Ben Duckett pulls out of IPL 2026
The Ben Duckett IPL withdrawal has been confirmed, with the England batter pulling out of his IPL 2026 contract with Delhi Capitals to focus on reviving his Test career.
Duckett, who has never previously played in the IPL, was signed for INR 2 crore (£160,000 approx.) at December’s auction. However, with no guarantee of a starting role and competition from Pathum Nissanka for an overseas spot, he has opted to withdraw and will instead represent Nottinghamshire at the start of the County Championship season.
Decision driven by Test ambitions
Duckett said the decision was not easy but believes it is necessary to regain form after a difficult period.
“It was a very difficult decision, and I want to apologise to everyone at Delhi that I won’t be coming,” Duckett told the Telegraph. “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.
“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.”
Possible IPL ban looms
Duckett’s late withdrawal is expected to result in a two-year IPL ban, following a rule introduced by franchises to penalise overseas players who pull out at short notice.
England team-mate Harry Brook is currently serving a similar ban after withdrawing from his Delhi Capitals deal before the 2025 season.
Struggles after Ashes series
Duckett was regarded as one of the world’s leading all-format openers after England’s drawn Test series against India last summer. However, his form has declined significantly since.
He has scored just one half-century in 28 domestic and international innings across formats since the start of the Hundred last August. During England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, he managed 202 runs in ten innings.
Duckett was also England’s spare batter during the T20 World Cup and admitted he needed time to process a challenging winter rather than immediately returning to India.
Focus on county cricket and training
Instead of playing in the IPL, Duckett will work with Nottinghamshire head coach Peter Moores and aim to rebuild his form through red-ball cricket.
He also plans to prepare for England’s three-match Test series against New Zealand in June, with support from ECB strength and conditioning coach Peter Sim.
“I’ve made this decision on my own accord,” Duckett said. “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.
“I could have gone to the IPL, spent time on the sidelines, then rushed back into the Test summer. I wouldn’t have time to process the winter, learn from mistakes, and go back to the drawing board with Notts.
“I’m desperate to play all three formats for England for as long as I can. This is a decision I hope I will look back on in ten years and see as a pivotal moment in my career, and the right decision. I will be doing everything I can to be ready for England.”
Nottinghamshire support decision
Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell backed Duckett’s decision, stating that the club fully supports his choice.
“We are obviously very pleased to see him become unexpectedly available for us in the early part of the 2026 season, and we will continue to give him our full support in his career,” Newell said.
Addressing off-field incident
Duckett also spoke about the video that surfaced before the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG, showing him inebriated during England’s mid-series break in Noosa.
“The build-up to the Boxing Day Test was one of the toughest moments of my career, but I’m so grateful for the support I received from England and Rob Key,” Duckett said. “I am sorry for that incident. It was not professional and shouldn’t have happened. There is no hiding away from it.”
What this means for Duckett and IPL
The Ben Duckett IPL withdrawal highlights the difficult balance players face between franchise opportunities and international ambitions.
For Duckett, the decision signals a clear focus on Test cricket and long-term form, even at the cost of missing out on the IPL. For franchises, situations like this continue to shape stricter rules around player withdrawals.
The coming months will be crucial as Duckett looks to rebuild his form ahead of England’s Test commitments.
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