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'Virat Kohli was staring at me': Harpreet Brar reveals what got RCB star angry, triggered frosty exchange in IPL clash

The incident saw Virat Kohli lose his cool briefly before confronting Harpreet Brar, who has now revealed what exactly unfolded.

Updated on: May 21, 2026, 19:10:18 IST
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Last Sunday, the repeat of the IPL 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at the HPCA Stadium witnessed a frosty exchange between PBKS bowler Harpreet Brar and Virat Kohli. The incident saw Kohli lose his cool briefly before confronting Brar, who has now revealed what exactly unfolded.

Virat Kohli had a verbal exchange with Harpreet Brar during RCB vs PBKS match
Virat Kohli had a verbal exchange with Harpreet Brar during RCB vs PBKS match

Speaking on the PBKS podcast, Brar first recalled that dismissing Kohli during an IPL 2023 clash remains one of his fondest cricket memories. He then opened up about the heated moment from last Sunday, explaining how a throw in the field unintentionally upset the former India captain.

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“I always feel blessed that I played well against him. That wicket is a huge memory for me,” Brar told Harleen Deol. “It was an afternoon game and the captain had asked us to make one-bounce throws. Everyone was doing it and Virat said nothing to anyone. I made a proper throw, but Marcus Stoinis got confused. He took a step back because he wasn’t sure whether to catch it directly or after one bounce. That’s when Virat looked at me.”

Brar added that while stationed at point, he could sense Kohli staring at him from the non-striker’s end. But instead of making eye contact, he chose to avoid looking in that direction, hoping the matter would die down after the over.

“I thought once the over ended, he would forget about it. But no,” Brar said with a laugh. “When I was about to start my run-up, he came to me and said, ‘It’s been 20 years.’ I told him, ‘You’re taking it the wrong way. I didn’t throw it intentionally. We were just trying to reverse the ball so it would help in the death overs.’ Eventually, though, the game never even went till the death overs.”

PBKS eventually lost the match after failing to chase down 223 at home. It marked their sixth straight defeat of the season and further dented their playoff hopes. RCB, meanwhile, sealed a top-two finish after registering their ninth win in 13 matches.

  • Aratrick Mondal
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Aratrick Mondal

    Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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