Overview
- Ben Duckett, who informed Delhi Capitals on Tuesday, exited four days before the March 28 season start to prioritise his England career and apologized for the late call.
- Duckett said he needs to be in the best physical and mental shape for the summer and will return to Nottinghamshire to play County Championship cricket to rebuild form.
- Under IPL rules adopted before the 2025 season, withdrawing after the auction can trigger a two‑season ban, with most outlets reporting a likely ineligibility through 2028 and a few citing three years, and no formal BCCI ruling announced yet.
- Delhi Capitals signed Duckett for Rs 2 crore and had earmarked him for a potential opening role alongside KL Rahul, with Pathum Nissanka or Prithvi Shaw now more likely to partner at the top as the franchise weighs a replacement signing.
- The move follows a lean Ashes and no game time at the T20 World Cup, and it could cost Duckett IPL income and exposure because the ban would also block him from entering the 2027 and 2028 auctions, as seen previously with Harry Brook.