Delhi Capitals Sign Rehan Ahmed for Ben Duckett in IPL

Delhi Capitals have signed England's leg-spin all-rounder Rehan Ahmed as a replacement for Ben Duckett in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, bolstering their spin bowling options midway through the 2026 campaign.

The franchise announced the move on April 23, with Ahmed joining for a fee of 75 lakh rupees. The 21-year-old, who went unsold at the IPL auction in December 2025 but was available through the league's replacement player pool, will make his IPL debut with Delhi Capitals. Duckett, an opening batter acquired by the team for 2 crore rupees at the auction, withdrew from his contract last month to prioritize his international career with England.

Duckett's decision followed a challenging Ashes series, where he averaged just 20.20 without a single half-century. He cited the need to focus on physical and mental preparation for England's busy home summer, including three Tests against New Zealand in June, three against Pakistan in August and September, and a white-ball series against India in July. In a statement on Instagram, Duckett expressed regret over the withdrawal, saying, "I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL. Representing England...