The on-ground incident between Punjab Kings’ spin bowler, Harpreet Brar and the captain of the side, Virat Kohli during IPL 2025 has been talked about quite extensively by cricket enthusiasts.
The incident happened during the match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Mullanpur. But Brar has clarified that the incident was not an altercation but light-hearted cricket talk.
What Happened Between Harpreet Brar and Virat Kohli?
This incident occurred when RCB chased down Punjab Kings in an IPL day game successfully. When Virat Kohli and Harpreet Brar were out in the field, there seemed to be a heated argument between them as they spoke to each other in Punjabi.
As per Brar, this conversation was related to the strategy used by Punjab Kings to roughen the ball using one-bounce throws for reverse swing. It appears that Kohli spotted this strategy and, with a joke, reminded Brar about his extensive knowledge of the game.
“I have been playing for 20 years,” Kohli told Brar during the game.
Brar later explained that there was no negative intent behind the exchange.
Why Punjab Kings Were Using One-Bounce Throws
Talking about it on the Punjab Kings podcast with Harleen Deol, Brar explained the strategy behind the Punjab’s fielding.
Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer had directed his players to throw the ball at least once to make some marks on the ball that can help the fast bowlers to use reverse swing in the last over.
According to Brar, while doing so, he threw the ball towards Marcus Stoinis once, which was misinterpreted by Kohli, and the latter got into action at once. However, the spinner clarified that it was not his intention to annoy the RCB batsman.
Read More
Harpreet Brar Recalls Special Virat Kohli Wicket
Dismissing Virat Kohli continues to be considered one of the highlights of Harpreet Brar’s IPL career. In IPL 2021, Brar got rid of Kohli, besides AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell, and bowled one of his greatest spells which even got him named Player of the Match.
Speaking about the dismissal, Brar referred to the achievement as his treasured memory, admitting he considers himself lucky to perform well against such a batting genius.
RCB vs PBKS Match Recap: Kohli Leads Bengaluru to Victory
RCB successfully chased down the 158 run target set by Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 match. Devdutt Padikkal scored aggressively scoring 61 runs whereas Virat Kohli scored a not out score of 73 runs guiding the team to win with seven balls left.
Despite Harpreet Brar being economical with the ball and dismissing Padikkal, Punjab Kings could not defend their target runs.
Harpreet Brar and Virat Kohli Banter Continues in IPL 2026
However, the rivalry that existed between Brar and Kohli did not end with the tournament in 2026. In a game in Dharamsala, Kohli made a funny offer to Brar to try out a run-out when he was outside the crease.
Nevertheless, the Punjab spin bowler decided not to take it any further, and the incident soon became the most talked-about thing in social media. The exchanges between Brar and Kohli have thus created a new layer to their budding rivalry.
Read More
Harpreet Brar’s Impact in IPL
Through time, Harpreet Brar has built up a reputation as a reliable bowler for Punjab Kings, particularly when playing against RCB.
The bowler has been able to prove his worth as a player by controlling the middle overs and taking key wickets of renowned batsmen.
In particular, Brar has performed well when playing against Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, thus giving him the limelight.
ALSO READ: GT vs CSK, IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans Crush Chennai Super Kings To Seal Top-Two Finish
