English batter Harry Brook has withdrawn from the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) to spend time with his family while they are grieving following the death of his grandmother in February.
Brook pulled out of England’s recently completed Test series in India in late January to be with his family, leaving the team during his team’s preparatory camp in UAE.
Harry Brook was purchased for INR 4 crore by Delhi Capitals. Delhi Capitals are yet to name a replacement for Brook.
Brook, 25, made his IPL debut in the 2023 season after Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for INR 13.25 crore. In his maiden IPL season, however, Brook scored only 190 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 123.37.
Brook have four centuries in his 12 Test appearances for England thus far, and has made a total of 44 international white-ball appearances.
“I can confirm that I have made the very difficult decision not to play in the upcoming IPL. I was so excited to be picked by Delhi Capitals and was so looking forward to joining up with everyone. Whilst I don’t think I should need to share my personal reasons behind this decision, I know there will be many asking why. So I do want to share this,” Harry Book said.
“I lost my Grandmother last month – she was a rock to me and I spent a huge amount of my childhood in her home; my attitude to life and love for cricket was shaped by her and my late grandfather. When at home, there would hardly be a day go by that didn’t include seeing her. It makes me so happy that she was able to see me play cricket for England. I’m proud that she could collect some of the awards I have won over the last couple of years when I couldn’t be there and I know she enjoyed doing that,” he added.
“I made the decision to leave the India test tour the night before we flew from Abu Dhabi to India because I was told for the first time that my Grandmother was ill and didn’t have long left. Now that she has passed my family & I are grieving and I need to be around them,” he added.
“Over the last few years I have learned to prioritise my mental wellbeing and that of my family’s, honestly nothing is more important to me than family. So whilst this may come as surprising to some, I know it’s the right decision for me. I’m young and hope to have many, many more years of cricket to come which I intend to make the absolute most of,” he said.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the support I have received, especially from the ECB and Delhi Capitals, thank you,” the England batter concluded.