List Of IPL Players With Most Ducks: The Unfortunate Record Holders
The Harsh Reality of T20 Cricket
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been a stage where batting greatness is measured with towering sixes and match-winning knocks. Amid the glamour of exquisite stroke-play and aggressive power-hitting, there lies a more humbling statistic that even the greatest icons of the game cannot always avoid: the dreaded ‘duck’. While tailenders are often expected to account for the majority of scoreless outings, even seasoned batters with lengthy IPL careers can find themselves accumulating an unwanted tally. In this analysis, we delve into the List Of IPL Players With Most Ducks to understand the context behind these figures.
19 Ducks: The Unfortunate Pinnacle
Leading the pack in this category are two of the most destructive forces in T20 cricket history. Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell share the top spot, each having registered 19 ducks in their IPL careers.
Rohit Sharma: As one of only two cricketers in IPL history to aggregate over 7,000 runs, Rohit Sharma’s contribution to the tournament is monumental. However, the legendary opener also holds a record for the joint-highest number of ducks. Having represented both the Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians, his 19 ducks have come over the course of 276 IPL innings. His 19th duck occurred during the final home match of the 2026 season at the Wankhede Stadium, where he fell to a four-ball duck delivered by Jofra Archer.
Glenn Maxwell: The Australian all-rounder finds himself in this position after recording 19 ducks in just 135 innings. Statistically, this means Maxwell records a duck roughly once every seven innings. Throughout his 141-match career across four franchises, Maxwell has showcased extreme volatility. While he has smashed 18 half-centuries, 15 of those were concentrated in just three seasons (2014, 2021, and 2023), illustrating the high-risk, high-reward nature of his batting style.
The 18-Duck Club: Karthik and Narine
Dinesh Karthik and Sunil Narine sit just behind the leaders with 18 ducks each.
- Dinesh Karthik: A true veteran of the sport, Karthik played 257 matches over 17 seasons. Despite his 18 ducks, he remains one of the most prolific wicketkeeper-batters in history, having scored 4,842 runs across stints with Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, KKR, and RCB.
- Sunil Narine: The KKR stalwart has achieved his 18 ducks in fewer innings than many of his peers. Having batted 126 times over 201 matches, his role has fluctuated from top-order dynamite to a pinch-hitter. Despite the zeros, his impact is undeniable, highlighted by a staggering career strike rate of 165.30 and several explosive half-centuries.
Spinners with 16 Ducks
Rounding out this list are two influential spinners, Piyush Chawla and Rashid Khan, both of whom have registered 16 ducks.
Piyush Chawla: In 92 innings across 192 matches, Chawla has accumulated 16 ducks. While his batting average of 11.14 is modest, he remains a key figure in IPL history for his bowling achievements and his occasional late-order resistance, most notably his cameo in the 2014 final.
Rashid Khan: The Gujarat Titans superstar is widely considered one of the best T20 bowlers ever. While he has 16 ducks to his name in 72 innings, he is a dangerous proposition at the death. With a career strike rate of 157.36 and an IPL fifty to his credit, Rashid possesses the ability to change the course of a match in just a few balls, even if he occasionally falls for no score.
Conclusion
The presence of these high-profile names on the List Of IPL Players With Most Ducks does not necessarily diminish their legacy. In the fast-paced environment of the IPL, where batters are expected to play aggressively from the first delivery, these statistics are often a byproduct of a high-intent approach. While no player sets out to register a duck, these figures remind fans and analysts alike that even the brightest stars are susceptible to the unpredictable nature of cricket.
