Duckett was roped in by Delhi Capitals for his base price of INR 2 crore at the auction.
England opener Ben Duckett has pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, opting to prioritise his preparations for the upcoming international summer.
The southpaw was roped in by Delhi Capitals (DC) for his base price of INR 2 crore at the auction. His withdrawal move comes just four days before the start of the tournament, set to begin on March 28.
Duckett confirmed his decision in a statement shared on social media, calling it a difficult but necessary one.
“I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL. I have given this a lot of thought and it has not been an easy choice,” Duckett wrote.
“Representing England is something I have dreamed of since I was a child, and I want to give everything I can to English cricket. To do that, I need to ensure I am in the best possible place physically and mentally ahead of the summer,” he added.
The 31-year-old also apologized to the Delhi Capitals management and their fans for the timing of his decision.
“I would like to sincerely apologise to everyone at Delhi. I was genuinely very excited about the opportunity to represent the franchise, and I fully appreciate the time and planning that goes into building a squad. I am sorry for any disruption my decision may cause,” Duckett said.
“I would also like to apologise to all the fans as I know how much it means to everyone in Delhi,” he concluded.
Starting with the 2025 season, IPL regulations dictate that any player who registers for the auction and is picked, but subsequently makes themselves unavailable without a valid, medically verified reason (confirmed by their home board), will face a two-year ban from both the tournament and future auctions.
Notably, England’s white-ball skipper Harry Brook was banned for two years after breaking his contract with the Delhi Capitals in 2025.
Speaking to Telegraph Sport, Duckett said a challenging winter — including the dismal Ashes campaign and not a getting a game at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad — heavily influenced his decision.
“I don’t know if I’m potentially saying goodbye to the IPL, having never played in it. With the age I am now [31], it might be tough for me, but I hope one day I’m able to represent Delhi. But I’ve thought a lot about this, and know it’s the right decision for my career," Duckett said.
“I’ve made this decision on my own accord. I’ve spent a lot of time away from home in different places, and it felt like the best thing for me to do to be ready to play for England is to be here right now, at home, refreshing my mind and body. More importantly, play some four-day cricket for Notts, and try to find that form I had last summer," he further remarked.