Former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed concern over the growing trend of English cricketers being selected from the Indian Premier League and warned that franchises may reconsider investing in young players from England after Ben Duckett’s sudden exit from IPL 2026.
Duckett, who was signed by Delhi Capitals for Rs 2 crore in last year’s auction, has opted out of the upcoming season, citing a desire to spend time at home and prefer red-ball cricket. His decision comes after a disappointing Ashes campaign and limited participation in the recent T20 World Cup.
Read the full story
As per updated IPL regulations, Duckett now faces a two-year ban from the league and future auctions. His late withdrawal is expected to trigger a penalty clause introduced last year that targets overseas players who withdraw from their contracts at short notice. Notably, his England team-mate Harry Brook is already serving a similar ban after opting out of his contract with Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2025 season.
Reacting to the development, Chopra took to social media to express his frustration and highlighted what he sees as a worrying trend. “Ben Duckett is retiring. As is Brook. IPL teams may start canceling ‘young’ English players in future,” wrote Chopra on X.
Chopra also suggested that Delhi Capitals could use this opportunity to recalibrate the team’s strategy. With several opening options already in place, including Prithvi Shaw and Pathum Nissanka, he advised the franchise to strengthen its spin department by bringing in an experienced overseas option.
“Maybe an opportunity for DC to do a slight pivot. How about a backup overseas spinner instead? Mujeeb. Keshav. Or someone else!!! They already have so many openers to choose from,” he added.
Duckett has been under scrutiny after an underwhelming Ashes campaign in England where he managed just 202 runs. His struggles persist across formats, with just a half-century in his last 28 innings, raising further questions about his consistency.
Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals must now find a suitable replacement ahead of IPL 2026. They will open their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1 and will be keen to settle their squad quickly following Duckett’s late withdrawal.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
March 25, 2026 1:38 PM IST
