IPL 2026: Five possible overseas replacement players for DC after Ben Duckett pulls out

Just a few days ahead of the start of the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League(IPL), the Delhi Capitals (DC) find themselves in a deja vu moment with English opening batter Ben Duckett announcing he will not take part in this year’s competition, to focus on his England career.

This is not the first time the Capitals have had to deal with an England player committing to the franchise and subsequently pulling out, having experienced the feeling with Harry Brook for two years in a row.

Duckett’s was one of the front-runners to open the batting with KL Rahul for the Capitals, but following his withdrawal, Sri Lankan batter Pathum Nissanka will almost certainly open the batting.

Here are five overseas openers DC could sign as Duckett’s replacement

1. Jonny Bairstow

Bairstow going unsold at the IPL 2026 auction was a surprise to many, as the Englishman has an impressive track record in the IPL. The 36-year-old has scored 1674 runs in the IPL at a healthy strike rate of 146.07.

Bairstow has also scored two centuries in the IPL, one with Sunrisers Hyderabad and most recently for Punjab Kings when the team chased down KKR’s 262 in 2024, the highest run chase in the history of the competition.

Bairstow last turned out for the Mumbai Indians last season as a replacement player for Ryan Rickelton during the playoffs. With such credentials along with his ability to keep wickets to his name, Bairstow is the most sensible choice for the Capitals.

Devon Conway

New Zealand’s Devon Conway is another option the Capitals can consider. Conway, like Bairstow, has had a successful run in the IPL in the past with CSK.

The reason behind CSK’s title winning campaign in 2023 can be largely attributed to Conway’s partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top of the order in 2023. His season that year was marked by consistent performances, scoring six fifties and crossing the 600 run mark.

His form off late however, has taken a dip and he has lost his place as New Zealand’s first choice opener in T20 internationals

Jake Fraser-McGurk

The explosive Aussie opener was one of DC’s lone bright spots in its disappointing campaign in 2024. After his cracking season that year, the Capitals camp placed their trust and faith on him, using the Right to Match (RTM) card in the 2025 IPL auction to buy him back.

However, McGurk had a poor season in 2025 and eventually lost his place in the team and was not retained ahead of the 2026 season. Ever since, he has struggled to score runs in every tournament he has been a part of.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

The Afghanistan wicket-keeper batsman is hard to stop when he gets going.

Having previously played for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and on the back of a decent T20 World Cup campaign, Rahmanullah Gurbaz would be a good fit in DC, considering its top four currently looks a tad bit light on firepower.

Arun Jaitley stadium’s flat pitches and short boundaries is exactly the kind of ground that Gurbaz will thrive on. His consistency and ability to bat deep through the innings still needs a little bit of working on, but aside of that, Gurbaz is one of the most destructive T20 batters going around.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith stocks as a capable T20 player has seen a dramatic rise, thanks to his exploits in the Big Bash League 2025-26 season where the Aussie scored a 42-ball 100 for the Sydney Sixers.

Smith is no stranger to the IPL too, having captained the Rising Pune Supergiant and the Rajasthan Royals in the past, even guiding the former to the final in 2017. The 36-year-old has played for the Capitals in the past as well, in the 2021 season.

However, Smith remains the unlikeliest choice as he is not a natural opener. On top of that, he is also currently contracted to play for the Sialkot Stallionz in the 2026 PSL due to which, unless he cancels his contract, will not allow him to play in the IPL.

Published on Mar 25, 2026