Due to rain interruptions, the historic India-Japan T20 match was reduced to five overs per side. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed on the sixth ball of Charlie Hara-Hinge's first over, leaving him with a golden duck.
Abhishek attempted to play a sweep shot, but the ball took a top edge and went towards short fine leg. Shoma Sugaya-Slater, stationed there, ran backwards and completed an excellent catch to send Abhishek back to the pavilion.
With this dismissal, Abhishek has now been dismissed for a duck 10 times in T20 cricket in 2026. He has become the first player to be dismissed for a duck 10 times in T20 cricket in a single calendar year.
Before the match against Japan, Abhishek had played a T20 International against Afghanistan, where he smashed a spectacular century.
This was also the fifth time Abhishek has been dismissed for a golden duck in T20 International cricket. He has become the Indian opener with the most golden ducks in T20 International cricket. In his career so far, he has been dismissed on the very first ball five times. Rohit Sharma, known as 'Hitman', has suffered a golden duck four times.
Abhishek has also taken the record for the most ducks by a batter in T20 cricket in a single calendar year. He moved ahead of Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, who was dismissed for a duck nine times in T20 cricket in 2019. Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan was also dismissed for a duck nine times in 2024.
The record list for the most ducks in T20 cricket in a single calendar year now has Abhishek Sharma at 10 in 2026, followed by Rashid Khan at nine in 2019 and Shadab Khan at nine in 2024. Herschelle Gibbs was dismissed for a duck eight times in 2009, while Sunil Narine was dismissed eight times in 2011.
Among Indian batters in T20 International cricket, Abhishek has five golden ducks, Rohit Sharma has four, Sanju Samson has three, Ajinkya Rahane has one, Prithvi Shaw has one and Shubman Gill has one.
Meanwhile, India registered a narrow two-run victory over Japan in the match. The Indian team was expected to record a convincing win against Japan, but the contest went down to the wire.
India won the toss and opted to bat first. After Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck, Sanju Samson scored nine runs and Ishan Kishan contributed three runs. Captain Shreyas Iyer scored 16 runs from 12 balls.
In reply, Japan lost three wickets while scoring 30 runs in five overs. Captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming was Japan's highest scorer with 12 runs.
Japan needed eight runs to win in the final over. However, Axar Patel conceded only five runs, securing India's two-run victory in the rain-affected five-over contest. Abhishek Sharma's golden duck therefore became one of the defining moments of a match that ended with India winning by the narrowest of margins.
About The Author
Comment List