7 times both openers were dismissed for a duck in the IPL

The very nature of the T20 game is such that batsmen have to start swinging from the very outset and it applies even more to opening batsmen since they bat during the Powerplays. Since the batsmen have to go hammer and tongs from the first ball, there is every possibility of them being dismissed cheaply.

However, in extreme circumstance, both batsmen can be dismissed for ducks, through a combination of bad shot selection and excellent bowling from the fielding team. It is rare but it has happened and in the IPL, the world’s pre-eminent T20 tournament, it has happened 7 times so far. Let’s take a look at who those openers were.

#7 Parthiv Patel and Stephen Fleming for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals, 2008

During the first edition of the IPL, the Rajasthan Royals emerged as the best team in the league and a large part of their bowling excellence was down to the outstanding efforts of Pakistani paceman Sohail Tanvir.

In the game against the Chennai Super Kings at Jaipur back in 2008, the left-arm fast bowler broke the back of the CSK top order by trapping both openers-Parthiv Patel and Stephen Fleming- leg before for nought in the first over. The CSK never recovered and crashed to 109 all out, as Tanvir ended up with dream figure of 6 for 14. The Royals won by 8 wickets with almost 6 overs to spare.

#6 Graeme Smith and Swapnil Asnodkar for Rajasthan Royals against Deccan Chargers, 2009

In 2009, the Rajasthan Royals were at the receiving end of a top-order collapse at Port Elizabeth in the game against the Deccan Chargers. Chasing 142 for victory, the Royals got off to the worst possible start. Off the 2nd delivery of the innings from fast bowler Fidel Edwards, Graeme Smith played an uppercut but could not get the distance and it went to the third man fielder.

Two balls later, his opening partner Swapnil Asnodkar responded late to a call for a single and was run out to have the Royals reeling at 1 for 2. However, they recovered and with some contributions from the lower order, they eventually won the game by 3 wickets.

#5 Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs for Deccan Chargers against Chennai Super Kings, 2009

It was a dream opening combination for any cricket fan when Australian great Adam Gilchrist and South African star Herschelle Gibbs came together for the Deccan Chargers. However, in their game against the Chennai Super Kings, the two openers were both dismissed for ducks in their chase of 179 at East London in 2009.

Gilchrist was trapped in front by Albie Morkel off the first ball of the Deccan Chargers innings and in the second ball of the second over, Sudeep Tyagi castle Gibbs as he tried to play a ball to the leg-side. Both openers were gone for ducks and the Chargers innings folded for 100 in the 15th over.

#4 Luke Ronchi and Jean-Paul Duminy for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Daredevils, 2009

The 2009 edition of the IPL proved to be tough for batsmen due to the very nature of the South African wickets and it is no wonder that majority of the opener double ducks in the IPL happened during that edition. In the game between the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Daredevils at East London, the former were rocked early on as both openers departed for ducks. Disaster struck in the 2nd ball of the match when Luke Ronchi tried to steal a quick single and was undone by a direct hit from David Warner.

However, that was not all. In the last delivery of the same Dirk Nannes over, fellow opener Jean-Paul Duminy was caught behind off a ball that moved slightly after pitching. The Mumbai Indians could only muster 116 in 20 overs and the Daredevils won the game by 7 wickets.

#3 Gautam Gambhir and David Warner for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers, 2009

The 1st semi-final of the second edition of the IPL got off to the worst possible start for the Delhi Daredevils as their formidable opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and David Warner were sent back to the pavilion without scoring. The Deccan Chargers opened the bowling with Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris and off the fifth ball, he had Gambhir spooning a catch to the third man.

The batsmen crossed and off the last ball of the over, David Warner cut him straight to backward point and Herschelle Gibbs completed a fine catch. The Daredevils recovered to make 153 but an Adam Gilchrist blitz (85 off 35, 10 fours, 5 sixes) meant that the Chargers won the game with ease.

#2 Brendon McCullum and VVS Laxman for Kochi Tuskers Kerala against Pune Warriors, 2011

The two newly minted franchises played out a low scoring game but in the first innings, the Kochi openers Brendon McCullum and VVS Laxman both departed for ducks, which was perhaps one of the reasons for the low 1st innings score. Brendon McCullum was caught behind off the first ball of the match from Alfonso Thomas as he prodded indecisively.

His opening partner did not get the strike for long and it was in the 3rd over that VVS Laxman was dismissed after he played one on to his stumps off Wayne Parnell. He was trying to take a single by running the ball down to the third man. The Kochi innings folded for 148 and the Pune Warriors chased the target down comfortably

#1 Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir for Kolkata Knight Riders against Delhi Daredevils, 2014

The Kolkata Knight Riders, who ended up winning the IPL in 2014, had a pretty horrific start to their game against the Delhi Daredevils in Dubai. Jacques Kalli and Gautam Gambhir, two of the most accomplished batsmen in the IPL, both departed for ducks in the game. Kallis received an absolute beauty from Mohammed Shami off the 1st ball of the match. The ball reared up from a good length and Kallis could only offer a catch to Ross Taylor at slip.

The Daredevils seemed to have worked out that Gambhir had a tendency of playing in the air when he is presented with balls on his legs and hence, they stationed a short fine leg for Nathan Coulter-Nile. The ball on leg stump was duly played in the air to the fielder as Gambhir departed for a duck as well. The KKR ended up making 166 and in a game that turned out to be a tight one, the Daredevils eventually prevailed thanks to a fine innings from JP Duminy.