Harry Brook Breaks Silence on Two-Year IPL Ban After Withdrawing from Delhi Capitals

England’s newly-appointed white-ball captain Harry Brook has addressed the controversy surrounding his two-year ban from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 26-year-old batter was expected to play for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025 after being signed at the mega auction in Jeddah. However, just days before the tournament began, Brook opted to withdraw from the league.

IPL Introduces New Rule Before Season

Prior to the 2025 season, the IPL governing council implemented a new rule. It states:
“Any player who registers in the auction and, after getting picked, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for 2 seasons.”

This regulation came into focus after Brook’s withdrawal, triggering the enforcement of the two-year ban.

Brook Prioritises England Over IPL

Brook, who recently took over as England’s white-ball captain from Jos Buttler, addressed the issue during a press interaction in Headingly. He stated his full commitment to representing England.

“They haven’t told me. But if I do get banned, fair play. That’s the rules they put in place, but I’m completely committed to playing cricket for England,” Brook said when asked about the IPL ban.

He further added, “So, to lose a little bit of money here and there, I’d take that any day to play for England. I won’t be playing any franchise cricket in the near future and I’ll be prioritising England and whatever games we have with them.”

Decision to Withdraw Wasn’t Easy

Brook acknowledged that the decision to withdraw from the IPL was not made lightly. With a demanding schedule ahead for England, the batter felt it was necessary to manage his workload carefully.

“Having this period after deciding to pull out of the IPL was the right decision for me. It wasn’t an easy decision, obviously, but I’ve got to try and manage my workload. I’ve played a hell of a lot of cricket over the last year and a half and it’s only going to be more going forward,” said Brook.

He added, “I’m not sure how much franchise cricket I’ll be playing in the near future, but my priority is definitely playing for England and trying to play as much cricket for England as I can.”

Delhi Capitals Left Empty-Handed

Brook had been bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 6.25 crore at the mega auction. His sudden withdrawal left the franchise without one of its key signings. Brook addressed the fans and team through a social media post.

“I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL. I apologise unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters,” Brook posted on Instagram.

He also mentioned, “It is a really important time for England cricket, and I want to fully commit to preparing for the upcoming series.”

Brook Reiterates England as Top Priority

In an interview with The Mirror, Brook made it clear that his focus remains solely on England. The batter indicated he would continue to put international duties ahead of franchise opportunities for the foreseeable future.

“This is my priority. England is the way forward for me and franchise cricket can almost take a step back for little while. At the end of the day I enjoy playing cricket for England more than anything else,” said Brook.

He further stated, “So to lose a little bit of money here and there, I’d take that any day to play for England. I won’t be playing any franchise cricket in the near future and I’ll be prioritising England and whatever games we have with them.”

Despite the ban, Brook revealed he hadn’t received formal notification from the BCCI. “They haven’t told me,” he said. “But if I do get banned, fair play. That’s the rules they put in place, but I’m completely committed to playing cricket for England.”

Intense Schedule Ahead for Brook

Brook’s decision comes as England faces a packed international calendar. The team is scheduled to play 11 Test matches between now and the end of the Ashes in January.

In addition, Brook may be called upon for 12 ODIs and 15 T20 internationals as England prepares for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Brook is also expected to play a crucial role in red-ball cricket, cementing his status as a key figure across formats.