Ben Duckett has decided to pull out of his IPL 2026 stint with Delhi Capitals, and the England opener now faces a two-year ban from the league and auction as per the amended rules. Duckett was roped in by the Capitals for Rs 2 crore in last year's auction, but he now wants to spend time at home and play red-ball cricket, following a forgettable run in the Ashes and being on the sidelines for the recent T20 World Cup. "It was a very difficult decision, and I want to apologise to everyone at Delhi that I won't be coming," Duckett told Telegraph Sport.

"I felt it was going to be a great opportunity when I put myself in the auction, and for a franchise like Delhi to pick me up was amazing. I was buzzing. It's the best competition in the world with the best players, and would have been an amazing experience," he added. As per the rules tweaked ahead of IPL 2025, overseas players who pull out of the league after being picked in the auction will face a two-year ban if they do not have a legitimate reason for doing so. The only exception, as per the IPL Governing Council, is for any injury or a medical condition which needs to be confirmed by the player's home board.