List Of IPL Players With Most Ducks: The Unwanted Record Holders
The Double-Edged Sword of T20 Cricket
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been a stage where batting greatness is measured with towering sixes and match-winning knocks. It is a competition that rewards aggression, audacity, and the ability to find the boundary rope with effortless ease. However, amidst the glamour of exquisite stroke-play and high-octane run chases, there lies a more somber side to the statistics—the dreaded duck.
While tailenders are often expected to account for a portion of scoreless outings due to their lower batting order positions, even experienced batters with lengthy, illustrious IPL careers can find themselves accumulating an unwanted tally. Consistency is the hallmark of any great player, but in the fast-paced environment of T20 cricket, failure is often just one ball away. Below, we take an objective look at the players who find themselves at the top of the List Of IPL Players With Most Ducks.
The 16-Duck Club: Piyush Chawla and Rashid Khan
Both Piyush Chawla and Rashid Khan occupy a unique place in this record book, having registered 16 ducks each. Chawla, a veteran Indian spinner, reached this tally over 92 innings across 192 matches. Spanning 16 seasons and four different franchises, his role was primarily that of a bowler, though his contributions included 624 runs at an average of 11.14. While the duck tally is high, his value to his teams has often been found in his wicket-taking ability and his memorable cameo in the 2014 final for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Rashid Khan, the world-renowned Afghanistan all-rounder, also sits at 16 ducks, though his context is vastly different. Having batted in 72 innings, Rashid is known for his aggressive intent at the death. Unlike traditional tailenders, he possesses an impressive IPL strike rate of 157.36 and has even registered a half-century in the tournament, proving that his aggressive approach sometimes results in a quick dismissal as much as it results in quick runs.
The 18-Duck Club: Dinesh Karthik and Sunil Narine
The list continues with two stalwarts of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, Dinesh Karthik and Sunil Narine, both of whom have 18 ducks to their name.
Dinesh Karthik’s record must be viewed through the lens of his immense longevity. Playing 257 matches over 17 seasons from 2008 to 2024, Karthik is one of the most prolific wicketkeeper-batters in IPL history. He amassed 4,842 runs across 234 innings while representing a multitude of franchises including RCB, KKR, Delhi Capitals, and Mumbai Indians. His 18 ducks, while notable, are a byproduct of his long career in the high-pressure finishing role.
Sunil Narine, the West Indies powerhouse, shares this tally but in fewer opportunities. Over 201 matches and 126 innings, Narine has transformed from a mystery spinner into a top-order dynamo. His aggressive approach has led to 18 ducks, but it has also yielded seven fifties and a century. With a staggering career strike rate of 165.30, Narine’s approach is ‘all or nothing,’ which naturally increases the frequency of both boundaries and scoreless stays at the crease.
The Leaders: Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell
Topping the list as the joint holders of this unwanted record are Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell, each with 19 ducks.
Rohit Sharma is one of only two cricketers in the history of the IPL to aggregate over 7,000 runs, cementing his status as an all-time great. However, his 276-inning career has included 19 ducks. The most recent of these occurred during the 2026 season at the Wankhede Stadium, where he was dismissed for a four-ball duck by Jofra Archer. His career represents the volatile nature of opening the batting, where even a legend like the ‘Hitman’ is susceptible to the new ball.
Glenn Maxwell, the Australian explosive middle-order batter, rounds out the list. Playing 141 matches across 13 seasons, Maxwell has reached 19 ducks in just 135 innings. This means that, statistically, Maxwell records a duck roughly once every seven innings. While his 18 half-centuries demonstrate his ability to change the game in a single session—notably in the 2014, 2021, and 2023 seasons—his figures highlight the high-risk, high-reward nature of his batting style.
Ultimately, these statistics serve as a reminder that in the IPL, even the most legendary figures are subject to the unpredictable nature of the game. Whether due to long careers or aggressive playing styles, these players define the thin line between match-winning heroics and the silence of a duck.
