Punjab Kings spinner Harpreet Brar expressed that his teammate Nehal Wadhera’s consistently good performances in the ongoing IPL 2025 have left him really proud as a senior player. As Wadhera played a match-winning knock to guide his side to victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18, Brar highlighted how the 24-year-old has only stayed true to the potential he had already displayed in the domestic circuit, where they both play together for Punjab.
In what was a rain-reduced 14-overs-a-side clash at the Chinnaswamy on Friday, after PBKS restricted RCB to 95, it was Wadhera’s unbeaten 33 off 19 that played a key role in giving PBKS a 5-wicket win. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Harpreet Brar explained how Wadhera’s brilliant run in the IPL is only an extension of his domestic form, most recently seen in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025 Highlights
“Nehal Wadhera’s obviously a very good player and has been playing in the IPL for the last couple of years. He also performs well in domestic cricket,” Brar said.
“Recently, when we won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Punjab, he played an outstanding knock in the knockout match, which made the final almost one-sided. He batted really well in the final and also did well in the semifinal against Delhi. He’s been performing consistently since the beginning — even during his Under-19 India days, we’ve seen his talent. Seeing him do well and score runs here makes me, as a senior, feel really proud,” he added.
The 24-year-old Wadhera was in impressive touch for Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which was one of the key reasons why coach Ricky Ponting and the rest of the PBKS management went for him in the IPL mega auction for Rs 4.2 crore. He smashed 251 runs in the 2024–25 edition of the tournament at a strike rate of 153.04, including a match-winning 68* off 34 against Bengal, helping Punjab reach the semifinals.
Even in IPL 2025, Wadhera has been one of the key batters behind PBKS’s successful campaign so far, scoring 184 runs in six matches at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 149.59.
As PBKS continue to push forward under the leadership of captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting, Wadhera is expected to keep playing a vital role in their pursuit of a maiden title—starting with their upcoming challenge against the same opponents, RCB, on April 20.
