Harry Brook opens up on IPL return after England captaincy

Harry Brook has opened up about the physical and mental demands of captaincy as England’s white-ball leader. The Yorkshire batter has been reflecting on his role leading the national side through a recent series against India, where he delivered a landmark performance. Brook’s comments come as he prepares for action in The Hundred at his home ground in Leeds.

Brook at Headingley about the toll that captaincy takes on a player. He explained his experience leading England through the India series and how the responsibility affected him. Following that demanding period, he was looking forward to returning to domestic cricket in a different capacity.

“Captaining is bloody hard. It takes a lot out of you. The way we played against India was awesome, but at the end of it, I was tired. And I was glad that I was coming back just as a batter,” Brook was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

The toll of captaincy

The England captain also reflected on what could have been following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket. When Stokes stepped away, there was potential for Brook to assume a broader leadership role across all formats. However, the ECB appointed Joe Root to the top position instead. Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director, explained that it would have been premature to give Brook such responsibility at that stage, particularly with Stephen Fleming arriving as the new Test head coach.

Brook acknowledged that leading England across all formats would appeal to him. Yet he recognised the decision made by the ECB and accepted the outcome. He indicated that had the board chosen him over Root, he would have needed to give the matter serious consideration before accepting such a significant role.

The Hundred and reconnecting with his coach

Brook’s future in the IPL remains a topic of interest. He is currently serving a two-year suspension from the competition following his withdrawal from the 2025 season. Brook had been signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹6.25 crore at the November 2024 mega-auction but chose to step away to manage his workload and prioritise his England commitments as the newly appointed white-ball captain. He will be eligible to re-enter the IPL auction in 2028.

Despite the current ban, Brook has expressed his desire to return to the IPL in the future. He recognises the value of competing in one of the world’s premier T20 leagues and believes the experience makes players better.

“Yeah, definitely. The IPL is a great competition, and it’s a great experience, and you go over there, you leave a better player. It’s a very good competition to be a part of, and it’s something that I’ll definitely think about in the future,” Brook said.

Brook also emphasised his current priorities, making clear that his focus remains entirely on England cricket. He stated that his immediate goal is to play as much cricket as possible for his country.

“Who knows what the future holds, but yeah, and like I said, I’m completely focussed on playing as much cricket as I possibly can for England, and that is my one and only priority at the moment,” he added.