England leg-spinner and batting allrounder Rehan Ahmed has been brought into Delhi Capitals’ squad for IPL 2026, taking the spot of Ben Duckett at a reported fee of INR 75 lakh. The move gives DC an additional option who can contribute with both bat and ball, while also reshaping their spin resources for the season ahead.
For Rehan, this will be his maiden IPL campaign. He is expected to bolster a Delhi spin group that already features captain Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Vipraj Nigam and offspinner Tripurana Vijay—who is still uncapped in IPL action. With that combination, DC are aiming to cover a range of bowling styles and matchups across the middle overs.
Duckett’s replacement comes after he pulled out of his IPL agreement last month. The decision was driven by a desire to rediscover his form and protect his Test career following a tough Ashes outing. His late withdrawal is understood to be in line with league regulations that can lead to a two-year IPL ban, and that is expected to be the outcome for him.
A similar situation has already affected another English teammate at Delhi. Harry Brook is currently serving a comparable ban after stepping away from his IPL contract with DC ahead of the 2025 season.
Rehan’s IPL chances are supported by recent performances on the international stage. He impressed during the T20 World Cup, finishing with figures of 2 for 28 and then delivering a vital cameo—19 not out from seven balls at No. 8—to help England get the better of New Zealand on a difficult Premadasa pitch.
The 21-year-old has also been productive in franchise cricket. In the Hundred, he has taken 23 wickets from 25 innings while keeping his economy rate at 7.68. Beyond England’s domestic setup, he has gained additional T20 experience through stints in Australia’s Big Bash League and the ILT20 in the UAE.
Across his T20 career so far, Rehan has played 97 matches. He has claimed 85 wickets at an economy rate of 8.13, while also contributing with the bat—scoring 1071 runs at a strike rate just under 126.
Meanwhile, former Punjab allrounder Nikhil Chaudhary—now based in Australia for domestic cricket—has been seen training with the Delhi Capitals group as a reserve option.
