Former England captain Michael Vaughan has revealed that Delhi Capitals (DC) had approached Ben Duckett to join the side as Harry Brook's replacement for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 but he declined the offer.
Delhi Capitals suffered a huge blow when England’s Brook pulled out of the tournament just before it began. Brook, signed for a hefty INR 6.25 crore, opted out of the season to focus on his international career.
In a bid to bolster their squad, the Capitals reached out to another English star, Duckett, as a potential replacement, as revealed by Vaughan. Duckett, a dynamic opener known for his aggressive batting, seemed like a solid fit. However, southpaw turned down the offer, leaving DC’s plans in limbo.
Vaughan confirmed this development on Cricbuzz, saying,
"I did hear a whisper that they went for Ben Duckett, but Ben Duckett doesn’t wanna come over."
Despite going unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Duckett had registered for it, hinting at initial interest. His decision to decline might stem from a packed international schedule or a preference to prioritise England duties, especially with a busy summer ahead, including a Test series against India.
Harry Brook Faces 2 Year IPL Ban
Brook’s withdrawal was not a one-off. He had also opted out of IPL 2024 due to personal reasons despite being picked by DC in that auction too.
This time, his decision drew attention from the BCCI. They slapped a two-year IPL ban on him for pulling out after the auction. The move came as a stance to stop late withdrawals, aiming to protect team stability.
Also read: “Harry Brook Needed to Play IPL to Sort Spin Woes” - Michael Vaughan
Delhi Capitals Continue Search for Replacement
DC kicked off their campaign with a thrilling last-over win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by one wicket, chasing 210 successfully.
The franchise is yet to name an official replacement even as their next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) looms on March 30 in Visakhapatnam.
There were rumours that Dasun Shanaka had joined the side as Brook's replacement as he was earlier seen in the DC camp days before the start of the season. However, there has been no official word on this.
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