In light of last-minute withdrawals in the IPL, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has called for tougher regulations from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. His comments come in the wake of England opener Ben Duckett pulling out of the IPL 2026 season despite being signed during the auction. Duckett, who was set to represent the Delhi Capitals, had been bought for ₹2 crore. However, just days before the tournament began, he announced that he would not be participating in the IPL 2026.
Duckett had stated that he would concentrate on his commitments with the England team. The timing of Duckett’s withdrawal gained huge attention. Notably, Duckett had a disappointing run in the Ashes 2025–26, where he managed only 202 runs across ten innings. Now, with England preparing for an important Test series against New Zealand, Duckett has chosen to play domestic red-ball cricket instead of participating in the IPL.
“It is a tough one. Clearly, Ben Duckett had a very good Ashes series, and if he had not been bought for the amount he was at The Hundred auction, maybe 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 this and say he wants to focus on his England Test career," Gavaskar said on India Today.
“But yes, what should be done is something for the BCCI to think about as well, because a two-year ban is obviously not working. You have to look at something that will have an impact. As long as it’s not having an impact on the player and his chances of coming back to the IPL, it won’t work," he added.
As per current IPL rules, such last-minute withdrawals can lead to sanctions. Duckett is now expected to face a two-year ban from the tournament, similar to the punishment handed to England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook in a similar situation. However, Gavaskar believes that these measures are not sufficient to deter players from backing out at the eleventh hour.