In a surprising turn of events, Abhishek Sharma of India has completed the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 without scoring any runs. On February 18, 2026, during the final group match against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad, he was dismissed for his third consecutive duck, marking a challenging start to his World Cup journey.
Abhishek Sharma’s Ahmedabad low point: Bowled by Aryan Dutt for a third duck
During an intense match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on February 18, 2026, Abhishek Sharma faced a tough moment as he was bowled out for a three-ball duck in India’s last group match against the Netherlands. Trying to break his unfortunate streak, he wore teammate Mohammed Siraj’s jersey underneath his kit. Unfortunately, facing the spin of Aryan Dutt in the very first over, he ended up misplaying a delivery that zipped past his bat and hit the stumps, leaving him scoreless once again. This dismissal marked a notable moment in T20 World Cup history, as he became the first player to record three ducks in a row, much to the disbelief of the Ahmedabad crowd.
World No.1 T20I batter: Abhishek Sharma’s tough T20 World Cup 2026
Despite this challenging start for an Indian opener at the World Cup, Abhishek surprisingly remains the World No. 1 T20I batter with 908 rating points, according to the latest ICC update. His tournament has been filled with difficulties, including a golden duck against the USA in Mumbai, while he was struggling with a fever that led to a severe stomach infection, resulting in two days in the hospital in New Delhi.
This health issue forced him to miss the match against Namibia, and although he returned for a crucial game against Pakistan in Colombo, he managed only a four-ball duck. With four ducks in his last seven T20I innings, Abhishek’s significant points from a strong 2025 season are the only reason he remains at the top of the rankings, while teammate Ishan Kishan is pushing for his place in the lineup as India moves to the Super 8s.
Here’s how fans reacted:
