Follow Us(This interview was taken in February 2025, when PBKS had a camp in Mumbai ahead of IPL 2025)
In Harpreet Brar’s friend circle, there is this belief that ‘whatever Harpreet says will end up happening’.
Just hours before what would become the biggest match of his life, Harpreet was chatting with Universe boss Chris Gayle when the big Jamaican asked him about his plans against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2021.
“It is very simple, boss; I must take three wickets.”
As simple as that. Three wickets.
But it wasn’t just any three wickets, they were the prized scalps of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers. In a two-over spell of pure chaos - 3/2 - Harpreet turned both RCB’s world and his own upside down (for the good).
In Harpeet’s words, it was a work of ‘manifestation’.
“Sometimes, you manifest things, and it worked out on that occasion. From there, I played regularly in the IPL; that game gave me the push,” Harpreet told Cricket.com in an exclusive conversation.
Until that game, the left-arm spinner hadn’t made a single contribution to the franchise, with zero wickets across three games, with his economy reading 12, 8 & 10.3. But such was the impact of the game that he not only made it into Punjab’s side but became an integral part of the setup.
Over the next three years, he picked up 18 wickets while having a stem on the runs with his no-nonsense left-arm spin. Little did he also know that it would land him one of the biggest gigs - a net bowler for the Indian national team. That’s where the Punjab left-arm spinner had more conversations about consistency, fitness and lifestyle with none other than Kohli.
“I used to talk to Kohli paaji in the nets. I remember having breakfast with him, where we spoke about cricket. His stats are there for the entire world to see. I used to talk about fitness, ask him how he handles a situation, and chat about consistency. He’s played so much for the country without any injury,” he said about the interactions.
“That time there was IPL auction as well; when Punjab picked me, he told me, ‘Dekho, Punjab nee aapko choda nahi [See, Punjab didn’t leave you out].”
Two of Harpreet’s core IPL memories revolve around Kohli, the second of which is when the 36-year-old walked down to meet Harpreet’s parents after the clash against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala.
“When Kohli met my family, there weren’t any cricketing talks. My family was very happy that they met Virat Paaji, they couldn’t stop smiling. It was quite an emotional moment that such a big cricketer came and met my family. It shows his humbleness. It is always there in my memory,” he said.
One thing that has, however, prevented the left-arm spinner from climbing greater heights has been the lack of consistency. Last year, Harpreet had three excellent displays - 1/14, 2/13 and 2/17 - against Delhi Capitals, RCB and Chennai Super Kings.
But what ended up consuming the good performances was the lack of consistency, evident in the games against Sunrisers Hyderabad (0/48) and Gujarat Titans (0/35), where he was well below par. That’s where the ongoing camp in Mumbai has been very useful for Harpreet, who is honing his skills to become a more well-rounded cricketer.
“I want to improve my performance from last year. Like you said, unlike last year, I want to be consistent in more games. Every game makes a big difference to the team. During the camp, I’m also focusing on becoming a match-winner for Punjab,” he said about the camp.
While not many are aware, Harpreet started his cricketing career more as a batter who can bowl, and that’s one spot where he has worked incredibly hard on maintaining the skillset to become a potent finisher.
The training sessions are simple and straightforward: 20 runs off the last over, 18 runs off the last over, and targets like these made the left-hander better at his ability to finish games. On November 29, 2024, those training sessions turned into a real-life test when Punjab needed 24 runs off the last four balls against Mizoram.
It wasn’t just pride on the line but also their place in the knockouts. The defending champions, Punjab, were just one step away from getting eliminated. When the dressing room were thinking of what bad would unfurl, Harpreet was out there doing his magic.
“Four balls, 24 runs. I hit a four. 3 balls, 20 runs. I hit a six. Then there was a wide, I thought I could level it. That was my thought process, and the next two balls were right in my arc; I could hit for two sixes,” he said.
“That’s exactly what happened. It happened once, and next time around, too, I can do the same.”
His seven-ball 23 wasn’t just any other knock; it was a knock that would go down in history as one of the craziest run chases in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, elevating Harpreet’s status as an all-rounder.
“You can definitely call me an all-rounder now,” Harpreet said, laughing.
Luckily for the 29-year-old, he can go around the Punjab dressing room, seeking more valuable input on his batting from Australian legend Ricky Ponting, who was appointed PBKS’ head coach.
“I am very excited to work with Ricky Ponting. I have never worked with him. Now, I have the golden opportunity to learn under him and learn as much as possible. I can learn new things and work well with him,” he said.
For Harpreet, the homegrown talent, Punjab Kings are not just another franchise; they are ‘home’ in the truest sense. Not only did the franchise pick him in 2018 as an unknown commodity, but they also handed him an opportunity to showcase his ability in 2021.
Later, when it felt like that dream was coming to a quick end after an inconsistent 2024, the franchise beat Mumbai Indians in a winning bid of INR 1.5 crore, showing how much they trust him.
“When you play for a franchise for the longest time, you emotionally attach to them. I started my IPL career with them. I was not sure what would happen when the auction happened, but I’m quite happy to be back with Punjab,” a very happy Harpreet said.
Harpreet’s excitement isn’t just about the franchise but the people in that dressing room - Prabhsimran and Arshdeep Singh - two of Harpreet’s closest friends. The trio don’t live too far away from each other back home and often hang out together, chit-chatting over a cup of coffee now and then.
“When Punjab got me back, I was happy to be with Prabhsimran, Arshdeep and Shashank. Even new names like Harnoor and Nihal are there, I’m quite happy to be in the same dressing room.”
You can see how thick the trio’s bond is in the way the 29-year-old compliments them. Between the conversation about his game, Harpreet reminds me how Prabhsimran has been performing in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy or how Arshdeep has been pursuing all-time greatness in the Indian blues.
Such friends are rare in cricket, especially in franchise cricket, because of the auction dynamics' uncertainty. Nothing can stop PBKS from winning their first-ever IPL trophy if this trio clicks.
"We want to break the streak and qualify for the playoffs this year. I expect us to win and give the franchise its first trophy. My goal is to take as many wickets as possible, score as many runs as possible, and become a match-winner for the franchise this season.”
In 2018, he might have been deemed as a ‘mystery spinner’ by skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, but now, in 2025, everyone knows how dangerous Harpreet, the all-rounder, is. Consistency is the only missing ingredient in that armoury; if that happens, there’s no Muqabla for Harpreet.
