England white ball captain Harry Brook may be barred from participating in the IPL 2026 auctionBut the 25-year-old is set to earn one of the biggest paydays of his franchise career after agreeing to a lucrative contract with Sunrisers Leeds – formerly Northern Superchargers – in The Hundred.
Sunrisers Leeds are preparing to pay a big sum for Harry Brook
According to ESPNcricinfo, Brook has signed a deal worth around £470,000 (approximately ₹5.26 crore) ahead of the 2026 edition, making him one of the highest-paid players in the new franchise era of the tournament. Brook has been part of the Leeds-based team since 2021 and takes over as captain in 2024, making him the leading run-scorer in the competition.
Brook’s new deal comes in the first major signing window since owners Sun Group Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) And Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) acquired a 100% stake in the franchise earlier this year. The group paid £100 million (approximately ₹1,092 crore), prompting the ECB to rename Northern Superchargers as Sunrisers Leeds, expanding the brand’s global footprint.
The ECB’s decision to allow private ownership and foreign investment in 2024 heralded a structural change in The Hundred, including the introduction of an IPL-style player auction from 2026. However, teams are allowed one round of signings directly before the auction – and Sunrisers Leeds moved quickly to secure Brook as a marquee player for their long-term plans.
With the first Hundred auction taking place in March 2026, Brook’s signing gives Sunrisers Leeds a stable base as they prepare their team for a completely market-driven system similar to the IPL.
Brook’s IPL result: From ₹6.25 crore contract to two-year ban
Brook’s lucrative Sunrisers Leeds deal is in contrast to his immediate IPL future, which has been put on hold until 2028 due to the BCCI-imposed ban.
The England batsman last played in IPL 2024 and was signed by Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹6.25 crore. However, he withdrew from the IPL 2025 season without citing injury or medical grounds – an action that angered many franchises.
Many teams wrote letters to the BCCI demanding stricter rules as team plans had gone awry following the repeated withdrawals of foreign stars. In response, the Board introduced a new rule:
Any player who withdraws from the IPL after being bought – without a valid injury or health reason – or deliberately skips the mega auction – will face a 2-year suspension before being allowed to enter the auction pool.
As a result, Brook cannot register for the IPL in 2026 or 2027, ruling him out until the 2028 auction.
Also read: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) can target 5 players in IPL 2026 auction
