While the top order is expected to lay the foundation for a big score, the pressure of facing the new ball can often lead to a humbling dismissal for nought.
This article provides a comprehensive statistical list of the ODI cricket top order batters (Openers and No. 3) who have accumulated the unwanted record for the most ducks in their career.
Most Ducks by Top Order Batters in ODIs
| Player | Team | Innings | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 391 | 29 |
| Chris Gayle | West Indies | 276 | 23 |
| Herschelle Gibbs | South Africa | 198 | 21 |
| Nathan Astle | New Zealand | 208 | 19 |
| Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | 240 | 19 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 244 | 18 |
| Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 260 | 17 |
| Romesh Kaluwitharana | Sri Lanka | 117 | 17 |
| Martin Guptill | New Zealand | 192 | 16 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | Pakistan | 176 | 16 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 336 | 16 |
| Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 163 | 16 |
| Upul Tharanga | Sri Lanka | 195 | 16 |
| Aaron Finch | Australia | 140 | 15 |
| Sourav Ganguly | India | 268 | 15 |
| Litton Das | Bangladesh | 84 | 15 |
| Salman Butt | Pakistan | 78 | 15 |
Note: Batters who batted between No. 1 and 3 considered as top order.
Key Insights on Ducks Record by Top-Order Batsmen in ODI Cricket
Overall and Positional Ducks Record Holders in ODIs
Sanath Jayasuriya has scored the most ducks among the top-order batters in ODIs, getting out on zero 29 times.
Overall, the Sri Lankan all-rounder bagged 34 ducks, the most by any batter in ODIs.
All of Jayasuriya’s 29 ducks came as an opener, the most by a batter in that position in ODIs.
Chris Gayle (23) is the other opener with 20-plus ducks.
Virat Kohli has recorded the most ducks as a No. 3 batter in ODIs, with all of his dismissals on zero coming in that position.
Ducks by Innings and Golden Duck Statistics
13 of Jayasuriya’s ducks came in the first innings, the joint-most by a top-order batter in ODIs, along with Adam Gilchrist (13).
Jayasuriya’s remaining 16 ducks came while chasing, the most for a top-order batter in 50-over cricket.
Jayasuriya has also registered the most golden ducks as a top-order batter in ODIs, getting out on the first ball eight times.
Read: Which player has opened the batting most often in ODIs?
Ducks by Designated Role and Unique Dismissals
Sri Lanka’s Romesh Kaluwitharana and Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar are the two top-order batters to get out on a duck without facing a ball in ODIs.
All 17 of Gilchrist’s dismissals on zero have come as a designated wicketkeeper, the most while batting in the top order in ODIs.
Overall, New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming has recorded the most ducks (12) as a captain while batting in the top three in ODIs.
Sourav Ganguly scored four golden ducks as a captain while batting in the top order in ODIs.
Check: Which wicketkeeper has scored the most runs in ODI cricket?
