After England opener Ben Duckett withdrew from the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, former Team India batsman Aakash Chopra made a big statement. Chopra warned that IPL franchise teams may stop taking young English cricketers after Duckett’s departure.
Delhi Capitals bought Duckett for ₹2 crore during the mini auction. However, Duckett suddenly announced his withdrawal on Tuesday, citing personal reasons. The left-handed batsman intends to spend time with his family while focusing on rebuilding his career with the England national cricket team.
IPL teams may start canceling ‘young’ English players – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra shared his disappointment over the comeback trend among foreign cricketers on his official social media account. Chopra said that after the return of Ben Duckett, English player Harry Brook was also suddenly out.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Aakash Chopra wrote on
Chopra also advised the Delhi Capitals franchise management regarding their replacement strategy. He said that the team already has openers like Prithvi Shaw and Pathum Nissanka and they should target an experienced foreign spinner.
He said, “Maybe, a chance for #DC to pivot a bit. How about a backup overseas spinner instead? Mujeeb. Keshav. Or someone else!!! They already have plenty of openers to choose from. #IPL.”
Ben Duckett came out. Just like Brooke.
IPL teams may start canceling ‘young’ English players in the future.
perhaps, an opportunity for #DC To make a small axis. How about a backup overseas spinner instead? Mujeeb. Keshav. Or someone else!!!
They already have so many…– Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 24 March 2026
Ben Duckett may face two-year IPL ban after withdrawing his name
Ben Duckett is facing a multi-year tournament suspension. The England batsman may face a similar outcome to Harry Brook, who earlier lost his IPL eligibility after withdrawing without any valid reason.
The IPL Governing Council has recently introduced strict player availability rules to discourage last-minute withdrawal of foreign players. These measures are intended to protect teams from sudden disruptions.
The official IPL memo clearly states that any international player who becomes unavailable after being bought in the auction may face severe penalties.
“Any [overseas] player who registers [an] If, after being selected in the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, he will be banned from participating in the IPL/IPL auction for two seasons,” the IPL Governing Council said in a note to franchises.
Ben Duckett faces scrutiny as Delhi Capitals look for replacement
Ben Duckett is under scrutiny after England’s poor Ashes campaign last year. He managed only 202 runs in the series and also attracted attention due to off-field issues during the tour, which led to criticism of his performances.
After performing well against India at home, Duckett has struggled for consistency across formats. He has scored only one half-century in his last 28 innings.
Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals will now have to find a replacement ahead of IPL 2026. They will begin their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1 and will need a settled team to deal with the disruption caused by Duckett’s sudden withdrawal.