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Xtra Time Web Desk: Punjab Kings on Friday registered their third win of the ongoing IPL 2021 season, and that too against the mighty Royal Challengers Bangalore. The high flying RCB side was made to bite the dust by disciplined Punjab Kings bowling. A 25 year old left arm spinner stole the show for the Punjab side. Young Harpreet Brar, in a magical spell of his life, accounted for the likes of RCB captain Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers. After a rather sedate start, Kohli was itching to get after the spinner and was bowled after missing a slider while coming down the track. Maxwell was left dumbfounded by a classic left-arm spinner's delivery that turned and beat him comprehensively before clipping the off stump. And while de Villiers averted the hat-trick, he was out in the next over caught at cover while trying to go inside out. It was due to Brar’s spell, RCB slipped from 62/1 to 69/4 in a space of 12 balls.

It was not an easy ride for the young left spinner from Zirakpur district in Punjab. Son of an Army man Mohinder Singh, Harpreet started playing cricket at an early age. He represented Roopar in the Punjab inter-district cricket tournament and regularly topped the wicket taker charts.

The 6 ft 2 inches tall spin bowling all rounder took a career shaping decision when he moved to Mohali. Actually it was his Punjab teammate Gurkeerat Singh Maan’s insistence that he decided to shift to Mohali. And the decision worked wonders for Harpreet and he never put a foot wrong since then. He went on to represent the state team in age level cricket.

Harpreet was constantly neglected by the Punjab junior selection committee despite good performances. He almost made up his mind to shift to Canada where his sister resides out of sheer frustration. A fine performance in the Katoch shield earned Harpreet a place in Punjab U23 side. Since then he has been a mainstay in Punjab bowling line up.
After seven long years of wait, giving trials for four years at Kings XI Punjab, eventually he was picked at the auction for a base price of 20 lakhs. Brar had played just three games before coming into the match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday. He played two games in 2019, one in 2020 and one in 2021.

There were a few eyebrows raised when he was picked in the playing XI. He played a 17 ball cameo, scoring 25 runs but most importantly gave PBKS captain KL Rahul a valuable support to take the score to some respectability. And the rest we all know is history as very few bowlers can dream of picking Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers in a span of 12 balls.

Whether the Punjab Kings spinner goes from strength to strength from this point on or not, he’ll know he has put his best foot forward when it mattered.