Delhi Capitals sign Pakistan-origin England spinner Rehan Ahmed as Ben Duckett's replacement for rest of IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals (DC) have secured the services of England’s Rehan Ahmed for the remainder of the IPL 2026 season. The young all-rounder joins the franchise as a replacement for his compatriot Ben Duckett, in a deal worth Rs 75 lakh.

DC bring in Rehan Ahmed as Ben Duckett's replacement

Duckett had initially withdrawn from the tournament just days before it commenced, choosing to focus on his international career following a difficult Ashes tour. In the interim, Delhi Capitals opted not to rush a replacement, with Sri Lankan batter Pathum Nissanka successfully filling the vacancy to partner KL Rahul at the top of the order. However, Duckett's withdrawal is expected to result in a two-year ban from the league, a penalty consistent with the precedent set by his England teammate, Harry Brook, who faced a similar suspension after pulling out of his deal with the Delhi Capitals shortly before the 2025 season.

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Beyond these recent highlights, Rehan has established himself as a well-traveled T20 specialist, gaining valuable experience in major global tournaments such as Australia's Big Bash League and the ILT20 in the UAE. Across his career, he has participated in 97 T20 matches, accumulating 85 wickets at an economy rate of 8.13, while simultaneously proving himself a capable contributor with the bat, scoring 1,071 runs at a strike rate just shy of 126.

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What does Rehan Ahmed bring to the DC table?

While the Pakistani origin Rehan, who will enjoy his first stint in IPL in the ongoing season, first burst onto the scene as a wrist-spinner, he has elevated his batting capabilities over the past year. He played a starring role for Leicestershire during their 2025 County Championship campaign, which saw the side clinch the Division Two title and earn promotion to Division One. During that standout season, Rehan scored 760 runs at an average of 50.66—including five centuries—while also proving his worth with the ball, claiming 23 wickets at an average of 19.

He also enjoyed an impressive T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. Notably, he played a match-winning role against New Zealand on a difficult Premadasa surface, contributing 2 for 28 with the ball and a decisive, unbeaten 19 runs off just seven deliveries from the No. 8 spot. His reliability in shorter formats is further evidenced by his performance in The Hundred, where he has claimed 23 wickets across 25 innings at a tidy economy rate of 7.68.