England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook may be barred from featuring in the IPL 2026 auction, but 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 set to pay a whopping amount to Harry Brook
According to ESPNcricinfo, Brook has signed a deal worth around £470,000 (approx. ₹5.26 crore) ahead of the 2026 edition, making him one of the highest-paid players in the tournament’s new franchise era. Brook has been part of the Leeds-based side since 2021 and took over as captain in 2024, becoming their most prolific run-scorer in the competition.
Brook’s new deal comes in the first major signing window since the Sun Group, owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC), acquired a 100% stake in the franchise earlier this year. The group paid £100 million (₹1,092 crore approx.), prompting the ECB to rename Northern Superchargers as Sunrisers Leeds, expanding the brand’s global footprint.
The ECB’s decision in 2024 to allow private ownership and foreign investment triggered a structural overhaul of The Hundred, including the introduction of an IPL-style player auction from 2026. However, teams are allowed a round of direct signings before the auction – and Sunrisers Leeds moved swiftly to secure Brook as a marquee player for their long-term plans.
With the first Hundred Auction scheduled for March 2026, Brook’s signing gives Sunrisers Leeds a stable anchor as they prepare their squad for a fully market-driven system similar to the IPL.
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Brook’s IPL fallout: From ₹6.25 crore contract to two-year ban
Brook’s handsome Sunrisers Leeds deal stands in contrast to his immediate IPL future, which has been halted due to a BCCI-imposed ban until 2028.
The England batter last played in the IPL in 2024 and was signed for ₹6.25 crore by Delhi Capitals (DC). However, he withdrew from the IPL 2025 season without citing injury or medical grounds – an action that angered multiple franchises.
Several teams wrote to the BCCI demanding stricter regulations after repeated pullouts by overseas stars threw squad planning into disarray. In response, the board introduced a new rule:
Any player who pulls out of the IPL after being bought – without a legitimate injury or health reason – or skips the mega auction deliberately – will face a suspension of 2 years before entering 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: 5 players Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) can target in the IPL 2026 auction
