A statistical anomaly has shocked the cricket world, India‘S Abhishek Sharma has completed the league stage of t20 world cup 2026 Without scoring a single run. During 18 February 2026 IndiaFinal group-stage match against Netherlands In Ahmedabad, the explosive opener was out for a duck for the third consecutive time, making a nightmare start to his maiden World Cup campaign.
Abhishek Sharma’s Ahmedabad nightmare: Third consecutive clean bowled by Aryan Dutt
In a dramatic turn of events at the Narendra Modi Stadium on February 18, 2026, India’s opening sensation Abhishek Sharma He reached a career low when he was clean bowled for a duck off 3 balls in India’s final group-stage match against the Netherlands. Arriving at the crease under extreme scrutiny and even attempting to break his “jinx” by wearing down a teammate Mohammad SirajIn the jersey beneath his kit, Sharma faced the threat of Dutch spin Aryan Dutt In the very first over.
After temporarily defending the first two balls, Abhishek attempted a vigorous cross-bat swing at a short, sharp delivery which slipped. The ball completely touched his bat and hit the middle and off stump, due to which the world’s top-ranked batsman once again had to return to the pavilion without scoring a run. The dismissal is a historic fall for the young left-hander, who has now become the first player in T20 World Cup history to record three consecutive ducks, leaving the Ahmedabad crowd stunned as he walked off the field.
World No. 1 T20I batsman: Abhishek Sharma’s scary performance in T20 World Cup 2026
Despite the worst statistical start for an Indian opening batsman in World Cup history, Abhishek has remarkably retained his position as the world No. 1 T20I batsman with 908 rating points in the latest ICC update. Their tournament has been a story of complete frustration, starting against the golden duck usa In Mumbai, he played a match battling high fever, which later turned into a serious stomach infection, requiring two days of hospitalization in New Delhi.
This health crisis forced him to miss the competition namibiaAnd although he returned for the high-pressure game against Pakistan In Colombo, he looked a shadow of his former form, missing a pull shot at mid-on off 4 balls. With four ducks in his last seven T20I innings, Abhishek’s ‘point bank’ of the 2025 season is the only thing keeping him at the top of the rankings, while teammates Ishan Kishan As India reach the Super 8s, they have put their place in the playing eleven under a lot of pressure.
Here’s how fans reacted:
That’s 3 in a row! #T20WorldCup #Coronation
Sometimes this cruel game. Keep your chin up boy☺️
– Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) 18 February 2026
No one would have imagined that in this World Cup, Abhishek Sharma would not have a single run in his name at the end of the league stage and the beginning of the Super 8. #IndvsNed #ICCMensT20WorldCup
– Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) 18 February 2026
hello @YUVSTRONG12 Paaji,
Give Abhishek bhaiya a class…we need his form to win this World Cup. 🙏😭
Big fan of both of you!
– Hathyogi (@hathyogi31) 18 February 2026
Who would have thought??
0, 0, 0! Amazing how times change. That’s cricket for you. This is life for you. The good thing about times is that they will change again. Hopefully Abhishek shines when India needs him most #T20WorldCup2026-Shrivatsa Goswami (@Shrivatsa1) 18 February 2026
I started watching the match, Abhishek survived on two balls, I was writing enough balls played by Abhishek and boom 💥 he walked on the third ball. Go back to IPL friend 🙏 and change your trainer as soon as possible.
– 🐰 (@firki07) 18 February 2026
Game for you. Abhishek Sharma will feel self-doubt. It is time for the management to support them. The next match against South Africa is very big for him. 3 ducks. He is being tested. @RevSportzGlobal
– Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) 18 February 2026
Abhishek Sharma is trying to open his account with a four in all his innings. Could think of taking singles and playing the first over. Play 10 balls and then he becomes dangerous. He is a match winner and I don’t think the management will be too worried about 3 ducks
– Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) 18 February 2026
Hey, keep an eye on Abhishek
– Vishal Dayama (@VishalDayama) 18 February 2026
Returning to Super 8, Abhishek Sharma 🤞 pic.twitter.com/EEKjCEVauY
– Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) 18 February 2026
Abhishek Sharma once again got out for zero and went back disappointed.#INDvNED #AbhishekSharma #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/DQzjOUwYqy
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 18 February 2026