IPL 2021: How Anil Kumble's advice helped Harpreet Brar bag wickets of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell

Punjab Kings off-spinner Harpreet Brar rose to fame in the first half of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by scalping the prized wickets of Virat Kohli, Ab de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell within a span of 24 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). His 3/19 and a crucial cameo of 25 runs enabled an easy win in the end for Punjab Kings.

Brar, who had been the franchise since 2018, finally got to play his fourth game for the franchise, primarily owing to RCB’s recent struggles while dealing with off-spinners. The all-rounder didn’t disappoint the Punjab management and made the most of his chance to give his side a memorable win against a top team like RCB.

When quizzed on how the feeling was when he got three big players out, Brar said that bagging Kohli as his first wicket was simply amazing. “Getting Virat Kohli as my first wicket was just amazing. I never dreamt about it, and he even hit me for a six and a four on the first two balls of my spell. In the next ball, I removed Glenn Maxwell and took Ab de Villiers’ wicket as well. It just keeps getting better,” Harpreet Brar told India Today.

The all-rounder further opined how once he got into the dressing room that he realized the magnitude of getting three huge wickets for the team. “On the ground, I didn’t feel anything, everyone congratulated me, and we won the match. However, I realized the importance once I got back into the team dressing room,” recalled Brar.

Anil Kumble’s simple advice helped me boost my confidence: Harpreet Brar

The 25-year-old further stated how head coach Anil Kumble’s advice to keep it simple and stick to the basics, helped him to perform well against a batting heavy RCB unit.

“It was my fourth match for the Punjab Kings. I had only played in three games before that in two seasons and had failed to get any wicket. So, there was a bit of nervousness, but gentle advice from Anil Kumble boosted my confidence.”

“Anil Kumble has a soft corner for the spinner. Before the match, we (spinners) were practicing in the nets. He came to me and said, keep it simple, Brar, stick to your basics.” Brar also stated how Kumble kept telling him to land the ball in the perfect area and talked about getting wickets by sticking to the basics.

“He told me ‘every bowler has a spot, where he wants to pitch every ball, be it a finger spinner wrist-spinner or for that matter a fast bowler. So just keep landing your balls in that area and you will eventually get the wickets,” said Brar.