Surplus spinner? Delhi Capitals baffle fans with signing of Ben Duckett replacement

Delhi Capitals have signed England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed as a replacement for Ben Duckett for the remainder of IPL 2026, with the 21-year-old joining the franchise for INR 75 lakh.

Interestingly, the Capitals have opted to bolster an already strong spin department featuring Axar Patel, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav and Nitish Rana. While Rehan offers value with the bat, he is primarily known for his effective leg-spin.

Rehan, a leg-spinner of Pakistani descent, represents England at the international level. His father, Naeem Ahmed, was a former club cricketer in Pakistan before moving to England in 2001. A right-arm leg-spinner, Rehan has played 5 Tests, 9 ODIs and 13 T20Is, picking up 49 international wickets.

In T20 cricket overall, he has taken 85 wickets from 97 matches at an economy rate of 8.13, including a four-wicket haul. He is also a handy batter, scoring 1071 runs at an average of 18.46 and a strike rate of 125.70, with two fifties.

Rehan has featured in multiple franchise leagues, including The Hundred with Southern Brave and Trent Rockets, the ILT20 with Gulf Giants and the Big Bash League with Hobart Hurricanes.

BEN DUCKETT WITHDRAWS FROM IPL

Earlier this year, Duckett withdrew from the 2026 IPL just four days before the season, choosing to focus on England’s upcoming international summer. Signed by the Capitals for Rs 2 crore, Duckett called the decision difficult but necessary, stressing his long-term commitment to England. He also apologised to the franchise and fans for the late pullout.

“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,” Duckett wrote.

“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,” he said.

His withdrawal could invite sanctions under IPL rules, which allow action against players who opt out after being picked at the auction. With no confirmed injury cited, the situation may become more complicated, as regulations permit bans from future editions and auctions in such cases.

A similar controversy arose last season when Harry Brook withdrew after being signed, raising concerns over player availability and commitment.

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