IPL 2026: Two-year ban for overseas players pulling out after being picked at auction
IPL Trophy (Image Source: BCCI/IPL)
Published - 12 Dec 2025, 04:26 PM• Read time - 2 mins
The Indian Premier League (IPL) introduced a new rule last year, imposing a two-year ban on overseas players who become unavailable without a legitimate reason after being picked at the auction.
The IPL Governing Council brought in the rule in a bid to curb last-minute pullouts, after all ten franchises agreed that such unforeseen exits hurt team balance, as strategies are formulated keeping in mind all available options and assuming full availability of overseas players.
A plethora of players have pulled out from the league at the eleventh hour, citing personal reasons, forcing the affected franchises to pick a replacement from a small pool of players. The franchises were particularly troubled as overseas players bought at base price were pulling out after the auction, necessitating the introduction of the rule.
In a document shared with franchises detailing the retention rules at the time, the IPL had said: "Any [overseas] player who registers for [an] auction and, after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season will get banned from participating in the IPL/IPL auction for two seasons."
The franchises, however, agreed that if a player is pulled out by its board for an international assignment or has medical reasons/injury, or a family emergency to address, then the rule may not be applied. However, in case of an injury, the player’s board must issue an official confirmation.
England and Delhi Capitals batter Harry Brook became the first player to face the imposition of the two-year ban after he pulled out from IPL 2025, making it his second consecutive pull-out after he missed the 2024 season, citing personal family reasons. Brook had to be present with his grieving family after the demise of his grandmother in February 2024.
In 2025, Brook expressed the need for "time to recharge after the busiest period in my career to date. Brook was later named the England white-ball skipper, replacing Jos Buttler.
