The Indian Premier League is in its 16th edition this year, and the ongoing tournament only gets better and better with each successive game. With all qualification spots open for optimistically eight franchises, this IPL season turned out to be very competitive. All teams are trying to give their all to finish as the top four, where some are progressing, and others are failing to get their net run rate right.
The biggest franchise cricket league has given golden opportunities to several batters across the globe. While some shine as bright as they can, others fail to make a mark. Not only the new names, but cricket stalwarts too fall into the trap of international exposure in this tournament.
Batters with the most amazing strike rates, track records, and batting averages to get out without scoring any runs. Maybe it is the pitch or the pressure of giving an early start to the team. It can even be the pressure to hit big after stepping on the ground in the 17th over.
Although the number of ducks cannot fairly tell one’s batting capabilities, surely leave an uncanny record to their name. Here is a list of the top five batters in the Indian Premier League history with the most amount of ducks to their names:
#5 Glenn Maxwell (14)
The ‘Big Show’ Glenn Maxwell has 14 ducks to his name
The Big Show has been one of the IPL’s most consistent batters as Glenn Maxwell’s unconventional shots have always been standouts. Maxwell has gone on a rollercoaster ride between franchises in his IPL career.
The 34-year old has always been an expensive buy at the auction. For some, he has thoroughly performed, like for the past two seasons for RCB but he has not given his worth on the field for a couple of franchises. The Australian big-hitter has 14 ducks in 122 games.
With a personal best of 95 runs, he is too good to be benched by any team. He has scored a 50-plus score 18 times in 118 IPL innings. With a total of 2,703 runs to his name in IPL, he is a batter to be dismissed as early as possible if the opposition wants to secure the two points safely.
#3 Mandeep Singh: 15
Over the last few seasons, the talented Mandeep Singh has not been the right addition to the team. In 111 IPL appearances, Mandeep has 15 ducks. Mandeep has totalled 1706 runs at a strike rate of 122.91.
Currently playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, Mandeep Singh has found his place in the playing XI only three times this season.
The 31-year-old is undoubtedly a quick striker but has been failing to deliver consistently. His role was mainly to come as a finisher and give the team a good push in the last overs. Although his persisting low scores have made it tough for KKR to slot him into the team.
Notably, Mandeep has always been a team player as he is quick in running between the wickets and is a great athlete even while fielding. His personal best is 77 not out which shows his character when he truly gets going.
#3 Sunil Narine: 15
Sunil Narine, one of the more unconventional pinch-hitters in the IPL, can be unstoppable if he gets going with the bat. He has, however, registered up to 15 ducks. Narine has scored 1,045 runs in 161 IPL matches.
His IPL career has to be a redefining point in his life. Narine started his career as a spin bowler and has done wonders with the ball throughout his IPL career as well as for West Indies along with impressing for different franchises across the world.
The 34-year-old spinner believes in the ‘go big or go back’ policy. He came to bat as an opener for KKR which totally turned the pace at which KKR used to score runs. His big hits and power-hitting up-the-order is pure entertainment for short-form cricket where he is a perfect all-rounder as this unwanted record does not really define Narine’s batting capabilities.
#1 Dinesh Karthik: 16
Dinesh Karthik has had a tough time in IPL 2023
Dinesh Karthik is the archetypal comeback story as he has undergone several roles in many teams during his cricketing career. The fans experienced the DK 2.0 version as he reinvented himself into a finisher for RCB in the 2022 edition.
Karthik was looked upon as the quench of RCB’s thirst for getting a proper finisher. He has scored amazingly well in the last overs for RCB. although he has not performed that well in IPL 2023. DK surely gives it all for his team even while wicketkeeping.
The 37-year-old batter has scored 4,516 runs in 220 innings he has played. In 241 IPL games, he has been out for a duck 16 times. With a personal best of 97 not out, Karthik makes a strong case to be RCB’s go-to keeper-batsman. Whether he performs or not, RCB fans always expect good innings from Karthik whenever in dire need.
#1 Rohit Sharma: 16
Rohit Sharma, the most successful IPL skipper, has been a vital player for the Mumbai Indians since his arrival. Apart from his captaincy, Rohit has been a phenomenon with the bat, scoring 6099 runs in 239 IPL appearances. But another incredible record to his name is of scoring the joint most number of ducks in IPL history which is 16.
36-year-old Rohit Sharma is an Indian cricket stalwart. His records for his IPL side Mumbai Indians and for India are something to look up to, for every cricketer. Rohit Sharma has been off with his form lately. Due to the skipper’s incapability to connect the ball this season, even Mumbai Indians have fallen short in the points table.
Sharma even has an IPL century to his name. With a personal best of 109 not out, one cannot question his career due to his off days in the IPL. Sharma has gone back to the dugout without scoring a single rune 16 times in his IPL career. This is the joint most ducks for a batter in the IPL history.