In T20 cricket, every ball counts, and a quick dismissal can change the direction of a match. One of the most frustrating outcomes for a batter is getting out for a single-digit score, especially a duck (score of zero). In the Indian Premier League, aggressive batting is common, which increases the risk of early dismissals.
While single-digit scores include runs from 0 to 9, the most reliable statistic tracked in official records is ducks. Duck statistics are updated regularly across seasons and player career records, making them the most accurate indicator of frequent early dismissals.
Here is the updated list of players with the most ducks in IPL history till 2026.
Players With Most Ducks in IPL History
| Rank | Player | Innings | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glenn Maxwell | 135 | 19 |
| 2 | Dinesh Karthik | 234 | 18 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | 267 | 18 |
| 4 | Sunil Narine | 123 | 17 |
| 5 | Piyush Chawla | 92 | 16 |
| 6 | Rashid Khan | 70 | 16 |
| 7 | Mandeep Singh | 98 | 15 |
| 8 | Manish Pandey | 162 | 14 |
| 9 | Ambati Rayudu | 187 | 14 |
These numbers highlight how even top international players can experience early dismissals in the fast-paced format of T20 cricket.
Glenn Maxwell – Most Ducks in IPL History
Glenn Maxwell currently holds the record for the most ducks in IPL history with 19 dismissals for zero. Despite this statistic, Maxwell is also known as one of the most explosive batters in T20 cricket.
| Player | Innings | Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Maxwell | 135 | 19 |
His aggressive batting approach often involves attacking from the very first ball, which increases both scoring potential and the risk of early dismissal.
Dinesh Karthik – Experienced Finisher With 18 Ducks
Dinesh Karthik has played one of the longest careers in IPL history and has accumulated 18 ducks in 234 innings.
| Player | Innings | Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Dinesh Karthik | 234 | 18 |
As a finisher who often enters the crease during high-pressure situations, Karthik frequently has to play risky shots immediately, which explains the higher number of ducks.
Rohit Sharma – Long Career and Top-Order Role
Rohit Sharma, one of the most successful captains in IPL history, also appears on the list with 18 ducks in 267 innings.
| Player | Innings | Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 267 | 18 |
His long career and consistent role as a top-order batter mean he faces the new ball regularly, increasing the chances of early dismissals.
Also see: Most Dangerous Team in IPL 2026
Sunil Narine – Aggressive Pinch-Hitter
Sunil Narine has scored 17 ducks in 123 innings in the IPL.
| Player | Innings | Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Sunil Narine | 123 | 17 |
Narine often opens the innings as a pinch-hitter and attacks from the first ball, which leads to high-risk batting but also quick runs when successful.
Bowlers in the List: Piyush Chawla and Rashid Khan
Some bowlers also appear high on the list because they usually bat lower in the order.
| Player | Innings | Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Piyush Chawla | 92 | 16 |
| Rashid Khan | 70 | 16 |
Lower-order batters frequently face difficult match situations where wickets are falling quickly, which increases the chances of getting out for zero.
Middle-Order Players With Frequent Ducks
Several middle-order batters also feature in the list.
| Player | Innings | Ducks |
|---|---|---|
| Mandeep Singh | 98 | 15 |
| Manish Pandey | 162 | 14 |
| Ambati Rayudu | 187 | 14 |
These players often come to bat during pressure situations, which can lead to quick dismissals if the bowling attack is dominant.
Why Aggressive Players Often Have More Ducks
In T20 cricket, players who attack aggressively usually have higher risk profiles. Batters who prioritize strike rate over defensive batting often accept the possibility of early dismissals.
Some common reasons why players record more ducks include:
- attacking from the first ball
- finishing roles that require quick scoring
- batting in difficult match situations
- facing the new ball against fast bowlers
Because of these factors, players like Maxwell, Narine and Rashid Khan appear on the list despite being match-winners.
Final Note on Single-Digit Records
A single-digit score technically includes runs from 0 to 9, but complete public records for all such scores combined are not consistently available in one official database.
For this reason, duck statistics remain the most accurate and verifiable measure of frequent low scores in IPL history.
The list of players with the most ducks provides a clear picture of how even elite batters in the IPL occasionally experience early dismissals in the high-pressure environment of T20 cricket.
