Brar, who has previously dismissed Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL), said the intensity seen between the two players is part of the competitive nature of franchise cricket and not a personal contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Brar, the respect for Kohli remains unchanged even when the two find themselves on opposite sides in an IPL game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt's not like that. It's good for the team. There\u2019s nothing like a \u2018rivalry\u2019. It\u2019s 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,\u201d Brar told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brar believes Kohli's enduring competitiveness is one of the qualities that has made him such a significant figure in Indian cricket. The spinner has also viewed that intensity as something younger players can learn from.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
According to Brar, respect does not disappear simply because the two are competing. \u201cBut it's not like that. He is a legend of this game. He is one of the legends. Respect is the same for him on and off the field.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At the same time, Brar believes competitive cricket leaves little room for sentiment once the game begins. The objective, he said, is to perform for one's own side, irrespective of personal relationships.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut we do our job on the field. And we have learnt it from him only. He will never give an excuse saying, \u2018He is my friend, so I won\u2019t hit him for a four or six.\u2019 It's not like that. It's not possible. He wants to do well for his team; it\u2019s all jokes and fun. We have always learnt from him, and he is a great example for the future youngsters as to how cricket should be played,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brar's own history with Kohli adds another layer to their encounters. The PBKS spinner famously dismissed the former RCB captain in the same spell in which he also removed Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Brar said the identity of the batter does not change his responsibility as a bowler. \u201cYou should always have that current in you as a bowler; it doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For him, even the intimidating aura associated with Kohli should have no bearing on a bowler's mindset. \u201cSomeone giving a death stare should not bother a bowler.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brar also dismissed the idea that Kohli is necessarily staring directly at him during such moments, pointing instead to the way television cameras capture interactions on the field.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI 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\u2019re not. You can only hear the conversation around the stump mic. You can't hear anything else. But it's not like that, as far as staring is concerned.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brar pointed out that intense reactions from captains and players are a routine part of competitive cricket, though Kohli's profile naturally means his expressions attract greater attention.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI 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\u2019re not. You can only hear the conversation around the stump mic. You can't hear anything else. But it's not like that, as far as staring is concerned.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The spinner offered one final reminder that what viewers interpret from a television broadcast may not necessarily reflect what is happening between players. \u201cHe doesn't need to be staring at me; he could be staring at someone else too,\u201d he concluded on a fun note.<\/p>\r\n\r\n