Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Who is Devendra Singh Bora, the Bowler Who Dismissed Rohit Sharma for a Golden Duck

In a stunning turn of events during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 on Friday, Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma was sent back to the pavilion for zero runs on the very first ball by an emerging fast bowler from Uttarakhand, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts in shock. After his explosive 155-run innings against Sikkim on 24 December, expectations were high for another stellar performance from the Hitman, but it was Devendra Singh Bora who stole the limelight.

The Bowler Behind the Surprise
Devendra Singh Bora, a 25-year-old fast bowler from Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, was playing just his third List A match. Born on 6 December 2000, Bora made his first-class debut in 2024 for Uttarakhand against Puducherry and his List A debut the same year against Manipur in Jaipur. Representing Uttarakhand in domestic cricket for only his second season, Bora has already made waves with his pace and skill.

Impressive Track Record
Prior to dismissing Rohit, Bora had taken 4 wickets in the previous Vijay Hazare Trophy match, delivering his best performance against Himachal Pradesh on 24 December, claiming 4 wickets for 44 runs. Despite his brilliant spell, Uttarakhand lost the match by 59 runs. In first-class cricket, Bora has played 15 matches, taking 30 wickets at an average of 41.13 and a strike rate of 69.7, with his best figures being 6 wickets for 79 runs.

Rohit Sharma’s Golden Duck
This dismissal marked the 20th time Rohit Sharma has been out for zero in List A cricket. His previous golden duck in domestic cricket came against Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on 14 October 2018, and internationally, he has been dismissed for zero 4 times in ODIs. The last time he recorded a duck was against Sri Lanka in August 2024. Fans at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium were left stunned as the roar of excitement quickly turned into silence, witnessing the Hitman’s rare early exit.