After facing the 2026 IPL auction ban, Harry Brook received a handsome contract fee from Sunrisers Leeds

England’s white ball captain Harry Brook may be ruled out of the IPL 2026 auctionbut the 25-year-old is set to earn one of the biggest paydays of his franchise career after agreeing a lucrative contract with Sunrisers Leeds – formerly Northern Superchargers – in The Hundred.

Sunrisers Leeds are set to pay a huge sum to 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 tournament’s new franchise era. Brook has been part of the Leeds squad since 2021 and took over as captain in 2024, becoming their most prolific point scorer in the league.

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 in 2024 to allow private ownership and foreign investment led to a structural overhaul of The Hundred, including the introduction of an IPL-style player auction from 2026. However, teams are allowed to make a round of direct signings before the auction – and Sunrisers Leeds have moved quickly to secure Brook as a major player for their long-term plans.

With the first Hundred Auction scheduled for March 2026, the signing of Brook Sunrisers gives Leeds a stable anchor as they prepare their team 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 contrasts with his immediate IPL future, which has been halted due to a BCCI-imposed ban until 2028.

The England batsman last played in the IPL in 2024 and was signed by Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹6.25 crore. However, he withdrew from the IPL 2025 season without citing any injury or medical reason – a move that angered several franchises.

Several teams wrote a letter to the BCCI demanding stricter rules after repeated withdrawals by foreign stars threw the squad planning into disarray. In response, the board introduced a new rule:

Any player who withdraws from the IPL after being bought – without a legitimate injury or health reason – or who deliberately skips the mega auction – will face a 2-year ban before being allowed into the auction pool.

As a result, Brook will not be able to register for the IPL in 2026 or 2027, ruling him out until the 2028 auction.

Also READ: 5 players who could target Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2026 auction