England batsman Ben Duckett has pulled out of the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), choosing to prioritize preparation for the upcoming international summer. Duckett was signed by Delhi Capitals for his base price of 2 million rupees in the auction.
His late decision comes just four days before the tournament kicks off on March 28 with the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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Duckett confirmed his resignation in a statement shared on social media, calling the call difficult but necessary.
“I have made the extremely difficult decision to retire from the IPL. I have given it a lot of thought and it was not an easy choice,” Duckett wrote.
He added that his long-term focus is on representing England at the highest level.
“Representing England is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a child and I want to give England cricket everything I can. To do that I need to make sure I’m in the best possible place physically and mentally before the summer,” he said.
Duckett also apologized to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters for the timing of his decision.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to everyone in Delhi. I was really excited about the opportunity to represent the franchise and I fully appreciate the time and planning that goes into building the team. I apologize for any disruption my decision may cause,” he said.
“I would also like to apologize to all the fans because I know how much it means to everyone in Delhi,” he added. Image: Ben Duckett/Instagram Stories
2 YEAR CARD BAN?
Duckett’s withdrawal could now have further ramifications as IPL rules allow for sanctions against players who withdraw after being selected in the auction.
While it’s unclear if Duckett is dealing with an injury, the absence of a confirmed medical reason could complicate the situation. Under existing IPL regulations, any player who registers for an auction and then becomes unavailable before the start of the season can face a ban from the tournament and future auctions.
A similar situation took place last season when he was captain of England with the white ball Harry Brook withdrew after being signed by Delhi Capitalswhich raises questions about player availability and commitment.
DC has yet to announce a replacement and could be considering its options.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
24 March 2026 19:22 IST
