In a turn of events that has left the cricketing world stunned, India’s star opener Abhishek Sharma has recorded an unwanted "hat-trick" of ducks in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Entering the tournament as the World No. 1 T20I batter, Sharma was expected to be India's primary weapon.
Instead, the young left-hander is facing the toughest slump of his career, having failed to open his account in three consecutive matches.
The "Duck Tales" Breakdown
Abhishek Sharma's struggle has been the biggest talking point of India's group-stage campaign. Here is how the nightmare unfolded:
Match 1 vs USA: Dismissed for a golden duck (0 off 1 ball) by pacer Ali Khan.
Match 2 vs Pakistan: After missing the Namibia game due to a stomach infection, he returned only to fall for a 4-ball duck against Salman Agha.
Match 3 vs Netherlands: In a bid to change his luck, Sharma even wore teammate Mohammed Siraj’s jersey, but he was bowled by spinner Aryan Dutt for a 3-ball duck.
With zero runs in three innings, Abhishek has now equaled the record for the most ducks by an Indian batter in a single T20 World Cup edition.
Unwanted Records for the World No. 1
The pressure of the "big hitter" tag seems to be weighing heavily on the Punjab-born cricketer. His recent form has pushed him into some statistical territory he would rather avoid:
Experts Weigh In: "Too Much Pressure?"
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes the youngster is trying too hard to live up to his reputation.
"Expectations might be weighing too heavily on him. He feels he has to get off the mark with a boundary or a six every time. He needs to give himself time, even if it means playing a few dot balls," Gavaskar noted during the commentary.
Former spinner Harbhajan Singh also offered support, advising the opener to "believe in his abilities" and focus on playing straight rather than forcing shots across the line.
"He came into the group phase not feeling too well and spent a few days in the hospital, missing the Namibia game," ten Doeschate revealed. "He batted for 90 minutes in the nets last night and showed great ball-striking. We aren't worried; he’ll be fine for the second phase."
What’s Next for Team India?
Despite Abhishek’s individual struggles, India has comfortably marched into the Super 8s. However, captain Suryakumar Yadav faces a selection dilemma.
With the high-stakes Super 8 match against South Africa scheduled for February 22, the team management must decide whether to persist with their explosive opener or look for alternatives.
Will the "World No. 1" find his rhythm in the knockout stages, or will the "Duck Streak" force a change at the top?
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