Ben Duckett decided to put himself out of the IPL just a few days ago, ahead of the start of the mega event. Delhi Capitals signed the England wicket-keeper batter for INR 2 crore rupees. His decision to pull himself out of the action will lead him to a ban from the IPL as per the updated guidelines. He will face a ban for the next two seasons and will not be able to get retained or feature in the IPL matches.
Citing the reason on his Instagram account, the English wicket keeper wrote, “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. 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.”
Adding to that, he also wrote, "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."
What is the updated IPL rule?
In 2024, the IPL governing council implemented a rule allowing sanctions on overseas players who withdraw at the last minute after being bought at the auction, including potential bans, to ensure commitment and prevent franchises from facing sudden squad disruptions.
The IPL governing council stated in a note to franchisees, "Any [overseas] player who registers for [an] auction and, after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season will get banned from participating in the IPL/IPL auction for two seasons."
Also Read । End of a bright career? RCB left-arm pacer Yash Dayal set to miss IPL 2026 amid ongoing personal issues
Harry Brook, England's white-ball captain, has done the same with the Delhi Capitals in the last year, and it led him to face a ban from the IPL.
