Building of; construction of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 It was always expected that it would be about cricket, but just days before the tournament began, an unexpected controversy hit the headlines. England opener Ben Duckett’s sudden withdrawal from the league has not only disrupted the team’s plans, but has also drawn a strong reaction from one of India’s most respected voices – Sunil Gavaskar.
Sunil Gavaskar later slam system Ben Duckett’S out of IPL
docket, which was picked up Delhi Capitals (DC) Was set to make his IPL debut, for ₹2 crore in the auction. However, just five days before the opening match, he announced his decision to opt out, citing his commitment to England cricket. The timing put Delhi in a difficult position, forcing them to rethink their combinations at the last moment.
The 31-year-old’s decision comes after a challenging few months. His Ashes campaign in Australia was disappointing and an off-field incident during the tour also came under criticism. Against that backdrop, Duckett decided to step back and focus on regaining form and mental clarity ahead of the England domestic season.
In his statement he made his priorities clear: “I’ve given it a lot of thought, and it’s not an easy choice. Representing England is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, and I want to give English cricket everything I can. To do that, I have to make sure I’m in the best possible shape, physically and mentally, before the summer.”
He also acknowledged the impact on his franchise: “I want to sincerely apologize to everyone in Delhi. I was really excited about the opportunity to represent the franchise, and I fully appreciate the time and planning that went into building a team.”
While Duckett’s reasoning reflects the player prioritizing international duty, the result has been significant – especially for Delhi, who were counting on him to partner KL Rahul at the top of the order.
Gavaskar raised questions on BCCI rules, demanded strict action
Duckett’s exit not only affected the team balance but it also reignited a major debate over the exit of foreign players after being selected in the IPL auction. And Gavaskar, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, took direct aim at the current rules set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Speaking candidly, Gavaskar acknowledged the complexities but made it clear that the current system is not effective enough: “It’s tough. Obviously, Ben Duckett had a very good Ashes series, and if he had not been bought for that amount in The Hundred auction, perhaps 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 it and said he wanted to concentrate on his England Test career.”
Then he pointed to the main issue: “But yes, what should be done is something that the BCCI will also have to think about, because the two-year ban is clearly not working. You have to look at something that will have an impact. Unless it has an impact on the player and his chances of coming back to the IPL, it will not work.”
The current rule states that any foreign player who withdraws without a valid injury reason can face a two-year ban from the IPL. On paper it looks tough. But as Gavaskar pointed out, players today have many attractive options – such as England’s domestic league – which reduce the fear of missing out on the IPL.
To illustrate his point, Gavaskar compared it to the punishment he receives on the field: “I don’t know. I’m not on the governing council. I haven’t thought about it. For example, every time, when we talk about giving penalties, when you talk about punishing teams who bowl slowly, putting another fielder inside the 30 meter circle instead of outside, that’s a penalty that can have an impact on the game. It’s a very effective penalty. Bowlers and fielders will want to go very fast because they want that last few wickets. All five fielders must be outside the 30 meter circle at the time of the over.”
Their argument is simple – penalties should be immediate and impactful, not just long-term sanctions that players may be willing to accept.
The situation is already complicated for Delhi Capitals. Along with Duckett’s absence, they are also dealing with the unavailability of Mitchell Starc for the early part of the tournament due to injury concerns. The team will now have to regroup quickly and look for options.
