Harry Brook, captain of the English ODI and T20 team, is currently under a two-year ban in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Although he was acquired by Delhi Capitals (DC) for IPL 2025, he decided to decline participation in the tournament. Under the new rules, Brook has been restricted from participating in the IPL and its auction for two seasons.
However, the English player emphasized that his doors in the IPL are not closed, and he will definitely consider returning to the tournament in the future. Harry Brook will be eligible to participate in the IPL auction again in 2028. He highly praised the IPL as a magnificent competition, noting that participating helps players improve.
Delhi Capitals spent 6.25 crore rupees on Brook during the IPL 2025 auction. He cited the demanding schedule of English cricket as the reason for his withdrawal from the tournament. Brook stated that he needs to recover from constant playing and wants to fully concentrate on preparing for upcoming England matches.
In an interview with Cricinfo, when asked about his plans to return to the IPL after the ban expires, the English athlete gave a positive response. Brook noted: 'Yes, certainly. The IPL is a fantastic competition, and the experience of playing there is superb. You go there and come back as an improved player. It's a wonderful thing to be part of this competition. I will definitely think about it in the future.'
The IPL rules have been tightened to prevent sudden player withdrawals after being bought at auction. The new provision states that if a player registered for the auction and selected by a franchise becomes unavailable before the season starts, they will be blocked from participating for the next two seasons and from the player auction. Brook fell under the purview of this rule, which prevents him from participating in the IPL auction during the ban period.
Previously, Harry Brook admitted that his withdrawal caused problems for Delhi Capitals, and he apologized to both the franchise and the fans. He wrote: 'I made a very difficult decision to decline the upcoming IPL. I sincerely apologize to Delhi Capitals and their fans without any conditions.'
Brook linked his decision to English cricket, asserting that playing for his country is his priority, and he wanted to fully prepare for the coming series. It is worth noting that this is the second time Harry Brook has declined the IPL. In 2024, he did not participate due to his grandmother's death, and in 2025, he withdrew his name due to workload and commitments to the English team, which led to the application of the new IPL rules.
