India’s newest pace sensation Gurnoor Brar has made an impressive start to his ODI career against Afghanistan, emerging as India’s leading wicket-taker in the series with six wickets in two matches. The Punjab fast bowler has impressed with his pace, bounce and ability to execute under pressure in his debut international outing.
His rapid rise reflects the strength of India’s domestic cricket structure and the India A pathway that continues to produce ready-made international performers.
“I don’t think about that (reputation) much. I believe in myself and whatever I am doing, whether it is hard length or fast-paced bowling. I tried to replicate that here as well,” he said after India’s series-clinching 170-run win. “It was the same for me as when I bowled in Ranji, bowling fast, hitting a hard length and swinging the ball. I tried to replicate the exact same thing in India A and hit the same lines.”
For Brar, the transition to international cricket has been shaped by repetition, exposure and learning across multiple levels, from the Ranji Trophy to India A and the high-intensity environment of the IPL. He credited structured domestic pathways and dressing-room exposure alongside senior fast bowlers for helping him refine his game before stepping onto the international stage.
“I am thankful to God that I got my chance to show what I can do with India,” he adds. “There is a very good atmosphere in Gujarat Titans. There is (Ashish) Nehra sir, (Kagiso) Rabada, (Mohammed) Siraj bhai, Prasidh (Krishna) bhai and Ishant Sharma, so you get to learn a lot from them. I was also waiting for my chance there, and I kept observing where I could improve.”
WANTS TO GET BETTER
Despite his strong start, Brar insists he is far from finished with his development, repeatedly stressing that improvement remains the priority over early success. His performances have already showcased his ability to hit hard lengths, extract bounce and deliver yorkers at the death, but he believes there is much more to come.
“I don’t get satisfied. I am happy that I did well, but I want to do more for Team India. I want to keep doing better. I just keep doing my work.”
That mindset has become central to his rise, particularly in pressure situations where he has leaned heavily on execution and clarity rather than raw pace alone. With support from the team management and guidance from senior players, Brar’s focus now shifts to consistency—turning promising spells into sustained impact across different conditions and opposition.
India play one last ODI game against Afghanistan on Saturday, June 20 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
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