Banned from the Indian Premier League until the 2028 season, Harry Brook has insisted he has no regrets about skipping the cash-rich franchise league, saying his only priority is representing England as he also emerged as the leading contender to succeed Ben Stokes as the country’s next Test captain.
Brook, who is already England’s white-ball captain, is widely seen as the frontrunner to take over the Test side following Stokes’ retirement from international cricket. While the leadership question remains undecided, the 27-year-old made it clear that international cricket will always come before franchise commitments.
Brook is currently serving a two-season IPL ban after withdrawing from the tournament for two successive years after being picked at the auction. He first pulled out ahead of IPL 2024 due to a family emergency and then skipped IPL 2025 to prioritise his England commitments after being appointed captain of the ODI and T20I teams.
The BCCI’s regulations state that any overseas player who withdraws after being bought at the auction for reasons other than injury faces a two-year ban from participating in future IPL auctions.
Despite the ban, Brook said he remains fully committed to England and has no desire to play franchise leagues around the world apart from The Hundred.
“I’ve committed completely to England cricket. I’ve said that I don’t want to play any franchise cricket barring the Hundred and given everything that I want to do is to play cricket for England and whatever I do on and off the field is to try and be and perform as well as I possibly can for England, and hence the reason I don’t play in the IPL and PSL and all the other franchise competitions,” Brook said in the lead-up to the five-match T20I series against India.
“I am just happy playing cricket for England as much as I possibly can. Hence the reason I don’t play any franchise cricket. For me, personally, I just got to try and look after myself, to be honest. To play as many games as I possibly can for England, and whether that’s as captain or not – I’m just happy to be out on the park,” he added.
Brook also admitted that leading England’s Test side would be a dream if he is offered the role.
“Look, it would be a great honour to do it, it’d be a privilege to do it, to captain England in the highest format of our game. The pinnacle, I think it is. Playing Test cricket is the greatest thing that I’ve ever done in my life and it’s a dream and something that I’ve always wanted to do since I could speak. Look, it’s not up to me, that decision, but if I got offered it then I’d be happy to take it,” he said.
Although Brook is England’s designated Test vice-captain, the ECB turned to former captain Joe Root to lead the side during Stokes’ suspension against New Zealand. Brook backed that decision wholeheartedly.
“I think the decision that was made was the right one. Making Rooty captain last week was definitely the right decision. He has always been there for the ECB. He has been a stalwart for English cricket. He’s in my opinion the best batter to ever play Test cricket.
“The ECB needed him that week as well and he stepped up. My job that week was to just try and help him as much as possible. Lots of conversations: obviously we’re at first and second slip, so we’re always chatting about how we can have an effect on the game. But I definitely feel ECB made the right decision,” he said.
England’s immediate attention now shifts to the five-match T20I series against India, while the ECB is expected to announce its new permanent Test captain ahead of next month’s home series against Pakistan.