In a surprising yet heartwarming development ahead of the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston, Punjab Kings (PBKS) left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar was spotted bowling in the Indian team’s net session. The 29-year-old, who is not part of the official Test squad, revealed that he joined the team after receiving a personal message from India’s Test captain Shubman Gill.
📌 Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Harpreet Brar |
| Age | 29 |
| IPL Team | Punjab Kings (PBKS) |
| Role | Left-arm orthodox spinner |
| Joined Indian Team As | Net bowler |
| Location | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Reason for Inclusion | Text from Shubman Gill |
| Connection | Brar’s wife is from Swindon, near Birmingham |
| Official Squad Status | Not part of India’s Test squad |
🧠 The Backstory: “Shubman Texted Me”
In a video shared by BCCI, Brar explained how the opportunity came about:
“My wife is from Swindon. It’s quite close to Birmingham, just a 1–1.5 hour drive. I was talking to Shubman (Gill). He texted me yesterday, so I said, ‘Okay, let’s go and practice there’”.
Brar and Gill share a long-standing camaraderie, both hailing from Punjab and having played together in domestic cricket. Their bond was instrumental in Brar’s informal inclusion in the Indian camp as the team looks to bounce back after a defeat in the first Test at Leeds.
🔁 Indian Net Bowlers at Edgbaston
| Name | Role | Domestic Team | Connection to Squad | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harpreet Brar | Left-arm spinner | Punjab | Gill’s domestic teammate | Spin practice |
| Jagjit Singh Sandhu | Right-arm pacer | Chandigarh | Played with Pant, Sundar | Seam practice |
🏏 Brar’s IPL 2025 Performance
Brar was a key figure in PBKS’s run to the IPL 2025 final, where they narrowly lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His stats reflect a consistent and economical bowling spell throughout the season.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy Rate | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 10 | 19.00 | 8.63 | 3/17 |
Despite not featuring in the final, Brar’s contributions were pivotal in PBKS reaching their first IPL final since 2014.
🧮 Why Brar’s Inclusion Matters
India’s spin department for the England series includes Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar. However, with Jadeja under scrutiny after a lackluster performance in the first Test and Sundar still finding rhythm, Brar’s presence in the nets offers a fresh left-arm angle for batters to prepare against.
“Brar paaji’s left-arm magic in #TeamIndia’s camp!” tweeted Punjab Kings, celebrating their player’s involvement.
🗣️ Familiar Faces in Foreign Conditions
Brar’s presence also brought a sense of comfort to fellow PBKS teammate Arshdeep Singh, who is part of the official Test squad.
“When you come to a foreign country and see familiar faces, you can enjoy together,” said Arshdeep, who has known Brar since their junior cricket days.
🧠 Jagjit Singh Sandhu: Another Surprise Addition
Joining Brar in the nets was Jagjit Singh Sandhu, a right-arm pacer from Chandigarh. Though not part of the squad, Sandhu has played with several Indian players at the age-group level, including Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, and Washington Sundar.
“I came to Birmingham to play cricket and then got to know about the Indian team’s training. I came here to bowl for them,” Sandhu shared.
📉 India’s Bowling Concerns After Leeds Loss
India’s bowling attack came under fire after failing to defend a 371-run target in the fourth innings of the first Test. While Jasprit Bumrah impressed with a five-wicket haul in the first innings, the rest of the attack—Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur—struggled to contain England’s aggressive batting.
| Bowler | 1st Inn Wickets | 2nd Inn Wickets | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 5 | 0 | 3.2 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 1 | 1 | 4.5 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 0 | 1 | 5.1 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 2 | 0 | 3.8 |
🏟️ What’s Next: India Gears Up for Edgbaston Test
The second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy begins on July 2 at Edgbaston. With India trailing 0–1 in the five-match series, the team is under pressure to bounce back. While Brar and Sandhu are not part of the official squad, their presence in the nets could help sharpen India’s preparation.
