Ben Duckett’s late withdrawal from the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has left fans and the Delhi Capitals camp disappointed ahead of the new season. The England opener, who was bought for INR 2 crore at the auction by the Delhi-based franchise, was expected to form a solid opening pair with KL Rahul in the upcoming season of the marquee T20 league. 

However, just days before the tournament's start, Duckett opted out of the competition to prioritise his international commitments with England, dealing a blow to Delhi’s preparations.

Reacting to the development, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back in his criticism. The veteran believes that repeated last-minute withdrawals by overseas players remain a concern and urged the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India to revisit its policies.

"It is a tough one. Clearly, Ben Duckett had a very good Ashes series, and if he had not been bought for the amount he was at The Hundred auction, maybe things would have been different. One can understand that, having been bought at a very good price in The Hundred, he was probably quite happy to miss this and say he wants to focus on his England Test career," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

"But yes, what should be done is something for the BCCI to think about as well, because a two-year ban is obviously not working. You have to look at something that will have an impact. As long as it's not having an impact on the player and his chances of coming back to the IPL, it won't work," he further added.

For the unversed, the BCCI currently applies a rule that imposes a two-year ban on overseas players who withdraw from the IPL at the last minute, barring them from both participation and future auctions during that period.