‘Don’t play just for match-ups’: Former coach wants this Punjab Kings bowler to play ‘every match’ | Cricket News
Left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar took 11 wickets in 8 IPL matches last season (2025) and former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar has said Punjab Kings (PBKS) should include Harpreet Brar in every match this season, stating that the left-arm spinner can be effective against both right- and left-handed batters.Punjab Kings, runners-up in 2025, begin their campaign against Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 31 at New Chandigarh. Brar has played 49 matches for the franchise since 2019, taking 35 wickets at an average of 31.00, including one four-wicket haul. Last season was his most productive, with 10 wickets in eight matches at an average of 19.00 and an economy rate of 8.63, with best figures of 3/22.
Speaking on JioHotstar, Bangar said Yuzvendra Chahal will handle the middle overs, and in the absence of Glenn Maxwell, Brar can provide overs in the powerplay. Maxwell was released after the previous season. Bangar added that he had confidence in Brar during his time with the Punjab set-up. The spinner has 102 wickets in 105 T20 matches at an average of 23.79, including four four-wicket hauls.“I do not think there’s pressure on Yuzi as such because he bowls in the middle overs. They have released Glenn Maxwell, who gave them important overs in the powerplay. So who is going to be the powerplay spinner? That’s where I think Harpreet Brar is a quality player. Do not play him just for match-ups because, when I was part of that setup, I had tremendous confidence in his abilities. Whenever he was given the ball for Punjab, he did the job. So play Harpreet Brar, maybe as an impact player, but play him in every match,” former India batting coach said.Brar comes into the season after a domestic run with Punjab. He took 23 wickets in four Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 21.26, including two five-wicket hauls, with best figures of 6/38. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he picked up 15 wickets in nine matches at an average of 15.73 and an economy rate of 8.13, with one four-wicket haul. He also featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking one wicket in four matches.Bangar also spoke about Punjab’s opening pair of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, who both had strong seasons last year. Priyansh scored 475 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate above 179, including a century and two fifties, while Prabhsimran made 549 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate above 160, with four fifties.Bangar said Priyansh’s start to the season will be important after his recent domestic performances. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored 344 runs in eight innings at an average of 49.14 and a strike rate of 163.80, with four fifties. In the Ranji Trophy, he made 131 runs in three matches at an average of 43.67, with a best of 82. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 197 runs in seven innings at an average of 28.14 and a strike rate above 155, with one fifty.“Prabhsimran Singh has been around for many years now. He has got a hundred in the IPL as well, a couple of seasons ago, and has been playing regularly for Punjab. Punjab has persisted with him. He was one of their retentions as an uncapped player as well. So I do not think the second-season blues (to have a second successive strong season) are there for Prabhsimran,” he said.“But Priyansh Arya, what a find he was for Punjab Kings. It was his batting which made sure that Punjab never looked to use their overseas top-order batter, and that is the reason I feel there could be a little bit of mystery around how Priyansh Arya copes with these expectations, because, so far in domestic cricket, I think he had a quiet season. We will have to see how he starts the season. If he starts the season really well, then I do not think it is going to be an issue, but if he has a run of low scores, then there could be some question marks about that opening combination,” Bangar said.
