Birthday is the most special day of the year for any individual. The same goes for the cricketers, and the fans can get an idea of it by looking at the pictures and videos that go viral from a big name’s birthday bash. However, because of the tight cricketing schedule now, the players are often seen on the ground playing in the IPL on their birthdays.
While some players have managed to make their birthdays great by performing well, a few of them have got out for a duck on their special days. Here’s a look at the four players who lost their wicket before getting off the mark in an IPL game played on their birthday.
Misbah-ul-Haq
The fans might be shocked to learn that the former Pakistani cricket team skipper Misbah-ul-Haq holds the dubious record of being the first batsman to get out for a duck in an IPL match on his birthday. The Pakistani players had competed in the inaugural IPL season, and Misbah was a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team.
Playing against the Mumbai Indians on his 34th birthday, Misbah-ul-Haq got out for a duck on the first ball that he faced. Sachin Tendulkar took his catch off Fernando’s bowling and that game proved to be Misbah’s last outing in the IPL.
Hardik Pandya
The most recent name to join this list is the Mumbai Indians’ star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya. The big-hitting batsman recently celebrated his birthday on 11 October 2020. The Mumbai Indians played against the Delhi Capitals on that night, and Hardik Pandya lost his wicket for a duck.
It is noteworthy that even Hardik’s brother, Krunal Pandya, had played against the Delhi Capitals on his birthday during the 2019 season. However, Krunal had not lost his wicket for a duck.
Chris Morris
Chris Morris was in the form of his life during the 2016 season. The South African all-rounder was a top contender for the Most Valuable Player of the Season award. He had smacked an unbeaten 32-ball 82* against the Gujarat Lions before he took the field against the Kolkata Knight Riders on his birthday.
Morris had a chance to finish off the innings on a grand note, but he returned to the pavilion without scoring a single run. Umesh Yadav rattled his stumps to dismiss him.
Andre Russell
Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell has been a match-winner for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the last two seasons of IPL. Although he has not fired yet in IPL 2020, Russell can be backed to perform well soon. Russell played a match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on his birthday during the 2018 season.
Mohammed Siraj bowled to him and picked up his wicket on the first ball. Russell edged the ball and it went straight to the keeper Quinton de Kock. Thus, these are the four players who have got out for a duck on their respective birthdays. Hardik Pandya is the only Indian player to achieve this feat, while there is a player from West Indies, South Africa, and Pakistan to have failed to make an impact while playing in the IPL on their birthdays.
