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India opener Abhishek Sharma created an unwanted piece of T20 cricket history after being dismissed for a golden duck in the one-off T20I against Japan, becoming the first batter to register 10 ducks in a calendar year in the format. The dismissal came off the sixth ball of the match on September 22, when teenage Japanese pacer Charlie Hara-Hinze removed the left-hander without scoring.
The 26-year-old cricketer surpassed Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan’s previous record of nine ducks in a T20 calendar year, set across 56 matches in 2019. Sharma now holds the record outright, an unexpected milestone for a batter widely regarded as one of the most explosive players in the shortest format.
The dismissal highlighted the inconsistency that has marked Sharma’s 2026 season. Just five days earlier, he had smashed a century off only 30 balls against Afghanistan in Delhi, underlining both his immense potential and fluctuating form. His inability to get off the mark against Japan came as a surprise, particularly given his recent heroics with the bat.
Despite the early setback, India managed to secure a narrow two-run victory in the rain-shortened five-over contest. Axar Patel held his nerve in the final over, successfully defending eight runs to guide India home. All-rounder Washington Sundar emerged as India’s most effective bowler, claiming two crucial wickets during Japan’s chase.
Japan, meanwhile, delivered a spirited performance, with Hara-Hinze impressing by returning figures of 2 for 17 and troubling India’s batting unit throughout the innings. His breakthrough wicket of Sharma proved to be one of the defining moments of the match.
While India celebrated the victory, Sharma’s latest duck has reignited discussions about his consistency. With a busy T20 international schedule ahead, the opener will be keen to put the unwanted record behind him and rediscover the form that has made him one of India’s most dangerous white-ball batters.