New Delhi: Rising up, Gurnoor Brar was one of many many Indian youngsters who used to imitate the bowling actions of Dale Steyn, Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, even whereas crossing the highway.Though Brar picked up the purple cherry on the age of 16, the Mohali lad was at all times fascinated by South Africa nice Dale Steyn. “I’m a Dale Steyn fan. Due to him, I picked up bowling. He dominated world cricket for nearly a decade. He was not solely quick, but it surely was his ability that made him one of the best on the earth,” Brar tells TimesofIndia.com. Though he admired Steyn, Brar’s old flame was by no means cricket. “I used to play soccer and tennis at school. I by no means took cricket severely. It was only for enjoyable,” he says.“One in every of my buddies recommended that I give trials at college. He reasoned that since I’ve good top, I could possibly be bowler,” laughs Brar, who stands six ft 5 inches.It turned out to be nice recommendation. Inside two years, Brar met Shubman Gill, who was with the India Underneath-19 group on the time, and Brar’s tempo left a mark on the present India Check and ODI captain.
I used to bowl to him (Shubman Gill) since our Underneath-19 days. I bear in mind when he was enjoying for India Underneath-19, he performed a few Katoch Protect matches. He noticed me bowling and helped me get into the district group.
Gurnoor Brar
“I used to bowl to him since our Underneath-19 days. I bear in mind when he was enjoying for India Underneath-19, he performed a few Katoch Protect matches. He noticed me bowling and helped me get into the district group. I performed for Mohali and was then picked for the Punjab Underneath-23 aspect,” he recollects.Brar made his Checklist A debut for Punjab in 2021 and performed 5 first-class matches the next 12 months. Though his returns have been modest, he caught the eye of Punjab Kings and joined the franchise as a web bowler.
Gujarat Titans’ Gurnoor Singh Brar throughout a warm-up session earlier than an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 T20 cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI Photograph)
It was in Mohali the place he impressed Punjab Kings’ then skipper Shikhar Dhawan.“I impressed Shikhar paaji with my tempo. I used to be with the group as a web bowler. He instructed me that I might be with the group all through the season. Later, I joined as a substitute for Raj Angad Bawa,” Brar recollects.Then got here his IPL debut in opposition to Lucknow Tremendous Giants, a aspect that had needed to signal him as a web bowler earlier than Punjab Kings got here calling. Brar says the IPL debut gave him a actuality verify.“Within the first season, you’re by no means positive whether or not you’re going to get a match. One night throughout a pool session, Shikhar paaji instructed me to be prepared as I might get a sport. Two days later, I used to be enjoying within the IPL,” Brar shares.
Ashish Nehra at all times tells me about his accidents and the errors he made in his profession, like not caring for his physique and dealing excessively. He says working laborious is necessary, however you should hearken to your physique. He retains telling me to handle my workload and permit sufficient time for restoration.
Gurnoor Brar
“On the toss, Shikhar paaji instructed me that I might bowl the primary over. With Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada and Sam Curran within the group, I used to be given the brand new ball. It boosted my confidence. On the very first ball, a regulation catch was dropped off KL Rahul. I bowled over and conceded solely two runs. In my second over, I bowled a no-ball and the free hit went for a six. The subsequent no-ball additionally went for a six.“The largest studying was that bowling a no-ball is a sin. Seekha ye ki thodi planning karni chahiye. Tez ball se aaj kal koi nahi darta chaahe aap 155 pe daal rahe ho (I’ve learnt that you could plan a bit. Nowadays, nobody is afraid of sheer tempo, even if you’re bowling at 155 kmph).”A couple of weeks later, whereas enjoying the Sher-e-Punjab Trophy – Punjab’s home T20 event – Brar learnt one other beneficial lesson, this time about his physique.“After the IPL, we had the Sher-e-Punjab league. Throughout that event, I suffered a disc bulge, which later become a fracture. I missed the 2023-24 season due to that damage. Clearly, I didn’t maintain these items. I used to be not educated about workload and health. The load elevated, I used to be not doing sufficient restoration work after which I acquired injured,” says Brar, who hails from village Kheo Wali in Punjab’s Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
Gurnoor Brar (Photograph credit score: Gurnoor Brar Instagram)
With no IPL contract and having missed a whole season, Brar acquired assist from Gill, who known as to verify on him and supplied him an opportunity to affix Gujarat Titans as a web bowler for IPL 2024.“He requested me to return to GT as a web bowler. Tu ja, kaafi seekhega (Go there, you’ll be taught lots). Shubman pushes you numerous. He by no means will get glad and doesn’t let his teammates be content material. His grind is excessive and it has made him mentally robust as properly,” Brar says.At Gujarat Titans, Brar discovered a mentor in Ashish Nehra. For a bowler getting back from damage, Nehra shared tales from his personal injury-ridden profession.“He at all times tells me about his accidents and the errors he made in his profession, like not caring for his physique and dealing excessively. He says working laborious is necessary, however you should hearken to your physique. He retains telling me to handle my workload and permit sufficient time for restoration,” Brar shares.After spending a 12 months at GT as a web bowler, Brar was signed by the Ahmedabad franchise for Rs 30 lakh within the 2025 IPL Public sale and has been retained for the 2026 version.
Kagiso Rabada watches my bowling carefully. As soon as he finishes his spells, he stands and watches me bowl. He tells me to maintain it easy and hit the great size with good tempo
Gurnoor Brar
“It has been an excellent studying curve for somebody like me who began enjoying the game so late,” he says.At GT, Brar additionally solid an in depth bond with Kagiso Rabada, with whom he had beforehand shared the dressing room at Punjab Kings.“KG watches my bowling carefully. As soon as he finishes his spells, he stands and watches me bowl. He tells me to maintain it easy and hit the great size with good tempo,” Brar says.Brar has performed 18 first-class matches and is a daily for Punjab. His top and skill to generate tempo have caught the selectors’ consideration and he’s now a daily in India A squads, having taken 12 wickets in three matches to date.BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has recognized Brar as ‘one for the longer term.’ “We’re at all times wanting. We should not have an abroad tour for some time, so we’ve got extra time. He reveals promise and the India A tour gave us an opportunity to see him,” Agarkar had stated.
What sport did Gurnoor Brar initially play earlier than taking cricket severely?
With just one ball now utilized in home cricket, Brar has additionally learnt the artwork of reverse swing with the assistance of his coaches.“So far as reverse swing is worried, the quicker you bowl, the extra it tends to reverse, offered the ball is properly maintained,” Brar says.“Once I get the previous ball, I’ve just one thought in thoughts: bowl quick and assault the stumps. If I see even a slight trace of reverse swing, I am going full throttle.“In my Checklist A debut, when two balls have been used, I bear in mind bowling 18 yorkers on the trot with the previous ball as a result of it was reversing barely. It’s a nice weapon to have and I’m nonetheless studying.”With India’s pace-bowling backup wanting skinny and injury-prone, a few robust performances might deliver Brar into nationwide competition.
