England batting star Harry Brook pulled out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, saying he needs to take time out to prepare for the ‘busiest period of his career’ at the international level. This is the second successive year Harry Brook has withdrawn from the IPL after he opted out of the competition in 2024 due to personal issues.
Harry Brook could face a two-year ban from IPL if the organisers decide to play by the rules. The IPL announced before the mega auction for the 2025 season that a player pulling out after getting picked in the auction is in danger of facing a two-year ban.
Harry Brook IPL career in a glimpse as Delhi Capitals acquired him for 6.25 crores
Harry Brook scored 47 runs in three matches on batting-friendly tracks in Pakistan and struggled miserably against the spinners. The English batter was signed by Delhi Capitals for INR 6.25 Crore in the mega auction in November. DC also roped him in IPL 2024, but he also backed out then and didn’t travel to India for the cash-rich league. Harry Brook, who is the frontrunner to replace Jos Buttler as white-ball captain of England, was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 6.25 crore in the mega auction.
Harry Brook has played one season of the IPL, in 2023, when he endured a difficult campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He made 190 runs at 22.11 in 11 matches, but more than half of those came in a single remarkable innings, 100 not out from 55 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens.
ESPNCricinfo has learned that Brook’s decision to pull out was conveyed by ECB officials to the BCCI last week, and then relayed to DC, who had bought Brook for INR 6.25 crore (£590,000) at the IPL mega auction last November.
Harry Brook, 26, apologised unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their fans for his last-minute decision. IPL 2025 gets underway on March 22. Harry Brook played IPL 2023 for SunRisers Hyderabad, but struggled to live up to the hefty price tag of Rs 13.25 crore, scoring just 190 runs in 11 matches.
Harry Brook’s statement about withdrawal from IPL 2025
There is no official line on the development yet from the IPL, but Harry Brook posted on social media* that he needed “time to recharge after the busiest period in my career to date”
He is considered a frontrunner to replace Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain following their group-stage elimination at the Champions Trophy, and, as an all-formats player with 18 months yet to run on his ECB central contract, workload management could prove to be a factor in the withdrawal. The ECB has been contacted for comment.
“I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL,” Brook tweeted.
“I apologise 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.
“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.”
The decision left him vulnerable to a two-year ban from the IPL. The new rule was put in place ahead of the 2025 auction, and is based on feedback from all ten franchises, who have expressed frustration at the series of late pullouts by overseas players.
In a note to franchises last September, the IPL 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 only exception, the governing council had said, would be for “an injury/medical condition, which will have to be confirmed by the [player’s] home board”.
This is the second year in a row that Harry Brook has pulled out before the start of an IPL season, with DC the team affected on both occasions. Last March, ten days before their opening match of the season, Harry Brook informed DC he was withdrawing to be with his family after the death of his grandmother. The bereavement had already caused him to pull out of England’s Test tour of India in February.
IPL 2025 will start on March 22 with DC’s opening fixture coming against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Visakhapatnam on March 24. DC have not yet announced their captain for the season.