A bad phase is something which each and every player goes through. Being consistent throughout the career is too much to ask for, especially in the game of cricket. There are times when even world class players are out of their form and fail to deliver their best.
There are some top-order Indian batsmen who have succeeded in winning our hearts time and again with their powerful strokes, and also by contributing push their team over the line. But, these top order batsmen too face their share of bad phases or days. Walking back to the pavilion with no runs at all is disheartening for the fans for sure but it’s definitely much more disappointing for the players who work day and night to perform their best.
Sachin Tendulkar might hold the record of scoring the most number of runs in the history of the game but here is the list of 5 top-order Indian batsmen with the most number of ducks in their international career.
#5 Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina’s impressive ability to hit between the gaps in the field made him one of the most loveable among the new age Indian cricketers. He is known as the attacking left-handed batsman who generally goes for the big shots and possesses an extraordinary quality of performing brilliantly under pressure.
His tenacity to perform and contribute during the tough times has always made the team as well as the fans proud. His effortless aggressive shots made him one of the best batsmen in the world, in the shorter formats and he became the first Indian batsman to score tons in all three formats in the international cricket.
Despite such awesome performances, he also had to face his share of downs. Till now, in his 303 international matches, Raina has 26 ducks in total.
#4 Yuvraj Singh
When Yuvraj Singh is in form, he hits the ball right outside the boundary. The spectators remain in absolute awe when effortless and brutal shots are hit by him. His magnificent shots will always be remembered by each of us; especially the famous six sixes in an over which is deeply embedded in the minds of each and every cricket fan. The batsman has repeatedly succeeded in winning our hearts with some brilliant strokes, and also by making the team win some crucial matches.
The player whose contribution in the ICC World Cup 2011 helped team India to win the World Cup after 28 long years played 388 international matches till date with 26 ducks. Then again, these are just stats and no player like him can be judged on the mere basis of that.
#3 Sourav Ganguly
The former Indian skipper was considered as the God on the off-side. Ganguly is the second fastest player to reach 10,000 ODI runs and has many other records to his name. The player who is considered as one of the most successful Test captains and one of the greatest One-day batsmen of all time too faced tough times in his career. Ganguly’s captaincy tenure has to be one of the most chronicled ones in the recent times but he does find himself high up the list.
The Bengal batsman holds a very special place in Indian cricket history and his partnership with the Master Blaster was unarguably one of the most dangerous opening partnerships India have had. Yet, he was no exception to poor runs as in his international career of 424 matches, he had 29 ducks.
#2 Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag is known for his extraordinary international career. A man with minimal footwork and maximum intent was well-known for his love of hitting boundaries. The top order Indian batsman managed to pile up Test runs at a faster pace than that of any other player in the history of cricket. It was always hit or miss with Sehwag and that is proved with him being high up the list, most would have expected this as well.
One of the most destructive batsmen also had a number of bad days in his career. Where the whole nation waited for him to shut the opponents out with his master strokes, the right-handed batsmen failed to deliver what he is cable of. In the total of 374 matches, he went back with 31 ducks in his entire international career.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar’s unparalleled ability and dedication while batting made him a man whose name is enough to describe his calibre. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest batsmen India has ever had. A man, a legend, having scored 100 centuries in the international arena is no joke but the Master Blaster also was sent back the most number of times for a duck.
It should not be a surprise seeing Tendulkar top the list, he did play a lot of games and was often facing the best bowlers right at the start of the innings. The Master Blaster who played a total of 664 international matches (including all three formats), have 34 ducks, topping the list of top-order Indian batsmen with the most number of ducks.
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