English opener Ben Duckett announced on Tuesday that he has pulled of IPL 2026. Duckett was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs. 2 crore in the auction.

Duckett wrote on Instagram that he is withdrawing from IPL 2026 to save his England career.

“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,” wrote Duckett.

The left-handed batter also expressed his apology to the Delhi Capitals franchise.

“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,” he added.

Duckett is likely to face a ban for his last-minute withdrawal from the tournament. As per IPL regulations, any overseas player who pulls out after being bought at the auction and before the season starts will face a two year ban from the IPL and future auctions, unless the withdrawal is supported by a medically verified injury or condition confirmed by the player’s home board.