Ben Duckett pulls out of IPL 2026, apologises to Delhi Capitals, faces 2-year ban

IPL 2026: Ben Duckett withdraws from IPL 2026 to focus on England duty, apologises to Delhi Capitals, and could face a ban under league rules for pulling out after being picked at the auction.

England batter Ben Duckett has withdrawn from the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), opting to prioritise his preparations for the upcoming international summer. Duckett had been signed by Delhi Capitals for his base price of Rs 2 crore at the auction.

His late decision comes just four days before the start of the tournament, which begins on March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Duckett confirmed his withdrawal in a statement shared on social media, describing the call as 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.

He added that his long-term focus remains on representing England at the highest level.

“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 said.