Why is Ben Duckett not playing in IPL 2026? The England batter will not be available for the season as he has withdrawn due to personal reasons to revive his international career.
As Delhi Capitals begin their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), one question that has been trending is: why is Ben Duckett not playing in IPL 2026. Just a few days before the start of the tournament, Duckett shared through an interview and an Instagram story that he would not be available for the season. He explained that he wants to focus on extending his international career with England, and turning down an IPL contract would show his commitment to the team management.
“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 10 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,” Duckett told the Daily Telegraph.
“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’m 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,” he added.
He was picked for INR 2 crore in the IPL 2026 auction.
Another reason is that his recent form in international cricket has not been good enough. In the Ashes 2025, he played all five Test matches and scored 202 runs in 10 innings at an average of just 20.20. Later, he was picked in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad but did not play any matches, as Phil Salt and Jos Buttler were ahead of him in the pecking order.
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As of now, Delhi Capitals have not named a replacement for Ben Duckett. In the squad, they have Pathum Nissanka, who is expected to be included directly in the playing XI as he has been in impressive form. They also have several domestic options who can play the opener’s role. KL Rahul has already been confirmed as an opener. They also have players like Prithvi Shaw and Abishek Porel.
Because of this, Duckett’s absence may not hurt the team much, and the franchise might take their time before naming a replacement.
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