IND vs NZ: Abhishek Sharma joins Rohit Sharma & KL Rahul in THIS unwanted list after his golden duck in Vizag
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Abhishek Sharma scored his second golden duck of the IND vs NZ series.
New Zealand, desperate to avoid a whitewash in the five-match T20I series against India, produced a fighting batting display in the first innings of the 4th T20I at Visakhapatnam on January 28, 2026. After India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl, the Kiwis posted a competitive 215/7 in 20 overs on a batting-friendly ACA-VDCA pitch.
Tim Seifert and Devon Conway set the tone with a blistering 100-run opening stand. Seifert smashed 62 off 36 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes), racing to a 25-ball fifty, while Conway contributed a brisk 44 off 23. Their aggressive powerplay yielded 71/0, New Zealand’s highest against India in this series.
Despite losing quick wickets in the middle overs, including those of Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, and Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell’s explosive 39 off 18 balls, including late boundaries and sixes off Jasprit Bumrah, helped the visitors cross 200.
Abhishek Sharma joins Rohit Sharma & KL Rahul in THIS unwanted list after his golden duck in Vizag
Chasing 215, India required a good start in order to successfully complete their highest ever run-chase in the 20-over format. However, India suffered an early blow when the swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck off the very first ball.
Following Sanju Samson’s golden duck in the previous match at Guwahati, Abhishek took the strike for the first time in this series, facing Matt Henry. The left-hander charged down the track attempting to loft over the off-side boundary but miscued, mistiming one to Devon Conway at backward point, who took a terrific catch.
With his duck, he became only the fifth Indian batter to be dismissed for a golden duck in T20Is. Abhishek’s golden duck was reminiscent of KL Rahul’s dismissal against Zimbabwe, back in 2016. After scoring a century on ODI debut, Rahul’s T20 career didn’t start off well as he got bowled by Tiripano on the very first ball.
Similarly, Rohit Sharma was dismissed by West Indies’ left-arm pacer Obed McCoy for a golden duck, back in 2022, during India’s tour to WI.
Indian batters to be dismissed for a golden duck in T20Is:
- KL Rahul vs Zimbabwe, 2016
- Prithvi Shaw vs Sri Lanka, 2021
- Rohit Sharma vs West Indies, 2022
- Sanju Samson vs New Zealand, 2026
- Abhishek Sharma vs New Zealand, 2026
What score did New Zealand make in the 4th T20I at Visakhapatnam?
New Zealand scored 215/7 in 20 overs on a batting-friendly ACA-VDCA pitch.
How was Abhishek Sharma dismissed?
Abhishek Sharma was out for a golden duck, mistiming a Matt Henry delivery to Devon Conway while attempting an aggressive lofted shot.
Which Indian batters have had notable golden ducks early in their T20I careers?
KL Rahul in 2016 against Zimbabwe and Rohit Sharma in 2022 against West Indies were also dismissed for golden ducks early in their T20I journeys.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.