New Delhi, March 25: The Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) is set to kick off on March 28. All ten franchises are rigorously training to deliver strong performances in the upcoming season. Just before the season begins, Delhi Capitals (DC) have faced a significant setback. England’s Ben Duckett has withdrawn his name from the tournament. DC is now on the lookout for a suitable replacement.
Duckett announced his decision to step back from IPL 2026 via social media, citing a focus on international cricket as the reason. According to IPL regulations, if a player withdraws from the season shortly before it starts without a valid reason after being bought at auction, they may face a two-season ban. Harry Brook is currently serving a two-year suspension for a similar reason. It remains to be seen when the IPL management will make an official announcement regarding Duckett. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals are actively searching for a replacement, with two names emerging as frontrunners.
Delhi Capitals may consider either Afghanistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz or Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk to fill Duckett’s spot. Both Gurbaz and McGurk are top-order batsmen and are excellent options to take Duckett’s place.
Fraser-McGurk has previously been part of Delhi Capitals. However, due to a dip in performance, he was released before the 2026 season. In 2024, he proved to be a reliable opener, scoring 330 runs at a strike rate of 234.04 in nine matches. His performance led DC to retain him under the Right to Match (RTM) clause during the 2025 auction, but he managed only 55 runs in six matches that season and was not retained for 2026. His fortunes may change again, allowing him to don the DC jersey once more.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is an outstanding opener with extensive experience in the league, having played for KKR. He scored 363 runs, including two centuries, in 19 matches for KKR.
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