Here's why Ben Duckett will miss IPL 2026 for Delhi Capitals after a sudden withdrawal

Ben Duckett has had a winter he would rather forget. The Ashes went badly, he could not force his way into England's T20 World Cup squad, and a video of him visibly drunk during the mid-series break in Noosa surfaced on social media just before the Boxing Day Test.

He got married in October and set off for Australia full of hope, a Test summer against India behind him where he had been one of England's best, a maiden Ashes series ahead of him, a World Cup to follow. "That was my vision at the start of the winter," Ben Duckett said to The Telegraph. "The getting married bit is there, and I'm so happy about that. But after that? It couldn't really have gone much worse." Now, at the end of all of it, he has made one more decision, he is pulling out of the IPL.

IPL 2026: What Ben Duckett is giving up and why

Ben Duckett had been picked up by Delhi Capitals in the auction, a deal worth around £200,000 per season that would have marked his IPL debut. Walking away from it earns him a ban from the tournament until 2029, meaning this may effectively be his only chance to play in the competition given he is already 31.

He is at peace with that. "I don't know if I'm potentially saying goodbye to the IPL, having never played in it," he told Telegraph Sport. "With the age I am now, 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."

The reasoning is straightforward, going to India risked leaving him on the sidelines while others built momentum in the County Championship, and after the winter he has had, what he needs most is time at home, four-day cricket for Nottinghamshire, and a proper reset with his coach Peter Moores before the Test summer begins against New Zealand on June 4.

Ben Duckett's Instagram post for Delhi Capitals

It was evident from Ben Duckett's frank and sincere explanation that the choice was anything but simple.

He stated that playing for England has always been his dream and that he wants to give English cricket his all, which includes making sure he is in top physical and mental condition before the summer.

In his post, Ben Duckett also directly addressed Delhi Capitals, their fans, and the broader impact of his withdrawal. He wrote on his Instagram account:

"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".

"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."

Also READ: Here's why RCB are keeping 11 seats empty forever at Chinnaswamy ahead of IPL 2026

What went wrong in Australia for Ben Duckett

Ben Duckett made 221 runs at 20.2 in the Ashes, reaching 21 six times without going past 42. He was open about why. "Facing Starc with the new ball at 90mph every innings was extremely tough work. No one is more frustrated with how I went than me."

The Noosa incident added a layer of embarrassment to an already difficult series. "I am sorry for that incident, it was not professional and shouldn't have happened. There is no hiding away from it."

Ben Duckett did take something from the tour, a second innings 40 at Sydney against Starc at full pace which he described as among his best batting in Test cricket despite the modest score, but the overall picture was of a player whose form deserted him at the worst possible moment. His Test average dipped below 40 for the first time in three years.

What comes next for Duckett

The plan Ben Duckett has laid out for himself is deliberate and patient. Time with his wife and young daughter, working with England fitness coach Pete Sim to get into the best physical shape of his career, and going back to basics with Peter Moores at Nottinghamshire.

"He knows my game inside out," Ben Duckett said. "He saw my journey coming from Northants, struggling at Notts, getting me through that period and then into an England dressing room. He might spot some nuggets that I am doing differently from a year ago. Just keep everything open and relaxed, go back to the drawing board and see if there's anything to refine."

The motivation is not in question. A difficult winter, Ben Duckett says, has lit a fire in him rather than extinguished one. "I've learnt a lot in the last year. Going from how I was being spoken about during the India series, to how I am spoken about now, that's a ridiculously big dip."

Whether the County Championship can restore Ben Duckett to the batter is what the next two months will find out.