Former England cricketer turned commentator Kevin Pietersen has offered advice to the Indian selectors, urging them to closely monitor Punjab Kings spinner Harpreet Brar during the ongoing IPL 2024 tournament for the upcoming T-20 World Cup. Brar showcased his skills as the standout performer for PBKS in their recent narrow loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday evening.
Harpreet Brar Gave Early Shocks, Virat Kohli Regained the Momentum Later
RCB appeared to be in a comfortable position in their pursuit of 177 runs, sitting at 86/2 with Virat Kohli anchoring the innings. However, Brar’s entry into the game proved pivotal as he swiftly changed the momentum by dismissing Patidar for 18 runs and Glenn Maxwell for just 3. Patidar was bowled after an inside edge while attempting to clear the midwicket boundary, while Maxwell fell while trying to force the issue, chopping on as RCB found themselves at 103/4.
“Harpreet Brar was exceptional last night!” Kevin Pietersen
Pietersen posted on X. “The Indian selectors MUST pay close attention to him for the World Cup!”
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, the Indian selectors are expected to closely monitor the performances in IPL 2024 as they finalize the squad for the upcoming tournament, which will be co-hosted by the West Indies and USA Cricket. Brar, who made his IPL debut in 2019, has amassed 21 wickets from 30 matches with an economy rate of 7.53, showcasing his potential as a valuable asset for the national team.
Pietersen Praises Virat Kohli’s Match Winning Knock
In the clash between RCB and PBKS at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli emerged as the leading run-scorer. The batting maestro amassed 77 runs, earning him the player-of-the-match accolade for his pivotal contribution to RCB’s four-wicket victory. Pietersen further showered praise on his former RCB teammate, exclaiming, “And, my boy VK, you buddy, are more than joy,” emphasizing Kohli’s outstanding performance
“I always aim to provide the team with a fiery start, but when wickets start falling, it’s crucial to assess the conditions. The pitch wasn’t its usual placid self; it had a bit of unpredictability to it. Recognizing this, I realized the need to focus on playing correct cricketing shots. Trying to hit across the line wasn’t proving effective,”
Kohli remarked that the pitch at the venue wasn’t its typical flat surface, requiring him to adapt his approach to play proper cricketing shots.