In a stunning turn of events at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Netherlands ended in a 17-run victory on Wednesday. However, the spotlight wasn’t on the win but on opener Abhishek Sharma’s continued struggles. Expected to be India’s top run-scorer, Abhishek has failed to open his account in the tournament.
Abhishek’s nightmare in the T20 World Cup deepened as he registered his third consecutive duck. Dismissed for a golden duck off the first ball against USA, he sat out the Namibia game due to illness, got out for zero off four balls versus Pakistan, and now, against Netherlands, he faced just three deliveries before being bowled without scoring.
This feat places Abhishek in rare company. He becomes only the second Indian batter after Washington Sundar to record three successive ducks in international T20 cricket. Sundar had endured a similar horror streak earlier.
Looking at the broader picture, Sri Lanka’s current T20 captain Dasun Shanaka holds the unwanted record for most T20I ducks with 16. Among Indians, Rohit Sharma leads with 12 ducks, followed by Sanju Samson with seven. Abhishek’s form raises serious questions for India’s top order as they advance, despite the group stage triumph.
Team India must regroup quickly. While the victory keeps their momentum, Abhishek’s inability to contribute could haunt them in knockout stages. Coaches and selectors face a dilemma: persist with the young opener or make a bold change? The road ahead promises more drama.