Brook Admits Captaincy Took Its Toll and Eyes an IPL Return

Harry Brook has spoken candidly about how demanding captaincy proved to be. After leading England through a testing series against India, in which he also batted impressively, the Yorkshireman said it drained him, and that he was relieved to be returning as a batter only. He made the comments to ESPNcricinfo.

Passed over for the full-time role

After Ben Stokes retired from international cricket, Brook was seen as a possible candidate for a wider leadership role. The ECB chose Joe Root instead. Brook said that captaining England in all three formats would have appealed to him, but he understands the board’s decision and has accepted it.

For now he is back in domestic cricket with The Hundred, where he can concentrate purely on batting and reconnect with his franchise and its coaches.

IPL ambitions

Brook’s IPL future is a regular talking point. He is serving a two-year ban from the tournament after pulling out of the 2025 season. Delhi Capitals had bought him for ₹6.25 crore at the November 2024 mega-auction, but he withdrew to manage his workload and focus on England duty after becoming white-ball captain.

He is expected to be eligible for the IPL auction again in 2028 and has made clear he wants to play in the league once more. In his view, a top T20 competition offers valuable experience that helps players improve.