For the second consecutive time, England's young batter Harry Brook has pulled out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. With this decision, Brook has risked becoming the first player to face a two-year ban from the IPL. The 26-year-old has cited his commitment to England cricket as an excuse to leave Delhi Capitals (DC) in jeopardy at the 11th hour. He apologised to DC and said that he does not expect people to understand his decision.
"I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL. 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," Brook wrote on social media.
"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 is one of the top contenders to replace Jos Buttler as captain in the limited-overs format. Buttler stepped down as captain after England's early exit from the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
IPL rule on overseas player pulling out after an auction?
"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."
However, the IPL governing coouncil would make an exception for a player who got injured or has a medical condition only if it is approved by the country's board.
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In this case, Brook is not injured and likely to get banned from next two seasons of the cash-rich league.
Problems for Delhi Capitals
Brook was roped in for Rs 6.25 crore by the Delhi-based IPL franchise. With less than two weeks to go into the season, they will have to find Brook's replacement. Meanwhile, they are yet to announce their captain. Axar Patel and KL Rahul are two major contenders for the role.