The players with the most ducks in international cricket has accumulated 40 scoreless innings, primarily in Tests. Another player follows closely with 38 ducks, achieved in fewer innings. Several other cricketers have also recorded significant ducks, with a notable concentration in ODIs and Tests, reflecting challenges faced in their careers.
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Rohit Sharma – 33 ducks
Rohit Sharma has accumulated 33 ducks in 513 international innings across 485 matches. In T20Is, he was dismissed without scoring 12 times, ranking second for the most ducks in T20I history before retiring after the 2024 T20 World Cup. In ODIs, he has been dismissed for a duck 16 times. Since his Test debut in 2013, he has played 62 matches and failed to score in five innings.
Tamim Iqbal – 36 ducks
Prolific Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal briefly announced his retirement from international cricket in 2023 but reversed the decision after discussions with top officials. While his future with the team remains uncertain, Iqbal has accumulated 36 ducks in his international career since 2007. Of these, 19 ducks occurred in ODIs from 240 innings, accounting for more than half of his total scoreless innings.
Virat Kohli – 38 ducks
Among all active international cricketers, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has recorded the most ducks by a specialist batter, with 38 scoreless innings across all formats. This includes 15 ducks in Tests, 16 in ODIs, and seven in 117 T20I innings. Kohli’s 38th duck came during India’s series-opening Test against New Zealand at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in October 2024.
Tim Southee – 38
Alongside Virat Kohli, New Zealand paceman Tim Southee has also recorded 38 ducks in international cricket, but in fewer innings—293 compared to Kohli’s 595. As a fast bowler, Southee has been dismissed for a duck 19 times in Tests, 13 times in ODIs, and six times in T20Is. Notably, Southee, a tailender, boasts an impressive strike rate of 82.48 in Test matches, having scored six fifty-plus innings in over 100 Test appearances.
Ishant Sharma – 40
Indian tailender Ishant Sharma holds the record for the most international ducks among all active players, with 40 scoreless dismissals. Although he last played for India in November 2021, Ishant has not officially announced his retirement and remains a potential contender for a return to the national team. Of his total ducks, 34 have come in Test matches, where he currently ranks fifth for the most scoreless innings in the game’s oldest format.