In a statistical anomaly that has stunned the cricketing world, India‘s Abhishek Sharma has completed the league stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 without scoring a single run. On February 18, 2026, during India‘s final group-stage match against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad, the explosive opener was dismissed for his third consecutive duck, cementing a nightmare start to his maiden World Cup campaign.

Abhishek Sharma’s Ahmedabad nightmare: Clean bowled by Aryan Dutt for third straight duck

In a dramatic turn of events at the Narendra Modi Stadium on February 18, 2026, India’s opening sensation Abhishek Sharma reached a career-low as he was clean bowled for a 3-ball duck in India’s final group-stage encounter against the Netherlands. Arriving at the crease under immense scrutiny and even attempting to break his “jinx” by wearing teammate Mohammed Siraj’s jersey under his kit, Sharma faced the Dutch spin threat of Aryan Dutt in the very first over.

After tentatively defending the first two deliveries, Abhishek attempted a forceful cross-batted swing at a shortish, quicker delivery that skidded through. The ball completely evaded his bat and crashed into the middle and off stumps, sending the world’s top-ranked batter back to the pavilion without a run yet again. This dismissal marked a historic low 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 in stunned silence as he trudged off the field.

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World No.1 T20I batter: Abhishek Sharma’s horror T20 World Cup 2026 run

Despite enduring the worst statistical start for an Indian opener in World Cup history, Abhishek remarkably continues to hold his position as the World No. 1 ranked T20I batter with 908 rating points in the latest ICC update. His tournament has been a tale of total frustration, beginning with a golden duck against the USA in Mumbai, a match he played while battling a high fever that later escalated into a severe stomach infection, requiring two days of hospitalisation in New Delhi.

This health crisis forced him to miss the clash against Namibia, and although he returned for the high-pressure game against Pakistan in Colombo, he looked a shadow of his former self, miscueing a pull shot to mid-on for a 4-ball duck. With four ducks in his last seven T20I innings, Abhishek’s ‘points bank’ from a dominant 2025 season is the only thing keeping him at the top of the rankings, while the surge of teammate Ishan Kishan has put his spot in the playing XI under intense pressure as India moves into the Super 8s.

Here’s how fans reacted: 

That’s 3 in row! #T20WorldCup #abhishek

Cruel game this sometimes. Chin up lad☺️

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 18, 2026

Nobody would have imagined Abhishek Sharma not having even a single run to his name at the end of the league stage and at the beginning of Super 8 this World Cup #IndvsNed #ICCMensT20WorldCup

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 18, 2026

Hello @YUVSTRONG12 Paaji,

Abhishek bhaiya ki ek baar class laga do..we need his form to win this world cup. 🙏😭

A big fan of both of you!

— Hathyogi (हठयोगी) (@hathyogi31) February 18, 2026

Who would have thought ??
0, 0, 0 ! Amazing how time changes. Thats cricket for you. That’s life for you. Good thing about time is it will change again. Hopefully Abhishek will shine when India will need him the most in this #T20WorldCup2026

— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) February 18, 2026

I started watching match, abhishek survived two deliveries, i was writing enough balls played by abhishek and boom 💥 he’s gone on 3rd ball. go back to IPL buddy 🙏 and change your trainer asap.

— 🐰 (@firki07) February 18, 2026

Sport for you. Abhishek Sharma will feel the self doubt. This is the time for the management to back him. Huge next game for him against SA. 3 ducks. He is being tested. @RevSportzGlobal

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) February 18, 2026

Abhishek Sharma is trying to open his account with a boundary in all his innings. Could think of taking a single and play out the first over. Play out 10 balls and then he will be dangerous. He is a match winner and I do not think the management will be too worried about 3 ducks

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) February 18, 2026

arey nazar utaaro koi abhishek ki

— vishal dayama (@VishalDayama) February 18, 2026

A Comeback in Super 8, Abhishek Sharma 🤞 pic.twitter.com/EEKjCEVauY

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2026

Abhishek Sharma walks back dejected as he dismissed for a duck again🏏#INDvNED #AbhishekSharma #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/DQzjOUwYqy

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 18, 2026

Also READ: Fans erupt as Sahibzada Farhan and Shadab Khan power Pakistan into T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage with ruthless win over Namibia