Former Team India batter Aakash Chopra made a massive statement after England opener Ben Duckett withdrew from the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Chopra warned that IPL franchise teams might stop acquiring young English cricketers following Duckett’s withdrawal.
Delhi Capitals purchased Duckett for ₹2 crore during the mini auction. However, Duckett announced his sudden withdrawal on Tuesday, citing personal reasons. The left-handed batter intends to spend time with his family while focusing on rebuilding his career with the England national cricket team.
IPL Teams Might Start Cancelling ‘Young’ English Players – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra took to his official social media account to share his frustration over the withdrawal trend among overseas cricketers. Chopra said that Ben Duckett’s withdrawal followed a similar sudden exit by English player Harry Brook.
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“Ben Duckett pulls out. Just like Brook. IPL teams might start cancelling ‘young’ English players in the future,” Aakash Chopra wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Chopra also advised the Delhi Capitals franchise management regarding their replacement strategy. He stated that the team already has opening batters like Prithvi Shaw and Pathum Nissanka and should target an experienced overseas spinner.
“Perhaps, an opportunity for #DC to make a slight pivot. How about a backup overseas spinner instead? Mujeeb. Keshav. Or someone else!!! They already have so many openers to choose from. #IPL,” he added.
Ben Duckett pulls out. Just like Brook.
IPL teams might start cancelling ‘young’ English players in the future.
Perhaps, an opportunity for #DC to make a slight pivot. How about a backup overseas spinner instead? Mujeeb. Keshav. Or someone else!!!
They already have so many…— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 24, 2026
Ben Duckett Can Face a Two-Year IPL Ban After Withdrawal
Ben Duckett faces the risk of a multi-year tournament suspension. The England batter could face a similar outcome to Harry Brook, who previously lost his IPL eligibility after withdrawing without a valid reason.
The IPL governing council has recently introduced strict player availability rules to discourage last-minute overseas withdrawals. These measures aim to protect teams from sudden disruptions.
The official IPL memorandum clearly states that any international player who becomes unavailable after being bought at the auction may face serious penalties.
“Any [overseas] player who registers for [an] auction and, after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season will get banned from participating in the IPL/IPL auction for two seasons,” the IPL governing council stated in a note to franchisees.
Ben Duckett Faces Scrutiny as Delhi Capitals Search for Replacement
Ben Duckett has been under scrutiny following England’s poor Ashes campaign last year. He managed just 202 runs in the series and also attracted attention for off-field issues during the tour, which added to the criticism of his performances.
After showing good form against India at home, Duckett has struggled for consistency across formats. He has scored only one half-century in his last 28 innings.
Delhi Capitals, led by Axar Patel, must now 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 squad to deal with the disruption caused by Duckett’s sudden withdrawal.
Also read: ‘Making Indian team is easier than IPL team’: Sourav Ganguly on Mitchell Starc uncertainty
