The 13th season of the IPL is on and we are witnessing T20 cricket at his best. Many people think that T20 cricket is all about coming in and just smashing the ball as hard as you can, but it is not as easy as it seems. There is a method to all this madness that we witness in these T20 leagues around the world. Many times batsmen need to go from ball one and as a result, they might get dismissed on a duck.
The most difficult thing in the T20s is maintaining consistency. The game moves so fast that it can change in a matter of 3-4 balls. As a batsman, you don’t have much time to think as you must set the ground running as early as possible. But there are a few batsmen who have scored more than 1000 T20 runs without scoring a duck. So, let’s have a look at five such players.
5. Shubman Gill – 1052 runs
Shubman Gill who opens the batting for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL has scored 1052 T20 runs without getting out for a duck. We all know the amount of talent this young man possesses. He has a bright future, and he is showing it as to why is he so highly rated.
In this IPL, he scored a 70 not out in a 140-odd run-chase in which he was totally in control of his innings. There was hardly a false shot and he looked comfortable than some of the established batsmen. He will be hoping that he can score another 1000 runs without getting a duck.
4. Pieter Malan – 1091 runs
Pieter Malan is a right-handed batsman from South Africa. The 31-year-old opening batsman has scored 1091 runs in 36 games at an average of 41.96 with a strike-rate of 114.72. He even has a T20 hundred to his name. Malan is fourth on this list as he too hasn’t been dismissed on a duck so far in his 36 match T20 career. It is a good record to be a part of and Malan will be hoping that he can continue his good run with the bat.
3. Mark Boucher – 1378 runs
Mark Boucher who was famously known for his wicket-keeping is more than a decent batsman. He has scored a lot of runs for South Africa whenever he was given an opportunity to bat. He has played 90 T20 matches and scored 1378 runs without being dismissed for a duck.
He has played for a couple of IPL teams as well and done reasonably well for them. Boucher has retired from the game, so he won’t get out for a duck anytime in the future. Boucher will always remain as one of the guys to have scored more than 1000 runs without getting out for a duck.
2. Virat Singh – 1552 runs
The left-handed batsman from Jharkhand was brilliant in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has scored 1552 runs in his T20 career and he has got off the mark in all his innings. He is currently a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad but is warming the benches.
SRH’s middle order is struggling and at some point, they might think of giving him a go in this season of the IPL. Singh will be hoping that his record continues in the IPL as well.
1. Alex Carey – 1656 runs
The left-handed wicket-keeper batsman from Australia has been a prolific run-scorer in the Big Bash League for Adelaide Strikers. Even though he hasn’t got going in the IPL so far, he is a superb timer of the cricket ball. He has scored 1656 runs in his T20 career without getting out for a duck.
Many Australian cricket experts see him as a long-time wicket-keeping batsman for Australia which suggests that he has a bright future ahead.
