Harry Brook's withdrawal weakens Delhi Capitals' batting lineup

Harry Brook's exit from IPL 2025 is a significant blow for the Delhi Capitals (DC), according to former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. Brook was expected to be a key power hitter for the team. Harbhajan believes that DC will need another strong season from KL Rahul to help fill the gap left by Brook's absence. Brook, an England batter, has withdrawn from the IPL for the second time in a row. He was bought by DC for ₹6.25 crore at the auction, but missed IPL 2024 due to his grandmother's death. According to new BCCI rules, Brook may face a two-year ban from the IPL. Harbhajan noted that the team's batting looks weak without Brook. He emphasized that Stubbs is their only power-hitting option, but cannot be relied upon to perform well in every match. He said that Rahul needs to step up and score a lot of runs, but pointed out that DC still needs finishers. Rahul was previously the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024, where he scored 520 runs in 14 matches. Despite his performance, his team did not qualify for the playoffs, and he was released afterward. There is speculation about Rahul potentially batting in the middle-order for DC. While Harbhajan acknowledged Rahul's success in ODIs, he cautioned against comparing formats. He explained that T20 cricket requires a different mindset, as every dot ball can increase pressure on the batting team.