Harry Brook has opted out of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the second consecutive year. While no official announcement has been made by his franchise, Delhi Capitals, the ECB, or the BCCI, Brook confirmed his exclusion via a tweet. This decision puts him at risk of getting a two-year ban from the cash-rich league due to a new rule introduced ahead of last year’s mega-auction in an IPL governing council meeting.
Brook is currently the leading contender to take over England’s white-ball captaincy after Jos Buttler stepped down following the team’s early exit from another ICC event. England’s next white-ball assignment is a home series against West Indies, starting on May 29th, just four days after the IPL final. Mentioning the need to recharge after a packed schedule, Brook explained his decision to withdraw from the tournament.
“I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL,” Brook took to his X account to make his decision public. “I apologize unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters.
“I love cricket. Ever since I was a young boy, I have dreamt of playing for my country and I am extremely thankful to have the opportunity to play the game I love at this level.
He further wrote,
“With the guidance of people I trust, I have taken the time to seriously consider this decision. It is a really important time for England cricket and I want to fully commit to preparing for the upcoming series. In order to do this, I need time to recharge after the busiest period in my career to date. I know not everyone will understand, and I don’t expect them to, but I have to do what I believe is right, and playing for my country remains my priority and focus. I remain hugely grateful for the opportunities I have been given and the support I receive.”
Brook had also pulled out of the previous IPL edition to be with his family following his grandmother’s death. Multiple other such withdrawals by foreign players in recent seasons prompted the IPL franchises to introduce a rule reprimanding any late pullouts. Under this rule, foreign players who make themselves unavailable for the season after registering for the auction would be penalized with a two-year ban. The decision states,
“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.”
Brook was bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 6.25 crore in the mega-auction last year after his previous franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), decided against retaining him. He had represented SRH in the 2023 edition, where his outings were below par. Barring a commanding century knock in his third game for the franchise, he could only cut sorry figures in the subsequent games.
With him sitting this season out and facing a potential ban for the next two, it remains to be seen whether he will ever find another opportunity to better his numbers in the cash-rich IPL.
