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Ajinkya Rahane moved to the top of an unwanted list on April 19, becoming the opener with the most ducks in IPL history after registering a two-ball zero against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens. The dismissal marked his 12th duck as an opener, overtaking Parthiv Patel (11), while placing him ahead of names like Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir (10 each). The latest failure also extended Rahane’s sequence to consecutive ducks in IPL 2026, reflecting a downturn in returns for the Kolkata Knight Riders captain.

 

Rahane’s scores since the opening match read 8, 8*, 41, 28, 0 and 0, aggregating 152 runs in seven innings at an average of 25.33. His dismissal against Rajasthan came off a short-pitched delivery from Jofra Archer, resulting in an outside edge and a catch behind. It also marked only the second instance in IPL history where both KKR openers were dismissed for ducks, the previous occurrence dating back to 2014.

 

Most ducks as an opener in IPL

 

• 12 – Ajinkya Rahane
• 11 – Parthiv Patel
• 10 – Shikhar Dhawan
• 10 – Gautam Gambhir
• 9 – David Warner

 

Most consecutive ducks by KKR captains in IPL

 

Player	Balls	Opponent	Venue	Dates
Gautam Gambhir	8	Mumbai Indians	Abu Dhabi	April 16, 2014
Gautam Gambhir	4	Delhi Capitals	Dubai	April 19, 2014
Gautam Gambhir	1	Royal Challengers Bengaluru	Sharjah	April 24, 2014
Ajinkya Rahane	1	Gujarat Titans	Ahmedabad	April 17, 2026
Ajinkya Rahane	2	Rajasthan Royals	Kolkata	April 19, 2026

 

Read also: Disaster Start for KKR Coach Abhishek Nayar, All Eyes on RR Match for Comeback

 

Early collapse and historical parallels

 

The back-to-back ducks placed Rahane alongside Gambhir as the only KKR captains to record consecutive zeros in a single season. Gambhir’s sequence in 2014 extended to three matches, while Rahane’s current run stands at two. The recurrence of early wickets has coincided with KKR’s broader struggles, with the side managing limited returns in the points table, including a rain-affected result against Punjab Kings.

 

The opening partnership failure against Rajasthan Royals added immediate pressure, with both Rahane and Tim Seifert dismissed without scoring. Such starts have contributed to inconsistent match outcomes, particularly in chases and powerplay phases, where early stability remains critical.

 

Spin effort and match context

 

Despite the early setbacks, KKR’s bowling unit delivered a structured performance. Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine combined to take five wickets, restricting Rajasthan Royals to 155/9. The effort kept KKR in contention, though batting inconsistencies persisted.

 

In the broader IPL context, Rahane’s record now aligns with a list led overall by Glenn Maxwell (19 ducks), followed by Narine, Dinesh Karthik, and Rohit Sharma (18 each). While these figures span roles and positions, Rahane’s record specifically as an opener places the focus on top-order returns.

 

KKR’s campaign, meanwhile, continues to be defined by fluctuating performances, with early wickets and middle-order recoveries shaping outcomes across matches.