Harpreet Brar: The Impact Player collateral waiting for more chances

Harpreet Brar: The Impact Player Waiting for More Opportunities

Career Overview

• Seven seasons with Punjab Kings (PK) since 2019, but only two full seasons played.
• Highest wicket‑taker for PK among spin bowlers since his debut.
• Known for a memorable triple‑wicket spell against RCB (2021), dismissing Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers in consecutive balls.

Key Victims

• Virat Kohli (multiple wickets)
• Glenn Maxwell (four wickets)
• Other notable scalps: Rohit Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma.
• Still chasing Shubman Gill’s wicket; limited opportunities against him.

Recent IPL 2026 Performances

Impact Player Rule – Effect on Brar

• Traditional role: frontline spinner and lower‑order batsman (usually No. 7).
• Under current Impact Player rule, his batting slot has dropped further, making him a contingency pick based on matchups.
• Brar says the rule limits his selection unless the team chooses a spinner or a specialist bowler; he hopes the rule is revised.

Team Spin Usage

• PK used the lowest proportion of spin (18.7 %) and took the fewest spin wickets (14) across all teams in the current season – a stark contrast to the 2014 & 2025 finals where spin contributed ~33 % of wickets.

Bowling Style

• Left‑arm orthodox with a high arm, good jump, and precise variations in pace and width.

Beyond IPL

• Highest wicket‑taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy since 2023.
• Made Ranji Trophy debut in 2025/26, claiming 23 wickets at 21.26 (top Punjab bowler), including KL Rahul.
• Played club cricket in the UK during IPL off‑season; briefly trained with the India Test squad in Birmingham.

Off‑Season Development

• Attended PK’s off‑season camp focusing on skill work and conditioning.
• Actively improving batting to become a genuine all‑rounder.
• Expresses desire to play more games and to contribute with both bat and ball.

Future Outlook

• Hopes the Impact Player rule will be re‑evaluated after player feedback sessions.
• Aiming to cement a role in the first XI through consistent performances and by adding batting depth.
• Confident about potential Test selection, stating he can play for India if given the chance.

Quotes

• “Impact Player is not good for me because I want to play all games.”
• “If bowling comes first, I will be in the team; if batting comes first, I may miss out.”
• “When you do well and then are dropped, it hurts, but the team comes first.”
• “I can play Test cricket for India – I’m ready to work hard for it.”

Prepared for a cricket news story – focus on Brar’s performance, the challenges posed by the Impact Player rule, and his ambitions across formats.