Abhishek Sharma got an unwanted record to his name after being dismissed for a golden duck in India's rain-shortened T20I against Japan at the Sano International Cricket Ground on Tuesday, September 22.
The Indian opener faced just one delivery before being dismissed for zero. His fifth golden duck in T20 internationals in the 2026 calendar year took him to the top of the Indian batters for most golden ducks in one year.
Abhishek's dismissal came in the first innings after India captain Shreyas Iyer opted to bat. Rain led to five overs for each side and difficult conditions for the match.
The breakthrough came from Japan's left-arm spinner Charlie Hara-Hinze. He bowled the delivery on the leg side, with Abhishek trying to work the ball away. The batter only managed a top edge, which was caught by Shoma Sugaya-Slater.
The dismissal was particularly notable because Abhishek had entered the Japan game after a strong run with the bat earlier in the month.
Fifth Golden Duck Of 2026 For Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek's dismissal against Japan was his fifth golden duck in T20I cricket in 2026.
The record puts him ahead of Rohit Sharma among Indian batters for the most first-ball dismissals in a calendar year in T20Is. Rohit had recorded four golden ducks in a calendar year, a mark Abhishek surpassed with his dismissal in Sano.
Most Golden Duck by Indian Openers in T20I
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) September 22, 2026
5 - Abhishek Sharma*
4 - Rohit Sharma
3 - Sanju Samson
2 - KL Rahul
1 - Murali Vijay
1 - Ajinkya Rahane
1 - Prithvi Shaw
1 - Shikhar Dhawan
1 - Virat Kohli
1 - Shubman Gill pic.twitter.com/FQSHcmdjPO
The latest duck came just days after one of the most explosive innings of Abhishek's international career.
He hit 108 from 34 deliveries against Afghanistan in Delhi on September 17. He reached his century from only 30 balls and made the fastest T20I hundred by a batter from a Full Member nation. His innings had nine fours and 11 sixes.
Abhishek has been in a unique position in T20 where the contrast is at least as striking as it is in cricket. The left-hander is also known for a strong approach at the top of the order which can lead to rapid runs but also early dismissals.
Abhishek's Golden Ducks In T20I Cricket
The Japan dismissal was not his first golden duck of the year.
Abhishek had already been dismissed without scoring from the first ball against Ireland in June. He also had golden ducks during India's T20I matches against other opponents in the year, taking his 2026 total to five before the Japan match.
His record is especially impressive for his all-around record in this format.
Abhishek scored 82 off 32 balls and 39 off 19 against Afghanistan in September before making 108 off 34 in the third match of that series. His 108 also had an unusually high percentage of runs in boundaries - 102 of his 108 runs were on fours and sixes.
His ability to score quickly has made him a key part of India's T20I batting plans. But in the Japan match, he had a rare failure at the very beginning of his innings.
India Struggle In Rain-Shortened Match
The India-Japan match was affected by the weather, with the contest eventually reduced to five overs per side.
India’s top order struggled against Japan’s spin attack. Following Abhishek’s early dismissal, Sanju Samson also failed to make any significant contribution and scored 10 before being dismissed by Ibrahim Takahashi.
Ishan Kishan was then removed for three, and India was left in a tough situation in the shorter match. Shreyas Iyer provided some stability with 16 runs from 12 deliveries.
India finished with 32 runs for four wickets from five overs.
Japan's bowlers took advantage of the moisture under the surface, with Hara-Hinze taking two wickets and Takahashi taking one. The conditions made stroke-making difficult for India's batters despite the presence of several established T20 players.
Abhishek's Record Comes During A Strong Run Of Form
While the golden duck against Japan was an unwanted record, it occurred at a time when Abhishek had also produced several notable performances.
His 108 against Afghanistan was his third T20I century and his 10th hundred in all T20 cricket. He also equalled Virat Kohli's tally of 10 T20 hundreds among Indian batters at that stage.
The Afghanistan innings also saw him reach his hundred at the earliest point in a men's T20I innings in terms of overs. He arrived in the ninth over. His 30-ball century was among the fastest century-makers in international T20 cricket.
The Japan dismissal is only one part of Abhishek's 2026 T20I campaign so far. His record-breaking batting has been accompanied by some early failures (five golden ducks, for instance) that have turned out to be not only part of his statistical record but also an unwanted one.
The latest dismissal also came in a match India eventually won by two runs after defending a total of 32. Japan ended up at 30 for three in their five overs, making the match one of India's narrowest victories in the format.
While Abhishek will still have a fond memory of Japan, the game would not have been as memorable because he would rather not have played. His fifth golden duck of the year has put him on top of the list of Indian batters for most T20I golden ducks in a calendar year.
