England batter Harry Brook has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, marking his second consecutive pullout from the tournament. As a result, the 26-year-old could face a two-year ban from future IPL editions. Brook, who was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 6.5 crore at the IPL Mega Auction last year, announced his decision via social media on March 9, just weeks before the new season begins.
Brook expressed regret over his decision, apologizing “unreservedly” to Delhi Capitals and its supporters. While acknowledging that not everyone would understand his move, he emphasized that playing for England remains his top priority.
“I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL. I apologize unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters,” Brook stated. “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.”
Potential Captaincy and ECB’s Role in Brook’s Decision
Brook is among the frontrunners, along with England Test captain Ben Stokes, to replace Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain. This speculation follows England’s group-stage exit at the Champions Trophy 2025.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) communicated Brook’s decision to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last week before informing his franchise, Delhi Capitals. However, there has been no official statement from the IPL regarding the matter, and Brook has not publicly disclosed the exact reason for his withdrawal.
This latest pullout puts Brook at risk of a penalty, as the IPL Governing Council has implemented strict measures to address player withdrawals without genuine reasons. A rule introduced before the IPL 2025 auction states that any player who withdraws after being picked in the auction will face a two-year ban from both the tournament and future player auctions.
Brook’s IPL Journey and Delhi Capitals’ Replacement Plans
Brook’s absence leaves Delhi Capitals in need of a replacement before their season opener against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24. The England batter had previously played in IPL 2023 for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where he scored 190 runs in 11 matches at an average of 22.11. His standout performance came against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he scored a century. However, SRH released him post-season, and he was later bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 4 crore in the IPL 2025 auction.
This is not the first time Brook has pulled out of the IPL. In 2024, he withdrew from the tournament to be with his family following the passing of his grandmother, which also caused him to miss England’s Test series against India in February. Given this second consecutive withdrawal, it remains to be seen whether the IPL will enforce its stringent withdrawal policy and impose a ban on the English batter.
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