By Harry Brook has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to personal reasons. The England batter, who was bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 4 crore, has decided to opt out of the tournament, which is set to begin on March 22.
Brook’s decision to withdraw from the IPL follows his absence from the England team recently. Initially selected for the Test series in India, Brook withdrew from the squad at the last minute, with both the England team management and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) requesting privacy for him and his family.
“The Brook family respectfully requests privacy during this time. In light of this, the ECB and the family kindly request the media and the public to respect their wish for privacy and refrain from intruding on their private space,” the ECB stated in a January release.
The trend of English players withdrawing from commitments citing personal reasons has caused frustration among IPL franchises. They argue that such unexpected pullouts disrupt their auction planning. IPL franchises are considering raising this issue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“Once players register for the auction, they should honor their commitment. Reneging on it is unprofessional, and the BCCI should address this,” expressed a franchise official. This is not the first instance of such withdrawals; players like Alex Hales, Jason Roy, and even Mitchell Starc have previously withdrawn citing similar reasons. Attempts to contact Delhi Capitals officials for comment were unsuccessful. It appears they are now seeking a replacement.
Brook has played a significant role in the Bazball style of play under the current management of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum in the England team. However, his performance in the IPL last year was below par. Despite being bought by SunRisers Hyderabad for INR 13.25 crore in the 2023 season, he only managed to score 190 runs at an average of 21. As a result, the franchise released him before the auction, where Delhi Capitals signed him for Rs 4 crore.
