his record is distinct due to his aggressive role as a pinch-hitter. Having played 201 matches since his 2012 debut, Narine has batted 126 times. His record is bolstered by seven fifties and a century, coupled with a staggering strike rate of 165.30. He has served as a top-order dynamo or a death-overs slogger throughout his 15-year career.
The Top of the List: Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell
At the top of this unwanted list are two giants of the game, both having recorded 19 ducks in their IPL careers. Rohit Sharma, one of the few players to amass over 7,000 runs in the tournament, shares this record. His 19th duck occurred during the Mumbai Indians’ final home match of the 2026 season at the Wankhede Stadium. Across 276 innings for the Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians, this legendary opener has faced his share of highs and lows.
Sharing the top spot is Australian powerhouse Glenn Maxwell. While he has achieved this total in just 135 innings, the frequency of his dismissals stands out, as he records a duck once every seven innings on average. Throughout 141 matches for four different franchises, Maxwell has delivered 18 half-centuries. Interestingly, 15 of those fifties came in just three specific seasons (2014, 2021, and 2023), illustrating the high-risk, high-reward nature of his batting style. This list serves as a reminder that even the most talented players in the world are susceptible to the unpredictable nature of cricket.
