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Two England international cricketers have reportedly rejected offers to join the IPL 2026 as replacement players. Does this signal a paradigm shift?
England pacer Josh Tongue has rejected an IPL offer. (AP Photo)
Two England internationals, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and fast bowler Josh Tongue, reportedly rejected offers to join the 2026 IPL as replacement players. According to The Telegraph, the duo wants to spend the next two months in England, though it didn’t clarify whether they’ll play the County Championship.
This development comes after England batter Ben Duckett pulled out of his Rs. 2 crore Delhi Capitals deal to focus on County cricket. In a statement, he apologized to the Capitals fans and said he was worried about his place in the national English setup and wanted to spend some time working on his fitness, mental health, and red-ball skills, while also giving more attention to his family.
While the report also didn’t mention who Smith and Tongue would have replaced, DC had a batting spot available after Duckett’s departure, which the former would have been perfect for. Several teams also needed pacers, like Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, and Rajasthan Royals, and would have loved Tongue’s services.
How is England luring players away from IPL contracts?
Duckett is set to become the second English player, after his ODI skipper Harry Brook, to be banned from the IPL for two years. It’s not without reason that English players are accepting these bans suddenly and citing their willingness to play the County Championship, which wasn’t the case for years.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has fundamentally changed the financial landscape for its top stars by introducing multi-year central contracts that offer unprecedented long-term security. By providing two-year and three-year deals worth up to GBP 800,000 annually (Rs. 10 crore approx), plus significant match fees, the board has created a reliable income stream that rivals the immediate windfall of a short-term IPL stint.
This guaranteed wealth, combined with rising salaries in domestic competitions like The Hundred, means players no longer have to chase every franchise opportunity to secure their financial futures. Instead, they can prioritize physical recovery and national duties without the fear that an injury or a dip in form will instantly result in a total loss of earnings.
March 27, 2026, 22:52 IST
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