'I was hopeless, but I think destiny had something else in store for me' - Harpreet Brar recalls times when he thought of settling in Canada

Punjab Kings spinner Harpreet Brar recently revealed that he contemplated leaving his dreams of playing cricket in India a few years ago. He pondered a move to Canada to make a living.

Brar made his debut for Punjab Kings in the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been with the franchise since then and has slowly become an indispensable member of their bowling line-up. In 38 IPL matches, Brar has taken 24 wickets at an average of 34.58 and a strike rate of 27.04. The wickets column doesn't explain exactly how well the left-arm spinner has bowled for the Kings over the years though. In the ongoing IPL 2024, the 28-year-old has bagged six wickets in 10 matches at 39.67. He has been the most economical bowler of his team by a distance, conceding runs at a miserly rate of 7.21 per over.

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In Punjab's last game against Chennai Super Kings, Brar was adjudged Player of the Match, as he finished with sensational figures of 2/17 in his four overs, accounting for the wickets of the experienced Ajinkya Rahane and the in-form Shivam Dube. After his match-winning heroics against the defending champions, 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. He was frustrated after not getting adequate opportunities at the domestic level during his younger days.

“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 took the decision after playing U-16 cricket for Punjab but there was little advancement after that as 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. Brar did not disappoint as he ended up taking 57 wickets in a triumphant Col CK Nayudu Trophy campaign for Punjab.

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The Moga-born has not played too much cricket for Punjab since then but his two stints as a net bowler with the Indian cricket team have given him great encouragement. During his time with the Men in Blue during Asia Cup 2022 and the West Indies tour of India in the same year, his talent was lauded by head coach Rahul Dravid.

“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,” said Brar.