The Delhi Capitals have hit a stumbling block leading up to IPL 2024, with Harry Brook opting out of the lucrative league due to personal reasons.
Harry Brook, who was acquired by the Delhi Capitals for a hefty sum of INR 4 crore in the recent IPL auction, has withdrawn from the upcoming Test series against the Indian National Cricket Team. Consequently, there’s speculation that he might miss the IPL 2024 season for reasons similar to those that kept him out of the recently concluded five-match series against India.
The exact cause behind Harry Brook’s decision to opt out of the Test series against India remains unknown. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) released a statement urging everyone to respect the privacy of the player and his family.
This isn’t the first instance of an England player withdrawing from the IPL citing personal reasons. Jason Roy, who was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders, also pulled out of the tournament previously due to personal reasons, and there have been similar occurrences in the past.
The trend of England players withdrawing from the IPL due to personal reasons hasn’t been received well by many franchises. Teams are understandably frustrated as such withdrawals disrupt their auction strategies. According to reports on Cricbuzz, the franchises are planning to raise their concerns with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the near future.
A franchise official in conversation with Cricbuzz expressed his disappointment and stated: “Once players register for the auction, they should honour their commitment. Reneging on it is unprofessional, and the BCCI should address this.”
In recent years, there’s been a recurring theme of players pulling out of the IPL at the last minute, with big names like Alex Hales, Jason Roy, and Mitchell Starc all part of this trend. This time around, there was anticipation surrounding Mitchell Starc’s potential big impact in the IPL auction, but concerns over his commitment and availability arose.
Delhi Capitals, in particular, have been facing a dilemma with Harry Brook withdrawing from IPL 2024. However, the team hasn’t been forthcoming in addressing questions about Brook’s decision.
According to reports on Cricbuzz, Delhi Capitals are now on the lookout for a replacement ahead of the league. There were earlier murmurs suggesting the franchise’s interest in young Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Fraser-McGurk, who plays for a Delhi-based franchise in the ILT20, had also entered the auction but failed to attract any bids.
Brook’s performance in the previous IPL season was forgettable. Despite being hailed as a torchbearer of the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum style of play, he struggled with form, managing only 190 runs at an average of 21. Sunrisers Hyderabad had invested heavily in Brook, paying 13.25 crore for his services, only to release him before this year’s auction.
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