Sanjay Bangar Advocates for Harpreet Brar's Role in Punjab Kings' IPL Strategy

In a recent discussion, former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar stressed the importance of spinner Harpreet Brar for the Punjab Kings in the upcoming IPL season. He praised Brar's ability to bowl effectively against both left and right-handed batsmen and highlighted his impressive domestic performance. Bangar also addressed the expectations on opening batsmen Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, noting Arya's need to manage pressure after a quieter domestic season. As the Punjab Kings prepare for their season opener against the Gujarat Titans, Bangar's insights shed light on the team's strategy and player dynamics.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 18, 2026, 02:24 IST

Brar's Essential Role in Punjab Kings

Former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar emphasized the necessity of including spinner Harpreet Brar in every match for the Punjab Kings (PBKS), praising him as a "quality player" capable of effectively bowling against both left-handed and right-handed batsmen.

The Punjab Kings, who were the runners-up in 2025, are set to kick off their season against the Gujarat Titans on March 31 in New Chandigarh. Since joining PBKS in 2019, Brar has participated in 49 matches, claiming 35 wickets with an average of 31.00, including a notable four-wicket haul. His performance last season was particularly impressive, where he took 10 wickets in eight matches, averaging 19.00 with an economy rate of 8.63, and recorded best figures of 3/22.

During an appearance on JioHotstar's 'Game Plan – Know Your Team', Bangar noted that Yuzvendra Chahal would handle the middle overs. With Glenn Maxwell's departure after a disappointing season, Brar could provide valuable overs during the powerplay. Bangar recalled his time in the PBKS coaching staff, expressing strong confidence in Brar's abilities as a slow left-arm orthodox spinner, who has achieved 102 wickets in 105 T20 matches at an average of 23.79, including four four-wicket hauls.

"I don't believe Yuzi feels any pressure since he bowls in the middle overs. With Glenn Maxwell gone, who will fill the powerplay spinner role? That's where Harpreet Brar shines as a quality player. He shouldn't be selected solely based on match-ups; I had immense faith in his skills when I was part of the setup. Whenever he was called upon for Punjab, he delivered. I have always rated him highly, regardless of the batsman's handedness. He should be utilized in every match, possibly as an impact player," Bangar stated.

Brar is coming off a strong domestic season, having taken 23 wickets in four matches at an average of 21.26, including two five-wicket hauls in the Ranji Trophy, with best figures of 6/38. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he secured 15 wickets in nine matches at an average of 15.73 and an economy rate of 8.13, along with a four-wicket haul. He also made a few appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he took one wicket in four matches.

Bangar also highlighted the significance of Punjab's opening pair, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, both of whom had breakout seasons in the IPL last year. Arya scored 475 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate exceeding 179, including a century and two fifties, while Prabhsimran amassed 549 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate over 160, featuring four fifties.

However, Bangar expressed concerns about Arya's performance following a relatively subdued domestic season with Delhi. In eight VHT matches, he scored 344 runs at an average of 49.14, with a strike rate of 163.80, including four fifties. In two Ranji Trophy matches for Punjab, he scored 131 runs at an average of 43.67, with a top score of 82. Unfortunately, his performance in the SMAT was disappointing, with only 197 runs in seven innings at an average of 28.14 and just one fifty.

Bangar pointed out that Arya must manage the expectations of leading the top order and lessen the team's dependence on overseas players.

"Prabhsimran Singh has been a consistent performer for several years, having scored a century in the IPL previously. Punjab has retained him as an uncapped player, so I don't foresee any second-season blues for him," he remarked.

"Priyansh Arya has been a remarkable discovery for Punjab Kings. His batting ensured that the team didn't rely heavily on overseas top-order players. However, there may be some uncertainty regarding how he handles the expectations this season, especially after a quiet domestic performance. If he starts strong, it shouldn't be an issue, but a series of low scores could raise questions about the opening combination," he concluded.

Punjab Kings Full Squad for IPL 2026: Arshdeep Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Owen, Musheer Khan, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Cooper Connolly (Rs 3 Cr), Pravin Dubey (Rs 30 lakh), Vishal Nishad (Rs 30 lakh), Ben Dwarshuis (Rs 4.40 Cr).