India left-handed opening batter Abhishek Sharma has joined the list of unwanted batters after suffering a disappointing outing, falling for a four-ball duck in a high-voltage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.
The top-ranked T20I batter, who scored a duck in the first match of India’s campaign against the United States of America (USA) before missing their next group stage match against Namibia due to illness, has been reinstated in the playing XI for the high-octane clash.
Sharma, however, had a forgotten comeback as he perished for a four-ball duck, a victim of Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha in the first over.
Hence, he joined an unwanted list of Indian openers who faced their traditional rivals Pakistan in T20 World Cups, led by their head coach Gautam Gambhir, who suffered the result twice in the 2007 and 2012 editions.
The list also includes World Cup-winning Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who was trapped in weight for a golden duck by left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi in the traditional encounter of the rivals in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Indian openers to claim duck against Pakistan in T20 World Cups
- Gautam Gambhir – zero (three) in 2007
- Gautam Gambhir – zero (two) in 2012
- Rohit Sharma – zero (one) in 2021
- Abhishek Sharma – zero (four) in 2026.
Meanwhile, Pakistan suffered a 61-run defeat after accumulating just 114 before being bowled out in 18 overs.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to field first did not prove beneficial for the green shirts as the men in blue accumulated 175/7 in their 20 overs.
