The re-run of the IPL 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at HPCA Stadium last Sunday delivered more than just a result—there was also a tense, chilly moment between PBKS pacer Harpreet Brar and Virat Kohli. Brar has now detailed what led to Kohli’s brief loss of composure and the confrontation that followed.
Speaking on the PBKS podcast, Brar first went back to IPL 2023, when he dismissed Kohli during a match. For the bowler, that wicket remains one of his most cherished memories. He then shifted to last Sunday’s heated episode, explaining that a throw made during the game unintentionally set off the former India captain.
“I always feel blessed that I played well against him. That wicket is a huge memory for me,” Brar said to Harleen Deol. “It was an afternoon game and the captain had asked us to make one-bounce throws. Everyone was doing it and Virat didn’t say anything 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 straightaway or after one bounce. That’s when Virat looked at me.”
Brar added that when he was stationed at point, he could feel Kohli watching him from the non-striker’s end. Rather than meeting the gaze, he tried to keep his eyes elsewhere, hoping the incident would cool down once the over finished.
“I thought once the over ended, he would forget about it. But no,” Brar said, laughing. “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 match never even reached the death overs.”
Punjab Kings ultimately fell short in the chase, unable to make up for a target of 223 at home. The defeat was their sixth consecutive loss of the season, dealing another blow to their playoff chances. RCB, meanwhile, confirmed a top-two standing by collecting their ninth win from 13 matches.
