When you play a format such as T20I cricket, then scoring a duck can be a not-so-bright-looking occurrence, for that is the nature of the format. You score on most days and on a few, you don't. But then when you have more than a few ducks to your name, you end up becoming the record holder of a statistic that is a painful one, or let's contend with the fact, an antithesis to one's talent altogether.
Wouldn't you agree? So who are some of the batters who seem to have actually struggled on multiple occasions in the shorter format of the sport having accumulated several ducks to their name and in so doing, are making headlines they never would have wanted in the first place?
Let's take a look at list of players with most ducks in T20 International cricket history:
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka) - 14 Ducks in 102 Innings
The experienced right handed all rounder from Sri Lanka recently registered a fact that could be slightly nightmarish if he were to look back at it, or how else can one even put it?
Shanaka scored his 14th T20I duck in international cricket and his latest not-so-bright feat came against Pakistan in an important T20I contest for his Lankan team.
He's been playing T20I cricket for Sri Lanka for over a decade, having made his debut back in 2010 and has scored north of 1600 runs.
Kevin Irakoze (Rwanda) - 13 Ducks in 75 Innings
With 13 ducks from 56 batting appearances (but 75 T20I) innings, Rawanda's Kevin Irakoze has scored the most number of ducks for his national cricket team. Not such a bright fact after all, especially also since having 75 T20I games against one's name does mean having reasonable experience in the shorter format of the sport.
The 25-year-old cricketer is the beholder of a developing career whose best days are ahead in the future and his batting average of 10 maybe needs some work. But a boundary hitter, 132 of the prominent Rawandan all rounder's runs have come by way of fours. And he's also picked 74 T20I wickets for his passionate African nation.
Somya Sarkar (Bangladesh) - 13 Ducks in 87 Innings
From a total of 87 T20I appearances, experienced Bangladesh batter Somya Sarkar has no fewer than 13 ducks in the format, not something that he can or his team could ever be proud of. But then in the fast paced version of the sport, maybe such statistical anomalies are more likely to happen, then not. What do you reckon?
Paul Stirling (Ireland) - 13 Ducks in 150 Innings
A great of Irish batting, someone who's been a headling act for Ireland cricket for over a decade now and a person who puts concerted effort to uphold the dominance of batting for his country, Paul Stirling is this and more. But the experienced, dogged right hander also has the record of no fewer than 13 T20I ducks to his name from 150 innings. He has also scored, and it ought to be celebrated a bit more than it is, 3700 plus runs in the format. Even after all these years of batting for Ireland, Stirling has maintained a fine strike rate touching 135, which is brilliant for he's been playing T20I cricket since 2009. Never an easy task, right?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q1. Which batter has most ducks in T20I history?
Sri Lankan batting all rounder Dasun Shanaka is the holder of this embarrassing record with 14 ducks
Q2. Which Irish batter has most T20I ducks
It's actually a legend of Irish batting in the form of Paul Stirling with 13 ducks to his name.
