England White-ball Captain Harry Brook has opened up about the personal impact of the criticism he encountered during his only IPL season, revealing that scrutiny surrounding his performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad affected him both on and off the field. The experience ultimately prompted Brook to change how he interacts with social media rather than completely withdrawing from it.
Brook arrived at Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2023 season but endured an inconsistent campaign, scoring 190 runs despite producing a century against Kolkata Knight Riders. His performances attracted criticism during the tournament, including before that hundred, when the pressure surrounding his form had already intensified.
Brook reflects on impact of IPL scrutiny
The 2023 campaign exposed Brook to the level of attention surrounding performances in the IPL during his first experience of the competition.
England White-ball Captain Harry Brook told BBC Sport: “I got into a little bit of a rabbit hole with scrutiny and social media when I was at the IPL. It didn’t help me as a person on the field or off the field. I decided to, not stay away from social media, but also not go out of my way to look at it.”
Brook has since developed a different relationship with the opinions surrounding his performances, finding another way to view the attention that comes with playing at the highest level.
He said: “On the other hand, I actually feel it’s a little bit of a compliment if people are giving me scrutiny and have an opinion about my game. I know it’s not a nice thing to see people slagging you off, but it means people care and people think I can put in a better performance than I have done that day.”
IPL return remains on hold
Brook has not played in the IPL since his season with Sunrisers Hyderabad. After being released by the franchise, he was acquired by Delhi Capitals for ₹4 crore (approx. US$418K) in 2024 but withdrew from that season following the death of his grandmother.
Delhi Capitals signed him again for ₹6.25 crore (approx. US$653K) at the 2025 mega auction, before Brook withdrew to prioritise his international commitments. He subsequently received a two-year IPL ban and is eligible to return at the 2028 mega auction.
For now, Brook’s reflections place the emphasis on what he took from his first IPL experience: a changed approach to engaging with the scrutiny that accompanies his performances.
