Punjab Kings spinner Harpreet Brar recently shared that he decided to leave his dreams of playing cricket in India a few years ago. He pondered a move to Canada to make a living as well. However, Brar made his debut for Punjab Kings in the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and he has been with the franchise since then and has slowly become a key member of their bowling line-up. In 38 IPL matches, he has taken 24 wickets at an average of 34.58 and a strike rate of 27.04. In the ongoing IPL 2024, he has bagged six wickets in 10 matches at 39.67 as well.
In Punjab’s last game against Chennai Super Kings, Brar was adjudged Player of the Match, as he finished with stunning figures of 2/17 in his four overs, dismissing the experienced Ajinkya Rahane and the in-form Shivam Dube. After his match-winning heroics against the defending champions, Harpreet Brar revealed that he was on the verge of letting go of his dreams of playing cricket in India and moving to Canada to secure his future as well. He was frustrated after not getting proper opportunities at the domestic level during his younger days.
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“Paaji pura Punjab hi Canada jana chahta hai (The entire Punjab wants to go to Canada). Bahut frustration tha. (There was too much frustration). I was hopeless, but I think destiny had something else in store for me,” Brar said during an interview with The Indian Express.
Brar decided after playing U-16 cricket for Punjab but he was ignored by the junior selectors. However, he ultimately decided to stay in India and it paid dividends in 2017 as he was selected for the U-23 Punjab team as well. However, Brar did not disappoint as he ended up claiming 57 wickets in a triumphant Col CK Nayudu Trophy campaign for Punjab as well.
“Those words gave him hope. Everyone was impressed and surprised as well that I am yet to make my first-class debut. Two years have gone since but I am optimist that next time I will go in that dressing room as a player not as a net bowler,” concluded Harpreet Brar.
