'Very good competition': Harry Brook open to playing IPL again but England remains his priority originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. KEY TAKEAWAYS:
England's white-ball captain Harry Brook has softened his stance on IPL participation. Brook remains banned from the tournament until 2027 for withdrawing from the 2025 auction pick. He insists England and the Hundred stay his top priority, even while praising the IPL's competitive standard. Brook last played for SRH in the IPL.
Harry Brook remains open to playing IPL again after backing out in 2025 Harry Brook has left the door ajar on an IPL comeback, just weeks after insisting he wanted nothing to do with franchise cricket beyond English shores. The England white-ball skipper, speaking to Cricinfo during the 2026 edition of the Hundred, admitted the Indian league was a "great competition" that sharpens players and that he'd "definitely think about" going back once he's eligible again. However, there has been a change in his tone regarding his IPL participation. Since taking over the England captaincy, Brook had leaned hard into a country-first message, telling reporters as recently as last month that he'd "committed completely to England cricket" and had no interest in turning out for any franchise besides the Hundred. MORE: Joe Root scraps ECB curfew set after Ben Stokes controversy, tells England players to 'be grown adults' That stance hasn't technically changed, but the language around it clearly has. The former Sunrisers Hyderabad man currently can't play in the IPL anyway, even if he wanted to. He's serving a ban handed down by the BCCI after withdrawing from the 2025 season following his auction selection. That suspension runs until 2027, so any return is still some way off. MORE: 'I don’t drink around cricket': England star opens up on alcohol consumption What did Harry Brook say about playing in the IPL again? Brook was careful with his words but didn't shut the door either. "Who knows what the future holds, but yeah, and like I said, I'm completely focused on playing as much cricket as I possibly can for England, and that is my one and only priority at the moment," he said. Still, he went on to call the IPL "a great experience" that leaves players better for having been part of it. He added: "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." Closer to home, Brook's is still turning out for the Sunrisers franchise in the Hundred, now rebranded as Sunrisers Leeds after IPL franchise owners took control of what used to be the Northern Superchargers. He shrugged off questions about the shake-up, saying change is part and parcel of any franchise takeover. “Well, it’s always going to be a little bit of change, obviously, with new owners, and there’s a lot more orange around the ground now, as seen with the range Army. But it’s the same with every franchise, really," Brook said. “You try and get to know everybody as quickly as you possibly can, build some bonds, and yeah, at the end of the day, we’re all here to try and win a few games of cricket." MORE: Brendon McCullum says he 'completely' trusts Stephen Fleming as England Test coach
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Brook's changing tone makes sense, for now None of this should come as a huge shock. Players say what suits the moment, and right now Brook's job is leading England, so talking up county and international cricket is the smart, safe line. But turning down IPL money and exposure forever was never realistic for a batter of his calibre. The league remains the best-paid, highest-profile domestic competition in the sport, and staying away from it long-term would be unusual for any top white-ball player. What's interesting is the timing of the softer tone. Brook isn't eligible again until 2027 anyway, so there's no pressure to make a call yet. Hence, he can afford to sound open without actually committing to anything. Expect this kind of hedging to continue right up until the ban lifts, at which point England's board and Brook himself will have a real decision to make about workload, burnout, and where his loyalties truly sit when the money's actually on the table. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.