The Indian T20 League is the vehicle to limelight for many domestic cricketers. Over the years, the cash-rich league has introduced several players from small towns and villages of India.
This year, it’s been the turn of Harpreet Brar, who is representing the Punjab team. The 25-year-old left-arm spinner shot to fame in the match against Bangalore by dismissing Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell off consecutive deliveries.
Thereafter, he even managed to dislodge the ever-dangerous AB de Villiers. In the end, Brar finished with 3/19 in his full quota of four overs and was also adjudged the man of the match.
First, the wicket & then, the appreciation from the man himself! 🤝@thisisbrar will surely cherish this moment with @imVkohli! 😊#VIVOIPL #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/ovXmadbyKN
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 30, 2021
Although Punjab lost the match against Delhi, Brar once again responded by giving his team the much-needed breakthrough, by dismissing opener, Prithvi Shaw. Besides bowling tight spells and picking wickets, Brar also showed his ability with the bat in the game against Bangalore, slamming a 17-ball 25 at a strike rate of 147.
Harpreet Brar was born on September 15, 1995, in the Moga district of Punjab. Despite decent performances at the district level, the 6 foot 2-inch tall lanky spinner was ignored regularly. The setback even pushed Brar to consider quitting cricket and moving to Canada. Fortunately, though, he was backed by former Punjab player, Gurkeerat Mann who urged him to move to Mohali.
Brar also paid several visits to the trial camps, before Punjab nabbed him for 20 Lakh INR in 2018. While he played two games in 2019, and one in 2020, he couldn’t find a regular spot in the final XI.
Domestically, Harpreet Brar finished as the third-highest wicket-taker with 56 wickets in the CK Nayudu Trophy in 2018/19 and also made a debut in the U-23 national side in 2019.
The struggle is real!
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 7, 2019
Harpreet Brar takes us through his journey from district level to #SaddaSquad. 📹#SaddaPunjab pic.twitter.com/TBSOoixlPD
Hailing from the state of Punjab, Harpreet Brar adores and idolises former Indian cricketer, Yuvraj Singh. He has also got the reputation of hitting five sixes in an over at the club level. After all the disappointment, Brar’s moment is finally here.
Given the southpaw’s match-winning performance against Bangalore and Punjab’s lack of quality spin options, we should see more of Brar in time to come.
Featured Image: Twitter/ Harpreet Brar
