Ben Duckett, Delhi Capitals’ opener, is out of IPL 2026. He’s focusing on his England career in all formats — especially on sharpening his red-ball skills. After a poor Ashes run and spending the whole T20 World Cup just watching, Duckett’s decided to train under Peter Moores and come back stronger for the national team.
This is a big setback for Delhi. Duckett was the top pick to open alongside KL Rahul, and now they’ve got to rethink. Sure, Pathum Nissanka, Prithvi Shaw, and Sahil Parikh (who’s been doing well in practice) are options, but the team still needs a replacement. Here are three players Delhi could look at:
- Ottoneil Baartman
It sounds odd to swap an opener for a pacer, but hear me out: Mitchell Starc is probably missing the first few games and Delhi’s desperate for someone reliable at the death. Baartman checks that box — plus, Delhi’s got enough openers already. He’s reportedly dropped out of the PSL too, so getting him just makes sense.
- Rehan Ahmed
This might surprise you. Ahmed gives you Michael Bracewell vibes — rare and super handy in T20s. He’s just 21, but has racked up 97 T20s, 85 wickets, and can bat anywhere. Honestly, Bracewell would probably be the preferred pick, but he’s set for the PSL. If he skips that, Delhi would probably chase him first, otherwise Rehan could be their guy.
- Jamie Smith
Nobody expected Jamie Smith to go unsold at the IPL auction. Delhi has a chance to snap him up now as Duckett’s stand-in. He’s 25, has played 97 T20s and scored 1687 runs at a striking rate of 144.31. He’s got GMR group connections (they recently invested in Southern Brave), so maybe he gets the call for IPL. The catch: he’s never played in the league before. Still, Smith’s got solid potential. Delhi might hesitate though, given the drama with Harry Brook and Ben Duckett (both England players).
Bottom line, Duckett’s exit leaves Delhi scrambling — but they’ve got a few interesting options if they play their cards right.