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New Delhi: Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka achieved an unwanted record after being dismissed on a Golden Duck in his side’s opening clash of the T20 World
Cup 2026 against Ireland at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. Shanaka was caught by Mark Adair off the bowling of Ireland pacer Barry McCarthy on the very first ball he faced in the game.
It was a disappointing start to the tournament for the Sri Lanka skipper, who was sent packing without managing to open his account. His Golden Duck against Ireland meant Shanka was dismissed on 0 for the 16th time in T20Is, the most by any batter in the format. He surpassed Rwanda’s Zappy Bimenyimana (15) in the unwanted list of batters with the most ducks in T20Is.
Batters with most ducks in T20Is:
16 – Dasun Shanaka (113 innings)
15 – Zappy Bimenyimana (62)
14 – Paul Stirling (158)
Shanaka has 1747 runs to his name in 124 matches in his T20I career at an average of 19.85 and a strike rate of 124.69, including six fifties. He is one of Sri Lanka’s most experienced batters in their current squad and is leading the team in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. His dismal show didn’t hurt Sri Lanka much as he was dismissed in the 19th over of the side’s innings.
It was an eventful 19th over from McCarthy as he bowled a total of 11 deliveries in it. The Irish pacer bowled 4 wides and a no-ball, and picked up two wickets in two balls, including Shanka’s, while conceding 19 runs from the over. The 11 deliveries bowled by McCarthy in the over is the joint-most by any bowler in the T20 World Cup.
