Punjab Kings spinner Harpreet Brar has firmly played down speculation about a personal rivalry with Virat Kohli, saying the on-field intensity between the two is simply the nature of competitive Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket — and that a bowler's mindset should never be rattled by who is standing at the crease.

No Rivalry, Just Franchise Cricket

Brar, who has dismissed Kohli in the IPL, was unequivocal in distancing himself from the narrative that has built up on social media. 'It's not like that. It's good for the team. There's nothing like a rivalry. It's all a social media gimmick which starts there and dies there. I play for PBKS, he plays for RCB. I have only played franchise cricket with him. We both want to do good for the team,' Brar said in a conversation on Thursday.

The spinner stressed that respect for Kohli remains constant, regardless of which side of the contest they find themselves on. 'He is a legend of this game. He is one of the legends. Respect is the same for him on and off the field,' he added.

What Brar Learnt From Kohli's Competitive Fire

Rather than viewing Kohli's on-field aggression as intimidating, Brar sees it as instructive — particularly for younger players in the Indian cricketing ecosystem. 'He has played so many matches, and he plays the same way as he did when he was 18. His aggression on the ground is still the same. We have also learnt these things from him,' the PBKS spinner said.

Brar noted that Kohli himself sets the standard for professional detachment — never letting personal relationships soften his competitive edge. 'He will never give an excuse saying, 'He is my friend, so I won't hit him for a four or six.' It's not like that. He wants to do well for his team; it's all jokes and fun. He is a great example for the future youngsters as to how cricket should be played,' he said.

The Death Stare That Wasn't

Brar also addressed the widely circulated images and clips of Kohli appearing to stare him down during IPL encounters. His explanation was straightforward: camera angles do most of the storytelling. 'I have never seen him staring at me. The camera angles are like this. When we are on the ground, it feels like they are staring at me, but they're not. You can only hear the conversation around the stump mic. You can't hear anything else,' he explained.

He further pointed out that intense reactions are common from captains and players across all teams — it is Kohli's stature that ensures every expression is amplified. 'Our team's captains also stare at us. That is never noticed. But Virat is a great personality. Most of the time, the camera is on him. You can see his aggression,' Brar observed. He signed off on a lighter note: 'He doesn't need to be staring at me; he could be staring at someone else too.'

A Bowler's Mindset: Wicket First, Everything Else Second

Brar's broader philosophy on bowling to big-name batters is rooted in professional focus. He famously dismissed Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers in the same spell — a feat that underlines his ability to perform under pressure. Yet he insists the identity of the batter is irrelevant to his approach. 'You should always have that current in you as a bowler; it doesn't matter if it's Virat Kohli batting in front of you or a youngster. As a bowler, my duty is to take his wicket or bowl a good over for my team. That should be the motto,' he said. 'Someone giving a death stare should not bother a bowler.'

As the IPL continues to produce high-voltage franchise rivalries, Brar's measured perspective offers a reminder that much of the drama viewers perceive on screen is shaped as much by broadcast framing as by what actually transpires in the middle.