India’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has hit an unwanted milestone, with the team registering the highest number of ducks in the tournament so far. With 11 batters dismissed without scoring, India now holds a record they would rather avoid.

For comparison, Italy have recorded eight ducks, while Oman have seven in the ongoing competition.

Heavy Defeat to South Africa in Super 8

The alarming statistic came into sharper focus after India’s crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa national cricket team in the Super 8 stage in Ahmedabad.

South Africa posted a challenging total of 187. In response, India national cricket team were bowled out for just 111, exposing serious frailties in the batting lineup.

Three Indian players — Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah — were dismissed for ducks in that match, pushing the team’s overall tally to 11.

Abhishek Sharma Tops the List

Among the Indian players, Abhishek Sharma has endured the toughest phase. He has been dismissed for zero three times in the tournament — the most by any Indian batter this year.

Other contributors to the unwanted tally include:

• Axar Patel – 2 ducks

• Shivam Dube – 1 duck

• Hardik Pandya – 1 duck

• Varun Chakravarthy – 1 duck

• Ishan Kishan – 1 duck

• Rinku Singh – 1 duck

• Jasprit Bumrah – 1 duck

The repeated top-order collapses have raised serious questions about India’s approach in high-pressure matches.

Semi-Final Hopes Hang in Balance

India’s path to the semi-finals has now become significantly tougher. To stay in contention, they must secure convincing wins against Zimbabwe national cricket team and West Indies cricket team.

More importantly, the victories need to be comprehensive enough to boost their net run rate, which has taken a hit after the heavy loss to South Africa.

Worst-Ever Duck Record in T20 World Cup

Prior to this edition, India’s highest number of ducks in a single T20 World Cup campaign was six, recorded in 2024. The current tally of 11 has nearly doubled that figure, marking a concerning downturn in batting consistency.

As pressure mounts, attention has shifted to team management and potential changes in strategy or personnel. With the tournament entering a decisive phase, India will need swift corrective action to keep their title hopes alive.