IPL 2025: England batter Harry Brook withdraws, risks two-year ban from Indian Premier League

England batter Harry Brook has pulled out of the Indian Premier League for the second straight season, a move which could result in a two-year ban from the competition.

Prior to the IPL 2025 auction, the league’s Governing Council put in place a rule which read, “Any player who registers in the player auction and after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for two seasons,” one of the rules read.

Brook apologized “unreservedly” Sunday to the Delhi Capitals franchise and its supporters but stressed that playing for England remains his “priority and focus.”

The 26-year-old Brook is one of the favorites, along with England test captain Ben Stokes, to replace Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain following its group-stage elimination at the Champions Trophy.

“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 wrote on social media. “It is a really important time for England cricket and I want to fully commit to preparing for the upcoming series.

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“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.”

England faces a home test series against India, starting in June, followed by a hotly anticipated Ashes tour against Australia from November to January.

Brook withdrew from the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League following the death of his grandmother.

This year’s IPL starts on March 22 with Kolkata Knight Riders playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens.