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If you follow the Indian Premier League closely, you already know it is one of the most watched T20 cricket tournaments in the world. Big sixes, fast bowling, and match winning performances are what make IPL so special. But not every moment in the IPL is filled with glory. Sometimes even the best batsmen walk back to the pavilion without scoring a single run. That moment is called a duck in cricket.

In this article we are going to talk about the most ducks in IPL history. We will look at which players have scored zero the most number of times, why it happens, and what the numbers tell us about the game. From Glenn Maxwell to Rohit Sharma to Dinesh Karthik, the list has some surprising names that will surely shock you.

What Is a Duck in Cricket and Why Does It Matter in IPL?

A duck in cricket means a batsman got out without scoring any runs at all. The word duck comes from the shape of the number zero which looks like a duck egg. If a batsman gets out on the very first ball they face, that is called a golden duck. It is considered the worst way to get dismissed in any form of cricket.

In IPL, getting a duck is a big deal because every ball counts. With only 20 overs per team, losing a wicket for zero runs puts the team in a tough spot right away. This is especially painful when a top order batsman walks back for nothing. That is why the record of most ducks in IPL is closely watched by fans and analysts.

There are also different types of ducks. A silver duck means you got out on the second ball for zero. A bronze duck means out on the third ball for no runs. The golden duck remains the most feared because it wastes an entire batting spot without adding anything to the total.

Complete List of Most Ducks in IPL History 2008 to 2025:

Here is the full table of players with the most ducks in IPL across all seasons. This includes updated data from IPL 2025 which saw Glenn Maxwell claim the top spot:

Rank	Player	Country	Ducks	IPL Teams	Active Period
1	Glenn Maxwell	Australia	19	MI, DC, PBKS, RCB	2012 onwards
2	Rohit Sharma	India	18	MI	2008 onwards
3	Dinesh Karthik	India	18	DD, KKR, MI, GL, KXIP, RCB	2008 2024
4	Sunil Narine	West Indies	16	KKR	2012 onwards
5	Piyush Chawla	India	16	KXIP, KKR, CSK, MI	2008 onwards
6	Rashid Khan	Afghanistan	16	SRH, GT	2017 onwards
7	Mandeep Singh	India	15	KXIP, RCB, SRH	2010 onwards
8	Manish Pandey	India	14	RCB, KKR, SRH, KXIP, LSG	2008 onwards
9	Ambati Rayudu	India	14	MI, CSK	2008 2023
10	Harbhajan Singh	India	13	MI, CSK, KKR	2008 2021
11	Virat Kohli	India	10	RCB	2008 onwards
12	MS Dhoni	India	6	CSK, RPS	2008 onwards

As you can see from the table above, Glenn Maxwell leads the chart with 19 ducks in IPL history. Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik are both at 18. Even players like Virat Kohli with 10 ducks and MS Dhoni with 6 ducks appear on the list, which shows that no batsman is immune from getting dismissed for zero.

1. Glenn Maxwell: The Player With the Most Ducks in IPL

Glenn Maxwell is an Australian all rounder who plays with tremendous power and aggression. He has played for teams including Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. His role is always to come in and score quickly, which means he often takes risks from the very first ball.

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This attacking approach is what makes Maxwell exciting to watch but also leads to his high number of ducks. In IPL 2025, he pushed his duck tally to 19, the highest ever in IPL history. Despite this, Maxwell has scored 2771 runs in the IPL with an average of 24.43 and 18 half centuries. So while he leads the list of most ducks in IPL, his match winning performances are equally impressive.

Category	Glenn Maxwell IPL Stats
Total IPL Runs	2771
Innings Played	135+
Total Ducks	19 (Most in IPL)
Half Centuries	18
Batting Average	24.43
Strike Rate	155+

2. Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik: Joint Second in IPL Ducks List

Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest IPL captains of all time and has led Mumbai Indians to five titles. Yet even he has been dismissed for zero 18 times in his long IPL career. Rohit has played 252 innings and scored more than 6600 runs including 2 centuries and 43 half centuries. His ducks often come when he tries to attack from the start as an opener.

Dinesh Karthik on the other hand is a wicketkeeper batsman who played his last IPL season in 2024. He is famous for being a finisher, meaning he comes in during the last few overs and tries to hit as many boundaries as possible. This high risk batting style explains his 18 ducks in IPL across 234 innings. Despite the ducks, Karthik scored 4842 runs in IPL with a strike rate of 135.36.

Player	Ducks	Innings	IPL Runs	Role
Rohit Sharma	18	252	6600+	Opener
Dinesh Karthik	18	234	4842	Finisher / WK

3. Sunil Narine: 16 Ducks

Sunil Narine is a West Indian mystery spinner who has been one of the most valuable players in Kolkata Knight Riders history. Originally picked purely for his bowling, Narine transformed into an aggressive opening batsman over the years and became a genuine two way threat. However, his batting is still very high risk in nature and he has collected 16 ducks across 110 IPL innings. When Narine comes out to bat he goes hard right away, making him exciting to watch but also prone to quick dismissals for zero. His bowling brilliance ensures he always remains a crucial team asset despite the duck count.

Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	16
Innings	110
Primary Role	Mystery Spinner
Batting Style	Aggressive Opener
Team	KKR
IPL Debut	2012

4. Piyush Chawla: 16 Ducks

Piyush Chawla is a leg spin bowler from India who has played in the IPL since its very first season in 2008. He has represented Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians over his long career. As a lower order batsman, Chawla is never expected to build an innings. He comes in late, swings hard, and hopes for the best. This approach has resulted in 16 ducks across 92 innings. Chawla is selected for his wicket taking ability with the ball, and his batting has always been a bonus. The ducks reflect his role in the team rather than any real batting weakness.

Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	16
Innings	92
Primary Role	Leg Spin Bowler
Teams	KXIP, KKR, CSK, MI
Ducks Per 10 Innings	1.74
IPL Debut	2008

5. Rashid Khan: 16 Ducks

Rashid Khan is widely considered one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. The Afghan leg spinner plays for Gujarat Titans in the IPL and was previously with Sunrisers Hyderabad. When it comes to batting, Rashid bats down the order and has a simple job of hitting as hard as possible. He plays very few innings compared to other players on this list but still has 16 ducks in just 60 innings. This gives him one of the highest ducks per innings ratios on the list at around 2.50 per 10 innings. His bowling exploits far overshadow any batting shortcomings however.

Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	16
Innings	60
Ducks Per 10 Innings	2.50 (Highest)
Primary Role	Leg Spin Bowler
Teams	SRH, GT
IPL Debut	2017

6. Mandeep Singh: 15 Ducks

Mandeep Singh is an Indian batsman who has played for Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. He was once seen as a very talented young batsman with great potential but struggled to live up to expectations consistently throughout his career. With 15 ducks in just 98 innings, Mandeep has one of the more concerning duck ratios among top order batsmen on this list at around 1.53 per 10 innings. Unlike bowlers on the list, Mandeep is a specialist batsman which makes his duck record harder to justify. Inconsistency and pressure situations have often led to his early departures.

Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	15
Innings	98
Ducks Per 10 Innings	1.53
Role	Top Order Batsman
Teams	KXIP, RCB, SRH
IPL Debut	2010

7. Manish Pandey: 14 Ducks

Manish Pandey is a Karnataka based Indian middle order batsman who made history by becoming the first Indian to score a century in the IPL. He played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants. Pandey is known for his clean stroke play and has been a reliable middle order contributor across many teams. However, his hit or miss approach in T20 cricket has resulted in 14 ducks across 159 innings. He was part of the KKR team that won the IPL title and also won Player of the Match in an IPL final, showing his true quality.

Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	14
Innings	159
Notable Feat	First Indian IPL Century
Role	Middle Order Batsman
Teams	RCB, KKR, SRH, KXIP, LSG
IPL Debut	2008

8. Ambati Rayudu: 14 Ducks

Ambati Rayudu is a former Indian batsman who played in the IPL from 2008 until his retirement in 2023. He represented Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings and was a key part of title winning teams at both franchises. Rayudu was famous for his ability to play big innings in the middle order and was a trusted finisher for CSK under MS Dhoni. His 14 ducks across 187 innings show that even well rounded batsmen have off days in the high pressure IPL environment. Rayudu retired from the IPL having scored well over 2000 runs and with multiple title medals to his name.

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Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	14
Innings	187
Role	Middle Order Batsman
Teams	MI, CSK
IPL Career	2008 to 2023
IPL Titles	Multiple

9. Harbhajan Singh: 13 Ducks

Harbhajan Singh is a legendary Indian off spin bowler who was one of the most feared spinners of his generation. He played for Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL during a career that stretched from 2008 to 2021. As expected from a bowler, Harbhajan was never in the team for his batting. He bats low in the order and scored 13 ducks across his IPL career. His focus was always on picking wickets and controlling the game with his spin. These 13 ducks simply reflect the reality that Harbhajan was asked to bat in very pressure situations with minimal time at the crease.

Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	13
Primary Role	Off Spin Bowler
Teams	MI, CSK, KKR
IPL Career	2008 to 2021
Known For	Wicket taking spin
Batting Position	Lower Order

10. Virat Kohli: 10 Ducks

Virat Kohli is the greatest run scorer in IPL history and has played every single season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru since 2008. He has more than 8000 IPL runs and holds the record for most centuries in IPL as well. With 244 innings played, having only 10 ducks is actually a very strong record. Kohli is known for his discipline at the crease and his ability to build innings under pressure. His rare ducks tend to come against world class deliveries rather than poor shot selection. The fact that Kohli appears on this list at all is a reminder that even the best in the world face the duck.

Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	10
IPL Runs	8000+
Innings	244+
IPL Centuries	Most in IPL History
Team	RCB
Duck Rate	Very Low (0.41 per 10)

11. MS Dhoni: 6 Ducks

MS Dhoni is the most celebrated captain in IPL history and has led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles. He has played in the IPL since 2008 and is still going strong. What makes Dhoni special is not just his batting but his extraordinary ability to stay calm under pressure and read the game better than anyone else. With only 6 ducks in 229 innings, Dhoni has the lowest duck count on this entire list. This number reflects his disciplined shot selection and unmatched composure. Even when he comes in with just a few balls left, Dhoni rarely wastes his opportunity by getting dismissed for zero.

Stat	Value
Total IPL Ducks	6 (Lowest on list)
Innings	229
IPL Titles as Captain	5
Teams	CSK, RPS
IPL Debut	2008
Duck Rate	0.26 per 10 innings

Why Do Top Batsmen Get So Many Ducks in IPL?

You might wonder how a player like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli can get so many ducks when they are world class batsmen. The answer is simple. The IPL format encourages attacking cricket from ball one. There is no time to play yourself slowly the way you would in Test cricket or even a 50 over game.

Batsmen feel the pressure to score from the first delivery itself. This leads to reckless shots, miscalculations, and sometimes getting beaten by a very good delivery. Top order players face the most ducks because they face the freshest ball with the most movement. Finishers like Karthik get ducks because they are told to hit every ball out of the ground which sometimes backfires completely.

Apart from the playing style, poor form and pitch conditions also play a big role. A batsman going through a rough patch tends to play more cautiously, which sometimes means they poke at a delivery they should have left alone and get out for zero. The pressure of IPL makes even small mistakes very costly.

Notable Names on the Most Ducks in IPL List: Spinners and Bowlers

One of the most interesting things about the most ducks in the IPL list is that it includes several specialist bowlers. Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine both have 16 ducks each. This makes complete sense because these players are selected for their bowling skills, not their batting. When they come in to bat they are expected to swing hard and hope for the best.

Sunil Narine is a mystery spinner from the West Indies who has become an aggressive opener in recent years for KKR. But even with his batting upgrades, he still has 16 ducks across 110 innings. Piyush Chawla bats low in the order and has 16 ducks across 92 innings for teams like Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

Player	Ducks	Innings	Primary Role
Sunil Narine	16	110	Spinner / Opener
Piyush Chawla	16	92	Leg Spin Bowler
Rashid Khan	15	60	Leg Spin Bowler
Harbhajan Singh	13	100+	Off Spin Bowler

Rashid Khan is an Afghan leg spinner who bats at number 9 or 10 in most IPL games. His 15 ducks come from his aggressive lower order batting style where he tries to hit big shots right away. Similarly Harbhajan Singh accumulated 13 ducks during his long IPL career while playing primarily as a bowler for teams including Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

Golden Ducks in IPL: Getting Out on the Very First Ball

A golden duck is considered the most painful way a batsman can get dismissed. It means you faced exactly one ball and got out without scoring. In IPL history, golden ducks have become a separate record that fans and commentators keep track of closely.

Rohit Sharma is believed to have five golden ducks out of his total 18 ducks in IPL. A golden duck from the captain of a team like Mumbai Indians can completely derail the match plan because the team loses its most important batsman without any return. Players who bat at the top of the order are more prone to golden ducks because they face bowlers who are fresh, pumped up, and bowling at top pace.

Some memorable golden ducks in IPL history have come against world class bowlers. Trent Boult dismissed Rohit Sharma for a golden duck in a high stakes match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, which added to the big man’s tally of IPL ducks. These moments are part of what makes IPL cricket so dramatic and unpredictable.

Type of Duck	Meaning	Ball Faced
Golden Duck	Out without scoring on first delivery	1
Silver Duck	Out without scoring on second delivery	2
Bronze Duck	Out without scoring on third delivery	3
Regular Duck	Out without scoring on any delivery	1 or more

Lesser Known Facts and Records Around IPL Ducks:

MS Dhoni, one of the most celebrated IPL players of all time, has only 6 ducks in 229 innings. That is a remarkably low number given how long he has played. Dhoni is famous for his calm temperament and smart cricket brain which helps him avoid reckless shots even under pressure. He rarely plays a shot he is not fully committed to, which keeps his duck count very low.

Virat Kohli who is the all time leading run scorer in IPL history has 10 ducks in 244 innings. Given the sheer number of innings he has played, 10 ducks is quite reasonable. Kohli is known for his discipline at the crease and rarely gives his wicket away cheaply. When he does get a duck it tends to be against a very good delivery rather than a rash shot.

Mandeep Singh has 15 ducks across 98 innings, which gives him one of the highest ducks per innings ratios on the list. Manish Pandey has 14 ducks in 159 innings and Ambati Rayudu also has 14 in 187 innings. Both Pandey and Rayudu played for title winning teams but their high risk middle order batting style made them vulnerable to the duck.

Player	Ducks	Innings	Ducks Per 10 Innings
Glenn Maxwell	19	135+	1.40
Mandeep Singh	15	98	1.53
Piyush Chawla	16	92	1.74
Rashid Khan	15	60	2.50
MS Dhoni	6	229	0.26
Virat Kohli	10	244	0.41

The ducks per innings ratio tells you a lot. Rashid Khan has a high ratio because he bats very few innings and when he does bat he plays very aggressively. MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have the lowest ratios on the list, which matches their reputations as disciplined and intelligent batsmen.

Conclusion:

The record of most ducks in IPL is a fascinating side of the game that often gets overlooked amid all the big hitting and record breaking performances. Glenn Maxwell currently holds the unwanted record with 19 ducks, followed closely by Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik both at 18. Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla both sit at 16.

What the list shows us is that ducks are a natural part of aggressive T20 cricket. The more you attack from ball one, the more likely you are to get out for zero occasionally. The best batsmen in IPL history, including Rohit, Kohli, and Karthik, all appear on this list because they are genuinely attacking players who take risks.

If you are a cricket fan who loves stats, the most ducks in IPL list gives you a very different view of your favourite players. It reminds you that even legends have bad days, and that failure is part of every great sporting journey. What matters is how many times you bounce back and create match winning moments despite those setbacks.

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