As the 2025 playoffs loom large, we revisit the batters who froze on the big nights, racking up ducks when it mattered the most
In the glitz and glamour of the Indian Premier League knockouts, the blazing centuries, match-winning spells, and acrobatic catches hog the limelight. But hidden beneath the surface of those high-octane nights lies a list no batter wants to be part of—players who walked back for a duck in the biggest games of the tournament. As the 2025 knockouts are at the door, let's slow things down and sift through the forgotten scorecards where promising innings ended even before they began.
Interestingly, this list isn't just filled with tailenders; it has a mix of explosive openers, seasoned all-rounders, and unlikely victims. The common thread? None of them managed to trouble the scorers when their team needed them to dig deep.
You think of Lasith Malinga; all that springs to mind are toe-crushing yorkers and iconic bowling spells. However, in 2013, the Sri Lankan found himself trapped in an unusual loop. Playing for the Mumbai Indians, Malinga was undone by the Chennai Super Kings — not once, but twice. He faced a silver duck in Qualifier 1, walking off after just one ball. And in the final? History repeated itself. Same team, same duck, same disappointment.
Despite his reputation as a bowling great, his name tops this unwanted chart in IPL playoff history. Two ducks in one season's playoffs? That's a rough patch that nobody wants to experience.
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All-rounders are known for rescuing teams from high-pressure situations. However, Shakib Al Hasan had a disappointing run in the 2021 playoffs for Kolkata Knight Riders. In Qualifier 2 against Delhi Capitals, the Bangladeshi left-hander was dismissed without scoring—a silver duck. Just a few days later, in the grand finale against Chennai Super Kings, Shakib didn't even survive the first ball—a golden duck that concluded his campaign on a sour note.
From his experience and stature, many expected more. But that's the cruel charm of the playoffs—you're either the hero or the headline.
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For Shreevats Goswami, the 2020 playoffs were more of a ghost town than a goldmine. Batting for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Goswami was dismissed for a bronze duck in the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore. If that wasn't enough, he followed it up with a golden duck in Qualifier 2 against Delhi Capitals.
Two playoff matches. Two ducks. No runs. It's the sort of form that haunts one, especially on a stage as significant as the IPL playoffs.
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The most recent entry on this unflattering list is Australian dynamo Travis Head. In 2024, he carried Sunrisers Hyderabad's hopes into the playoffs, but the runs dried up just when it mattered most. In Qualifier 1 against Kolkata Knight Riders, Head went out for a silver duck. When it came to the final? Another painful exit, this time a golden duck, once again to the same opponent.
Kolkata clinched the trophy that year and extinguished Head's presence in both crucial matches. Same opponent, same result, twice over.
