While the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is known for its extravagant spending on players, another prominent league has made headlines even before the much-anticipated IPL event. In England's 'The Hundred' league, Kavya Maran's Sun Group, which also owns the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, has made a significant investment by retaining a player who is currently banned from participating in the IPL.
This player is none other than England's One-Day and T20 captain, Harry Brook, who won't be part of this year's IPL auction.
Ahead of the IPL auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, a major development has emerged regarding the next season of 'The Hundred' league. For the first time in its short history, the league is set to host an auction in March. Following the IPL model, all eight teams in 'The Hundred' were given the opportunity to retain their players before the auction. It was through this process that Harry Brook was retained by his franchise. The explosive right-handed batsman, Harry Brook, captained the Northern Superchargers for the past two seasons and will continue with the same franchise for the upcoming season, while the key difference now is that the ownership of the Northern Superchargers has been acquired by Kavya Maran's Sun Group, similar to their ownership of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, and the franchise has been rebranded as 'Sunrisers Leeds'. Sunrisers Leeds has retained Brook for a substantial sum of £470,000, which is approximately 5. 62 crore Indian Rupees. This retention positions Harry Brook as one of the highest-earning players in 'The Hundred', although the situation could change after the full auction.
The IPL Ban Explained
Harry Brook isn't part of this year's IPL auction because he's currently serving a two-year ban imposed by a new BCCI rule. Last year, the BCCI introduced a regulation stating that any overseas player who withdraws their name from the IPL after being bought in the auction, for non-essential reasons, would face a two-year ban from playing in the league. Brook was purchased by Delhi Capitals in the mega auction last year, while however, before the tournament commenced, he withdrew his name, citing his desire to focus on England cricket. Consequently, he will be unable to participate in the IPL until 2027.
Sunrisers Leeds' Strategic Move
The acquisition of Northern Superchargers by Kavya Maran's Sun Group and its. Rebranding as Sunrisers Leeds signifies their expanding global footprint in cricket leagues. Retaining a high-profile player like Harry Brook for such a significant amount is part of their strategy to build a strong core and ensure a competitive performance in the upcoming season. Brook, known for his aggressive batting and leadership qualities, will be a crucial asset for the team, while this move demonstrates that even if Brook is out of the IPL, his demand and value in other leagues remain high.
Growing Stature of 'The Hundred' League
'The Hundred' league, recognized for its short format and exciting matches, is rapidly establishing its identity in the cricketing world. The upcoming auction, the first in the league's history, underscores its growing commercial significance and its ambition to emulate the success of major tournaments like the IPL. The involvement of significant investors like Kavya Maran and the investment of crores of rupees in players are positive indicators for the league's future. This not only provides financial security to players but also offers them a high-level competitive platform.
