England cricket team batter Ben Duckett has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The 31-year-old announced his decision in an Instagram Story on Tuesday, March 24. Duckett was signed by the Delhi Capitals for Rs 2 crore at the auction and had been considered a potential opening option alongside KL Rahul. However, he has opted out of the tournament, citing career priorities.

“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,” he 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.

Ben Duckett's Instagram Story

“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. I would also like to apologise to all the fans as I know how much it means to everyone in Delhi,” the batter further added.Bottom of Form

Under Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regulations, overseas players who withdraw after being picked at the auction without a valid reason can face a ban from future IPL editions. Duckett could now be ineligible to participate in the tournament for the next cycle, potentially until 2029.

He is the second England player in recent years to withdraw after being auctioned. Harry Brook had pulled out ahead of IPL 2025 and subsequently faced a ban under the same rule.

Duckett’s exit opens up options for Delhi Capitals to reshuffle their top order ahead of the new season.