Rohit Sharma holds the unwanted record for the most ducks as captain in IPL history, having been dismissed for zero 11 times while leading Mumbai Indians. He moved ahead of Gautam Gambhir, who recorded 10 ducks as an IPL captain, during the 2023 season.
Former Australian cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne share third place with seven ducks each, while Virat Kohli occupies fifth position with six.
Despite this unwanted record, Rohit remains one of the most successful captains in IPL history. He guided Mumbai Indians to five championship titles and scored 7,329 runs in the tournament by the end of IPL 2026.
Here is a detailed look at the players with the most ducks as captain in IPL, their records and the circumstances behind this unusual statistic.
Most Ducks as Captain in IPL
Rohit Sharma leads the list of players with the most ducks as captain in IPL, with 11 dismissals for zero. He reached this milestone during the 2023 season when Mumbai Indians faced Chennai Super Kings.
Before that match, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir were level with 10 ducks each as IPL captains. However, Rohit’s dismissal against CSK took his tally to 11, making him the outright record holder.
Top 5 Players With the Most Ducks as Captain in IPL
| Rank | Player | IPL Teams Captained | Ducks |
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | 11 |
| 2 | Gautam Gambhir | Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders | 10 |
| 3 | Adam Gilchrist | Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab | 7 |
| 3 | Shane Warne | Rajasthan Royals | 7 |
| 5 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 6 |
Source: The Indian Express, 7 May 2023, reporting Rohit Sharma’s captaincy duck record and the 2023 match in which he reached 11 dismissals.
These figures refer to dismissals for zero in matches in which the players represented their teams as captain.
1. Rohit Sharma – 11 Ducks
Rohit Sharma tops the list of most ducks as captain in IPL, with 11 dismissals without scoring.
He captained Mumbai Indians from 2013 to 2023 and established himself as one of the most successful leaders in the tournament. Under his captaincy, MI won five IPL titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
However, his batting record as captain also includes an unwanted milestone.
On 6 May 2023, Rohit was dismissed for a three-ball duck against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Deepak Chahar bowled the delivery, and Ravindra Jadeja completed the catch.
Rohit had moved himself down to No. 3 for that match, while Ishan Kishan and Cameron Green opened the innings. His dismissal was also his second consecutive duck, following another zero against Punjab Kings in Mohali.
This dismissal took Rohit’s captaincy ducks tally to 11, moving him ahead of Gautam Gambhir, who had recorded 10. It also took his overall IPL ducks tally to 16, the highest in the tournament at that time. He passed Sunil Narine, Dinesh Karthik and Mandeep Singh, who had recorded 15 ducks each.
Since then, Glenn Maxwell has moved ahead in the overall career-ducks list. By the end of IPL 2025, Maxwell had recorded 19 ducks, while Rohit Sharma had 18. Maxwell therefore held the outright record.
Rohit’s overall IPL batting achievements tell a different story. By the end of IPL 2026, he had accumulated 7,329 runs in the competition.
His 11 captaincy ducks represent only a small part of a career that includes five IPL championships as Mumbai Indians captain and thousands of runs with the bat.
2. Gautam Gambhir – 10 Ducks
Gautam Gambhir occupies second place with 10 ducks as an IPL captain.
During his IPL career, Gambhir captained two franchises: Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders.
His most successful leadership period came with KKR. He guided the franchise to two IPL championships in 2012 and 2014, helping establish Kolkata as one of the competition’s strongest teams.
Gambhir was known for his competitive attitude, aggressive batting and leadership qualities. However, his batting record also included several early dismissals without scoring.
He held the joint record with Rohit Sharma before the latter moved ahead during the 2023 IPL season.
Although Gambhir is no longer an active IPL player, his 10 captaincy ducks keep him second on this unwanted list.
3. Adam Gilchrist – 7 Ducks
Adam Gilchrist recorded seven ducks while captaining IPL teams, placing him joint third on the list.
The Australian wicketkeeper-batter represented Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab during his IPL career.
Gilchrist enjoyed considerable success with Deccan Chargers, leading the franchise to its maiden IPL championship in 2009.
Known for his explosive opening batting, Gilchrist regularly attacked opposition bowlers from the beginning of an innings. His aggressive approach made him a dangerous batter, although it also exposed him to early dismissals.
His seven ducks as captain place him alongside Shane Warne in third position.
4. Shane Warne – 7 Ducks
Shane Warne also recorded seven ducks as an IPL captain, sharing third place with Adam Gilchrist.
The legendary Australian leg-spinner captained Rajasthan Royals and played a crucial role in the franchise’s historic triumph during the inaugural IPL season in 2008.
Warne was primarily recognised for his bowling skills, tactical understanding and leadership rather than his batting.
He successfully built a competitive Rajasthan Royals team and guided several relatively inexperienced players during the tournament’s early years.
His seven captaincy ducks form part of his batting statistics, but they do little to diminish his legacy as one of the most influential captains in IPL history.
5. Virat Kohli – 6 Ducks
Virat Kohli completes the top five with six ducks as an IPL captain.
He led Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2013 to 2021 and became one of the most recognisable leaders in the franchise’s history.
Under Kohli, RCB reached the IPL final in 2016, although the team did not win the championship during his captaincy.
Kohli’s six ducks as captain are a relatively small part of his overall IPL batting career. He has consistently been among the competition’s leading run-scorers and has established numerous batting records.
His position on this list highlights an unusual statistical aspect of a career otherwise defined by outstanding batting performances.
Why Does Rohit Sharma Have the Most Ducks as an IPL Captain?
Source Image: Hindustan Times
Several factors help explain why Rohit Sharma tops the list of most ducks as an IPL captain.
1. Long captaincy career
Rohit led Mumbai Indians for several seasons, giving him numerous opportunities to accumulate captaincy appearances and batting dismissals. He captained MI in 158 IPL matches between 2013 and 2023, making him one of the most experienced leaders in the franchise’s history.
2. Opening batting position
Rohit frequently opened the innings for Mumbai Indians. Opening batters face the new ball, when fast bowlers can take advantage of swing, seam movement and fresh pitch conditions.
3. Attacking batting approach
Rohit is known for his ability to attack bowlers and score quickly. While this approach has produced many memorable innings, aggressive batting can sometimes result in early dismissals.
4. Long IPL career
Rohit has appeared in every IPL season from 2008 through 2026. His extensive participation has provided more opportunities to accumulate batting records, including unwanted ones.
These factors provide context for his captaincy duck record. However, they should not be interpreted as proven causes of every dismissal.
Most Ducks as Captain vs Most Ducks in IPL History
The records for most ducks as captain and most ducks in IPL history are different.
The captaincy-specific statistic counts only ducks recorded in matches in which a player represented his team as captain.
In contrast, the overall IPL ducks statistic includes every duck throughout a player’s IPL career, regardless of whether he was captain.
For example, Rohit Sharma’s 11 ducks as captain are included within his overall career batting statistics. His captaincy tally should not be confused with his total career ducks.
By the end of IPL 2025, Glenn Maxwell had 19 career IPL ducks, while Rohit Sharma had 18. Maxwell held the outright record, ahead of Rohit.
Therefore, Maxwell holds the overall career-ducks record, while Rohit continues to hold the captaincy-specific record.
Conclusion
Rohit Sharma holds the unwanted record for the most ducks as captain in IPL history, with 11 dismissals for zero. Gautam Gambhir follows with 10, while Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne have seven each. Virat Kohli completes the top five with six.
However, these statistics represent only one aspect of their cricketing careers. Rohit and Gambhir both guided their franchises to IPL championships, while Gilchrist and Warne played significant roles in the tournament’s early success.
A duck is an unfortunate batting outcome, but it cannot define a player’s contribution to the IPL. These captains have built their legacies through leadership, performances, championship victories and memorable contributions to the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most ducks as an IPL captain, with 11 dismissals for zero. He moved ahead of Gautam Gambhir during the 2023 IPL season.
Rohit Sharma has recorded 11 ducks while captaining Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He holds the outright record for the most captaincy ducks in the tournament.
Gautam Gambhir occupies second place with 10 ducks as an IPL captain. He led Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders during his IPL career.
Virat Kohli has recorded six ducks while captaining Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. He led the franchise from 2013 to 2021.
Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne recorded seven ducks each while captaining IPL teams. They share third place on the list.