Cricket history is a tapestry of triumph, heartbreak, and unexpected twists. One such remarkable chapter revolves around legendary cricketers who, despite their illustrious careers, faced the daunting prospect of scoring a duck on their World Cup debut. This article delves into the tales of five iconic cricketers who experienced this unexpected setback and how they rebounded from the early blows.
5 Batsmen Who Scored A Duck On Cricket World Cup Debut:
1. MS Dhoni
The journey of India’s most accomplished white-ball cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has been nothing short of extraordinary. However, even the best have their moments of vulnerability. In the 2007 Cricket World Cup, held in the West Indies, Dhoni had a surprisingly poor maiden appearance.
Before this tournament, Dhoni’s One Day International (ODI) career had been on a meteoric rise, boasting an impressive average of above 40, coupled with a striking strike rate of 96. Hopes were high for India as they embarked on their World Cup campaign. However, in their first match against Bangladesh, a formidable left-arm spinner named Mohammad Rafique dismissed Dhoni for a mere three-ball duck. This early setback played a pivotal role in India’s subsequent defeat, as they were bowled out for a mere 191, eventually losing by five wickets.
2. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers, a name synonymous with innovation and brilliance in the world of cricket, also had a rocky start to his World Cup journey. His debut in the 2007 Cricket World Cup mirrored the early struggles of MS Dhoni.
Before his World Cup debut, De Villiers had a modest start to his ODI career, with an average of just 15.78 in his first 14 games. However, in 2006, his fortunes took a positive turn, setting the stage for his World Cup appearance.
Despite the anticipation surrounding De Villiers’ debut, he was dismissed for a second-ball duck against the Netherlands. Interestingly, the match is better remembered for Hershelle Gibbs’ remarkable feat of hitting six 6s in an over. South Africa went on to score a massive 353 and secured a resounding victory by 221 runs.
3. Ross Taylor
The 2007 Cricket World Cup appeared to have a peculiar pattern when it came to legendary batters scoring ducks on their debut. Another victim of this trend was the former New Zealand batter, Ross Taylor.
Chasing a modest target of 210 for victory in his World Cup debut against England, Taylor followed opener Lou Vincent back to the pavilion, departing without scoring a run. New Zealand’s top order faced early adversity, with the team left struggling at 3/2 in the second over. However, thanks to fifties from Scott Styris and Jacob Oram, New Zealand recovered and clinched a victory by six wickets.
4. Ajinkya Rahane
India’s Ajinkya Rahane had a rather unique and unfortunate start to his World Cup journey in 2015. In a match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Rahane was demoted down the batting order to accommodate the bigger hitters, such as Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli.
Rahane found himself batting at No. 7, a position that demanded quick runs in the latter stages of the innings. In a selfless effort, Rahane faced pacer Sohail Khan and was dismissed for a golden duck. Despite his early departure, Team India managed to accumulate 300/7 in their 50 overs, ultimately emerging victorious by 76 runs.
5. Pathum Nissanka
The most recent addition to the list of batsmen who scored ducks on their World Cup debut is Sri Lanka’s young sensation, Pathum Nissanka. The 25-year-old had garnered a reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most consistent batters since making his ODI debut in 2021.
However, Nissanka faced a daunting challenge in the ongoing World Cup, with Sri Lanka chasing a colossal target of 429 against South Africa. This required Nissanka to step out of his usual defensive approach and adopt a more aggressive batting style. Unfortunately, he was dismissed for a three-ball duck by Marco Jansen.
