Those 5 ODI batsmen…who were never out on zero in their career, even after 100 innings, these batsmen are far away from ‘duck’

New Delhi. Getting out on ‘zero’ in the game of cricket is a nightmare for any batsman. But in the history of One Day International, there have been some ‘lucky’ and disciplined players who never tasted a duck. When we compare this rare record of not being out on zero, four legendary names from different eras emerge before us. Kepler Vessels, Daryl Mitchell, Aga Salman and Yashpal Sharma of India.

On top of this list is Kepler Wessels, who has played for both South Africa and Australia. Between 1983 and 1994, he played 109 matches and was never out on zero in 105 innings. Wessels’ game was a mixture of patience and technique. He scored 3367 runs at an average of 34.35. His statistics show that he was the pioneer of ‘old school’ cricket. It does not seem possible in today’s era to score runs at a strike rate of 55.30 by playing 6088 balls. But at that time he used to be the backbone of the team. He hit 263 fours in his career, but hit only 2 sixes.

In complete contrast to this is the story of modern cricket star Daryl Mitchell. This New Zealand batsman achieved that position in just 59 matches between 2021 and 2026, which is a dream for big legends. The special thing about Mitchell is his excellent average of 58.47 and strike rate of 95.72. While Wessels stopped after scoring one century, Mitchell has so far scored 9 centuries and 12 half-centuries. Interestingly, Mitchell has hit 71 more sixes than Wessels despite playing half the innings (54). This explains the huge difference between the two different eras.

reliable middle order batsman
Pakistan’s Agha Salman is also following the same path. During 2022 to 2026, Salman never returned to the pavilion on zero in 42 innings of 50 matches. His average of 45.23 and highest score of 134 proves that he not only stays at the crease but also plays match-winning innings. Salman’s strike rate (96.18) is almost equal to that of Daryl Mitchell, which shows that avoiding ‘ducks’ in modern cricket is no longer just about playing defensively. He has given a new strength to Pakistan’s middle order by hitting 135 fours and 29 sixes.

When we talk about Indian batsman, Yashpal Sharma’s name is taken with pride. Yashpal Sharma, the hero of the 1983 World Cup, never faced zero in 40 innings of 42 matches between 1978 and 1985. With 883 runs and an average of 28.48, his figures may not seem as heavy as those of Wessels or Mitchell, but his usefulness in the difficult conditions of that era was unmatched. He scored 4 half-centuries without scoring any century and scored runs at a strike rate of 63.02. In an era when protective gear was in short supply and fast bowlers were dreaded, surviving zero for 40 innings was no less than an achievement.

Peter Kirsten and the magic of technology
The story of South African Peter Kirsten is as militant as Wessels. In a short span of 1991 to 1994, he played 40 matches and scored 1293 runs without any zero. With an average of 38.02 and a strike rate of 56.02, Kirsten provided a solid foundation in South Africa’s return to international cricket. He scored 9 half-centuries and hit 90 fours in his career.

The game of numbers and the change of eras
Comparison of these players tells us the story of the development of cricket. The discipline shown by Kepler Wessels for 105 innings was the pinnacle of defensive batting. Whereas Daryl Mitchell showed that zero can be avoided even while playing aggressive cricket. Yashpal Sharma gave hope to India at a time when ODI cricket was making its mark. There is one thing common in all of them: playing the ball on its merit and understanding the value of your wicket. Be it Wessels’ 6088-ball struggle or Mitchell’s 2810-ball storm, these players have proved that ‘zero’ is just a number on the cricket field. If you want, you can keep it away from your scoreboard with your luck and hard work.