Ben Duckett has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League (IPL) in a decisive move aimed at salvaging his England cricket career, following a challenging period both on and off the pitch.
The left-handed batsman, once widely regarded as the world’s premier all-format opener, has endured a significant dip in form since late last summer, a trend that continued through the winter where he managed only one score above fifty across 16 innings.
His struggles were particularly evident during the Ashes, where his highest score was 42.
This difficult spell was compounded by an incident in Noosa during a mid-series break, where he was unwittingly filmed in a seemingly inebriated state, with the video subsequently posted online.
Duckett was also an unused squad member during England’s recent T20 World Cup campaign in India and Sri Lanka.
Facing intense scrutiny over his place, especially in the Test side, Duckett has informed the Delhi Capitals of his decision to pull out of the IPL, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday.
Explaining his rationale, Duckett told the Daily Telegraph: "I’m desperate to play all three formats for England for as long as I can.
“This is a decision I hope I will look back on in 10 years and see as a pivotal moment in my career, and the right decision. I will being doing everything I can to be ready for England."
His withdrawal carries potential repercussions; players who make themselves unavailable after being purchased at auction without valid reasons, such as injury, risk a ban.
This could render Duckett ineligible for the IPL until 2029, in addition to him forfeiting a £200,000 payday this year.
However, Duckett intends to return to Nottinghamshire to address any underlying flaws in his batting alongside head coach Peter Moores.
His immediate goal is to participate in the County Championship ahead of England’s first Test of the summer against New Zealand, set to commence on June 4.
The 31-year-old also confirmed he has already begun working with England fitness coach Peter Sims to achieve optimal physical condition.
Reflecting on his recent experiences, Duckett stated: "I’ve learnt a lot in the last year. Going from how I was being spoken about during the India series (last summer), to how I am spoken about now. That’s a ridiculously big dip.
“Not playing in the World Cup and being on the sidelines in India after such a tough Ashes series was a struggle for me. But it’s lit a massive fire in my belly moving forward. I don’t know where I stand, or what is to come."
He also expressed regret over the Noosa incident, which reportedly involved excessive drinking by several players and led to England implementing a midnight curfew.
"I am sorry for that incident," he added. "It was not professional and shouldn’t have happened. There is no hiding away from it."
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