Zero After Zero: Who Has the Longest Duck Streak in Cricket?

Abhishek Sharma’s current slump at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has opened up a conversation that has haunted cricket across formats and generations. The longest duck streak in cricket history belongs to players who have carried off some memorable innings, making the numbers all the more striking.

Let’s understand more. 

What exactly is a Duck Streak in Cricket?

A duck in cricket means a batter is dismissed without scoring a single run. A duck streak, or most consecutive ducks, refers to a sequence of successive innings in which a batter has been dismissed for zero each time. As per ESPNcricinfo records, a streak of five consecutive ducks in Tests is the maximum ever recorded in international cricket.

Why Has Abhishek Sharma's Run at the T20 World Cup 2026 Become Such a Talking Point?

Abhishek Sharma, currently the World’s No. 1 ranked T20I batter scored three consecutive ducks during the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, matching the worst T20I streak by an Indian batter. According to Zee News, this sequence has intensified scrutiny of aggressive powerplay batting risks and the fine line between attacking intent and early dismissals in high-stakes global tournaments.

What Does Abhishek Sharma’s Duck Streak Mean for India's T20 2026 Setup?

Abhishek Sharma's duck streak at the T20 World Cup 2026 places India's powerplay strategy under watch. Such long duck streaks highlight the risks associated with aggressive top-order roles in knockout conditions. 

Whether the team management retains him or recalibrates the batting order will be a defining question as the tournament progresses. 

How do Indian Cricketers Compare Historically in Consecutive Duck Records?

India's longest duck streak in any format remains Ajit Agarkar's five-Test sequence in 1999-2000. Other notable Indian streaks include four consecutive Test ducks by Pankaj Roy in 1952 and Ramakant Desai in 1959-60, as well as Jasprit Bumrah's four-duck Test run in 2025. 

Sachin Tendulkar and Suryakumar Yadav have both experienced three-duck ODI streaks, proving no era or reputation offers immunity.

Are International Legends From Other Countries Equally Vulnerable to Duck Streaks?

Yes, many international players are on the list too. According to ESPN Cricinfo's analysis, Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu began his Test career with five ducks in his first six innings, scoring just one run in the remaining innings. 

Despite this catastrophic start, he went on to finish with 16 Test hundreds and a career average of 39.02, making his case one of cricket's most dramatic turnarounds.

Who Holds the Record for the Longest Duck Streak in Tests?

Three players share the Test record for the longest duck streak with five consecutive ducks --- Australia’s Bob Holland, India’s Ajit Agarkar, and Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif. 

According to ESPN Cricinfo, in 1999, England’s Geoff Allott endured a 77-ball duck, batting for over 100 minutes, highlighting cricket’s toughest batting struggles.

Which Format Has Produced the Most Duck Streak Stories Globally?

Test cricket, given its longer duration and different rules, has been the format most associated with duck streaks. ESPN Cricinfo data reports that New Zealand's Mervyn Dillon and Sri Lanka's Nuwan Pradeep each recorded two separate streaks of four consecutive Test ducks in their careers. 

In terms of total career ducks, Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for most ducks in international cricket with 59 across formats. 

What Does the Duck Streak Reveal About Batsman's Form?

According to cricket analysts, the longest duck streaks reflect a combination of technical vulnerability, pitch conditions, opposition quality, and psychological pressure. Atapattu's comeback from five early ducks to a decorated Test career is the most cited counter-argument. 

For Indian players, overseas tours and batting transitions have been common triggers, not career-ending signs. 

(With inputs from yMedia)