Former England captain Michael Vaughan has put the spotlight on Harry Brook’s struggles against spin bowling, suggesting the Indian Premier League (IPL) could have been the perfect remedy.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Vaughan argued that Brook, despite his talent, is not yet among the top tier of batters. He believes playing in the IPL this year could have been a game-changer for Brook’s development, especially since the tournament boasts of world-class spinners and the conditions in India has decent help for them.
Vaughan pointed out that the IPL could have given Brook valuable experience. With a T20 World Cup looming in India and Sri Lanka next year, this exposure might have been crucial.
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"I actually look at Harry Brook’s game and I’m not too sure what’s going on away from the game. But in terms of his game to develop, you know, we talked about that bracket, that top bracket – Rachin Ravindra is in that bracket – Harry Brook is not in that bracket at the minute," Vaughan said as quoted on Cricbuzz.
The 26-year-old Englishman has shown promise in international cricket, but his game against spin has been a weak spot. Vaughan noted that players like New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, who excel against spin, are in that “top bracket”, while Brook has not reached that level yet.Â
"To get into that bracket, what does he need to get better at? Playing spin. Playing in India. That’s the one area of his game [he needs to improve]. You look at Pakistan: when it’s flat, he’s been incredible, but as soon as the ball spun in Pakistan, he struggled a little bit," he added.
The right-handed batter scored a fifty in the recent T20I series against India but got dismissed by Varun Chakaravarthy thrice and Ravi Bishnoi twice in five matches. In the Champions Trophy 2025, he got out to spinners in all the three games.
"Most teams now, you look at him in the One-Day series against India. The odd fifty, the odd flamboyant 50 innings... but when the ball is just gripping, just grabbing a little bit ... just a few things in his game he just needs to improve upon."
The IPL, with its high-pressure environment and diverse bowling attacks, could have been the perfect training ground. Instead, Brook chose to prioritize England duties and recharge after a busy schedule.
"So I would have thought that playing here in the IPL, particularly given that he’s in the hat to be the T20, white-ball captain. In a year’s time, there’s a T20 World Cup. Where is it? India and Sri Lanka. You’d have thought that this period here playing in the IPL, for his game personally, could have been a really valuable one," Vaughan concluded.
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Harry Brook Banned for 2 Years from IPLÂ
Brook, picked by Delhi Capitals (DC) for IPL 2025, pulled out just weeks before the tournament began on March 22 in order to focus on his international career. He is in the reckoning to be England's next white-ball captain as Jos Buttler relinquished the position after the team's Champions Trophy 2025 debacle.
Also read: IPL 2025 - Delhi Capitals Sign Dasun Shanaka As Harry Brook's Replacement - Reports
Notably, Brook had also opted out of IPL 2024 after DC roped him in at the auction.
His decision sparked debate, especially since he is now banned from the IPL for two years due to a new rule penalizing last-minute withdrawals.
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