As expected Harry Brook caused a bidding war in the ongoing auction for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The England batting sensation has grabbed everyone’s attention with his performances in international cricket this year.
He came into the auction on the back of helping England win this year’s T20 World Cup and playing a starring role in the recently-concluded 3-0 series win over Pakistan. The right-handed batsman enhanced his reputation by scoring 3 centuries in the three-match Test series in Pakistan.
He finished the series as the highest run-scorer as England became the first-ever team to complete a 3-0 whitewash over Pakistan in their own backyard. Brook also has ample T20 experience, having previously played in the Pakistan Super League as well as the Big Bash League.
In 20 T20Is for England, Harry Brook scored 372 runs at an average of 26.57 and a strike-rate of 133.77 with one fifty and a top score of an unbeaten 81.
Ben Stokes react as Harry Brook earns huge IPL contract:
Harry Brook caused a bidding war and eventually earned his maiden IPL contract from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Brook had registered himself in the auction at a base price of Rs 1.5 crore before Sunrisers Hyderabad snapped him up for a whopping amount of Rs 13.25.
Brook-ing Bad with our first buy. 🔥
Harry Brook is a RISER. 🧡#BackToUppal #OrangeArmy #TATAIPLAuction pic.twitter.com/L8EW45zQvL
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) December 23, 2022
Apart from Sunrisers, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore also bid for the England star before giving up. The Bangalore-based outfit exited the bid at Rs 5 crore before Sunrisers Hyderabad entered at Rs 5.25 crore. From thereon, it was a race between the Hyderabad and Rajasthan franchises.
And as Brook earned the huge IPL contract, his England teammate and Test captain Ben Stokes took to Twitter to congratulate him, writing:
Broooooooooooooky lad 🙌🙌
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) December 23, 2022