Back in 2018, Harpreet Brar had almost flown to Canada and like several other Indians, thought of making a career there. But then came the turn in his life when Punjab Kings signed him at Rs 20 lakh during the auction prior to IPL 2019.
After only 15 appearances in his first four seasons for the Kings, IPL 2023 turned out to be Brar’s breakthrough year as he featured in 13 games, proving that the left-arm orthodox spinner had cemented his place in the XI. Brar didn’t take too many wickets — nine, to be precise — last year, but his economy rate of 8.02 was certainly quite decent, especially for an uncapped cricketer.
He has been even better this season. So far in the ongoing IPL, in three matches, he has bowled nine overs, taking three wickets and conceding only 41 runs. With his economy rate reading just 4.55, no other batter, barring the Lucknow Super Giants’ Nicholas Pooran, could hit Brar for a six so far in this IPL. Fours? That too only one has been scored off him.
“Our spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi tells me to bowl dot balls as much as possible, so I also focus on them. Match simulations during nets also help,” Brar told The Telegraph.
“What I try to do is land the ball a bit away from the batsman. So, if there’s even a little bit of movement after it pitches on that spot, the kind of format T20 is, it leaves batsmen with little time to decide whether they should hit or block it.
“I just keep looking to pitch it outside the batsman’s arc and see if he can still hit it. If not, good for me.”
The Kings couldn’t win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy last week, but Brar’s spell of 4-0-13-2 did stand out. Even the great Virat Kohli, who hit 77 off 49 balls in that game, couldn’t get any boundary off the 28-year-old, who had dismissed Rajat Patidar and the dangerous Glenn Maxwell in that game.
“I had bowled to Kohlipaaji previously as well in three-four matches. Nowadays every franchise has the data and other related information of almost all the players. Before that game, I had studied the kind of shots Paaji likes to play and so I worked on cutting them out and making him play in the area I wanted him to,” Brar said.
For sure, Brar, also a member of the Punjab side that won the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy crown last year, harbours hopes of donning the Team India cap in the future. But he also knows how tough it is find his way into the national team.
Not thinking too far, Brar’s sole focus at present is finishing this IPL on a good note. “I haven’t really thought so much about what could happen in time to come.
“My goal is to keep doing well for my team and be a match-winner in every game. My job is to try playing like a champion, as when it comes to the result, it can be found out later. What I can control is keeping my nerves in check.”
