Abhishek Sharma’s much-awaited debut for India in the 1st T20I against Zimbabwe didn’t go as planned. The left-hander, who had set the IPL 2024 season ablaze with his power-hitting for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), was dismissed for a duck. While a dismissal on debut can be disheartening, for Abhishek, it might just be a case of following in the footsteps of greatness.
Abhishek Sharma with 4-ball duck vs ZIM
Abhishek’s blistering IPL season, with a staggering 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.22, had him earmarked for a top-order spot. He fell prey to a short ball from off-spinner Brian Bennett, failing to connect cleanly for what could have been his first international run.
However, here’s the silver lining: even the legendary MS Dhoni, known for his calmness under pressure, had a duck on his international debut and his T20I debut for India. In fact, Sharma joins an elite club of Indian batsmen dismissed for a duck in their T20I debut, alongside Dhoni, KL Rahul, and Prithvi Shaw.
Indian players with duck on T20I debut
| Player | vs (Year) |
|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | vs SA (2006) |
| KL Rahul | vs ZIM (2016) |
| Prithvi Shaw | vs SL (2021) |
| Abhishek Sharma | vs ZIM (2024) |
This stat, while seemingly like a misfortune, might just be a sign of things to come. Dhoni, of course, a legend, dominated the international scene for decades. While Rahul and Shaw are exciting young talents, and there are hardly any players who look in better touch when in full flow.
Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal shouldn’t overshadow his immense talent. His IPL performance is a testament to his ability to score big runs. Let’s not forget the nerves that come with an international debut, especially when you’ve been in such red-hot form.
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