Getting dismissed for zero is one of the toughest moments for any batter in the IPL. It’s called a duck when a player walks back without scoring a single run. 

Glenn Maxwell leads the list for the most ducks in IPL history with 19 to his name, followed by Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik, who have 18 each. Even top players have faced this tough record in their long IPL journeys.

This article sees the players with the most ducks, their numbers across seasons, and which team has collectively recorded the highest tally in IPL history.

Top 10 Players with the Most Ducks in IPL History

The list below includes the top 10 players with the most ducks in IPL history, covering both active and retired cricketers up to the 2025 season.

Rank	Player	Teams Played For	Span	Ducks
1	Glenn Maxwell	KXIP, MI, RCB, DC,	2013–2025	19
2	Dinesh Karthik	DD, GL, KXIP, KKR, MI, RCB	2010–2024	18
3	Rohit Sharma	Deccan Chargers, MI	2008–2025	18
4	Sunil Narine	KKR	2012–2025	17
5	Piyush Chawla	KXIP, KKR, MI	2008–2024	16
6	Rashid Khan	GT, SRH	2017–2025	16
7	Mandeep Singh	DC, KXIP, KKR, RCB, PBKS	2010–2023	15
8	Manish Pandey	DC, KKR, MI, Pune Warriors, RCB, SRH	2008–2025	14
9	Ambati Rayudu	CSK, MI	2010–2023	14
10	Harbhajan Singh	MI, CSK, KKR	2008–2021	13

Player-wise Breakdown – IPL Cricketers with the Most Ducks

1. Glenn Maxwell (19 ducks)

Glenn Maxwell has built his IPL career around fearless hitting. He’s played for teams like KXIP, MI, RCB, and DC, always walking in with the intent to attack from ball one.

That same approach has brought him both quick runs and early dismissals. In IPL 2025, Maxwell went past Rohit Sharma to hold the record for the most ducks in IPL history.

1. Dinesh Karthik (18 ducks)

Dinesh Karthik has played for six IPL teams across 14 seasons. He has taken up different roles, sometimes opening and other times finishing, depending on what the team needed.

That constant change has come with its share of risks, which explains his 18 ducks in the league. Even then, his experience and calm approach have kept him valuable for many teams.

In 2024, Karthik became the third player, after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, to feature in 250 IPL matches.

1. Rohit Sharma (18 ducks) 

Rohit Sharma has often taken the aggressive approach as an opener for the Mumbai Indians. His intent to go after the bowlers early has also made him one of the players with the most ducks in IPL history.

Across seasons, he has fallen for zero 18 times, sharing the third spot on the list. For someone with his experience, it shows how fine the margins can be when taking risks in the powerplay.

1. Sunil Narine (17 ducks)

Sunil Narine has opened the innings for KKR in many seasons. His attacking style often brings quick starts but also plenty of early outs.

That approach has led to 17 ducks over the years. While his batting is hit or miss, his bowling has always been the main reason he stays in the team.

1. Piyush Chawla (16 ducks)

Piyush Chawla’s main job in the IPL has always been with the ball. He usually bats low in the order, often coming at number 8. That’s where most of his 16 ducks have come from.

He has played for three teams in the league and even had a brief season with Chennai Super Kings in 2020. 

1. Rashid Khan (16 ducks) 

Rashid Khan’s main strength has always been his bowling, but he often steps in late in the innings to swing the bat. 

His attacking approach from the first ball has led to a few quick boundaries and quite a few early dismissals.

Across his years with SRH and GT, he has picked up 16 ducks. Still, his role has never been about runs; it’s the wickets that keep him in demand.

1. Mandeep Singh (15 ducks)

Mandeep Singh has played for several IPL teams but never quite settled into one role. His 15 ducks tell the story of a player who kept searching for form and consistency.

He showed promise in his early years, but often fell trying to play attacking shots under pressure. Those quick dismissals became a pattern that slowed his IPL journey.

1. Manish Pandey (14 ducks)

Manish Pandey was the first Indian to score a century in the IPL and has played more than 170 matches. Over the years, he’s been dismissed for zero 14 times.

He likes to take a few balls to settle before attacking, but that approach doesn’t always work in T20 cricket. His duck record shows how tricky it can be for middle-order batters to balance caution and aggression.

1. Ambati Rayudu (14 ducks)

Ambati Rayudu played important roles in title wins for both the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. He’s known for his composed batting, though there have been times when things didn’t go his way.

Across seasons, he has been dismissed for zero 14 times, often against quality bowling or in pressure moments. Still, those early outs don’t take away from the impact he’s had in the IPL.

1. Harbhajan Singh (13 ducks)

Harbhajan Singh mostly played for the Mumbai Indians and was always valued for his bowling. He rarely got time to bat, usually coming in near the end at number nine or ten.

Across seasons, he has 13 ducks to his name, which isn’t surprising given his role. His focus was always on taking wickets, not scoring runs.

IPL Ducks Over the Years – Patterns and Key Insights

The number of ducks in the IPL has gone up as the game has become more aggressive.

 In the early years, batters took a few balls to settle, but from around 2020, most teams started attacking from the very first delivery. That change brought faster scoring and, naturally, more early dismissals.

Bowling has also improved. With better pace, spin, and variations, bowlers have learned how to use the new ball smartly and keep batters guessing. Conditions like dew and long tournaments add to the challenge.

Put together, all this has made ducks more common in recent seasons. Teams know the risk, but in T20 cricket, they’d rather lose a wicket going for runs than play it safe.

Conclusion: Glenn Maxwell Has The Most Ducks In IPL 

The record for most ducks in the IPL shows how unpredictable T20 cricket really is. Even big names like Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma have had their share of early dismissals.

In today’s game, batters play with more intent and take risks from the start. That approach brings quick runs but also more chances of getting out for zero.

As the IPL moves forward, this list will keep changing. Every season brings new players, new records, and a few more ducks along the way.

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