A file photo of bowler Harpreet Brar of Punjab during the game at the nets with Virat Kohli in the background. (Instagram)
NEW DELHI: In February 2022, Harpreet Brar posted a photo on Instagram with the caption “Seize the opportunity”.The footage was special because it featured Virat Kohli watching Brar take the catch from close range. It was during the ODI series against the West Indies that Brar was called up as a net bowler.
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Despite his impressive performances in white-ball cricket, Brar was overlooked for red-ball cricket. However, he remained an optimist. During his two stints as a bowler in the Indian team – the Asia Cup (2021) and the home series against the West Indies (2022) – head coach Rahul Dravid told him that he could be an even bigger threat with the red ball.“Mr. Dravid asked me why I haven’t played Ranji for Punjab yet. I didn’t have a concrete answer then. Yes, it hurt me not to get a chance. But as soon as I got back to the team hotel, I realized, ‘Oh, he thinks I’m good enough,’ and his words motivated me,” Brar told TimesofIndia.com.At 30, Brar finally made his first-class debut in Punjab’s eight-wicket win over Chandigarh.Brar was a regular for Punjab’s white-ball team and for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but his pursuit of red-ball opportunities continued.Earlier this year, Brar played in the Birmingham Premier League while the India team trained at Edgbaston ahead of the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. While exchanging text messages with Indian captain Shubman Gill, he casually asked him if he could stop by and bowl in the Indian nets.
I told Jaddu bhai that I want to play for India. His reply was, ‘You have to play red ball cricket for Punjab. You are a good bowler. There aren’t many good left-arm spinners. There is Sai Kishore, Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar and you. Mere baad pata nahi kiski kismet ghoom jaaye’
Harpreet Brar
“I asked Shubman, ‘Yaar, mai aa sakta hun?’ (Can I come and have a bowl?). Shubman invited me. I played with Abhimanyu Easwaran, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. I bowled them 15-20 overs,” he said.Brar got a chance to pick the brain of Ravindra Jadeja, who was surprised to have just made his first-class debut“I told Jaddu bhai that I wanted to play for India. His reply was, ‘You have to play red-ball cricket for Punjab. You are a good bowler. There are not many good left-arm spinners. There is Sai Kishore, Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar and you. Luck can change.'”These words of wisdom from Jadeja helped Brar see the light.“I thought to myself, if India’s best spinner believes in me and hasn’t given up on me, how could I?” Brar said.After his stint in Birmingham, Brar returned to Mohali, played in the Katoch Shield (Punjab inter-district tournament) and took 24 wickets in three matches. This time, the Punjab selectors finally picked him, though not as the first choice.“I was second choice. They wanted to try a youngster and I got my chance after three matches. I took six wickets in the match but I thought I could have taken five. I’ll get it soon,” he said.
Harpreet Brar made his first-class debut for Punjab at the age of 30.
It has been seven difficult years for Brar. In 2017–18, the lanky spinner took 57 wickets and helped Punjab win the Col CK Nayudu Trophy, but has not played red-ball cricket since then. Before that, he last represented Punjab in the U-16s in 2010–11, another seven-year gap that kept him in uncharted territory.In 2017, frustrated and hopeless, he decided to move to Canada. “Paaji, poora Punjab hi Kanada jaana chahta hai (Brother, the whole of Punjab wants to go to Canada),” he laughed.“There was too much frustration. I almost gave up, but fate had something else in store for me,” he added.Brar played for Ropar in the Katoch Shield and took around 40 wickets every season. But in 2016, Ropar was included in smaller districts (second level). He thought his career was over until former Punjab captain Gurkeerat Singh Mann called him and asked if he would like to play for Mohali.
Harpreet Brar has been a regular player for white-ball team Punjab and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
This call from Mann gave Brar new life. At the age of 23, he was selected for Punjab U-23, signed an IPL contract and played some memorable games, including his famous spell against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2021, where he dismissed Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers at once.Playing red-ball cricket after seven years made Brar nervous. He called up his mentor, former Indian cricketer Sunil Joshi, who had worked tirelessly with him over the past three years during his stint with PBKS.“I was nervous. I called Sunil Joshi sir and told him the wicket was very flat. I didn’t think I could take the spin,” Brar said.Joshi advised him to focus on the stumps. Given his 6-foot-3 frame, Joshi told him he can disrupt any batsman if he changes pace effectively and strikes consistently.“It worked for me and I will never forget my first wicket with Raj Bawa. Oh the joy, I can’t explain it,” said an emotional Brar.
Harpreet Brar’s memorable IPL spell came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2021 where he dismissed Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers all at once.
At the age of 30, Brar has achieved what few Indian cricketers do, making his debut so late. His path forward will not be easy, especially in a country brimming with young talent.But Brar who released his song ‘Alpha’ during the IPL reflecting his hustle and toil and ownership of his journey. It’s not done yet. “Paaji, I am just starting,” he said.Brar is just making up for lost time.
