Gurnoor Brar Earns National Call-Up for Upcoming Afghanistan Series
Gurnoor Brar's Selection for the National Team
In a notable shift from the norm of selecting Indian players based on their Indian Premier League (IPL) performances, Gurnoor Brar has been chosen for the national Test and ODI squads for the forthcoming series against Afghanistan. He is set to make his ODI debut on Saturday, June 13, in Dharamshala. Standing at 6'5", this fast bowler has only participated in a single IPL match for Punjab Kings (PBKS) during the 2023 season. Originally from Punjab, he is currently associated with the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL, having been acquired for ₹1.3 crore during the 2025 mega auction, although he has yet to play for them. Nonetheless, he may debut for India in both formats next month under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.
Introducing Gurnoor Brar
Gurnoor's ties to Punjab extend beyond his role with GT, as he also represents the Punjab team in domestic competitions, similar to the Indian captain. At 25 years old, he has been a consistent member of the India 'A' squads lately, particularly in first-class cricket. Last year, he was among the top wicket-takers in the unofficial Test series against Australia A, claiming eight wickets across two matches. He also participated in one-day matches against South Africa A, where he secured four wickets. His first-class cricket statistics are impressive, boasting 52 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 27.30. Additionally, he has played nine List A and T20 matches each, taking 12 wickets (with an economy of 6.47) and 10 wickets (with an economy of 10.81), respectively. Gurnoor's sole IPL appearance for PBKS was in 2023 against LSG, where he bowled three overs, conceding 42 runs without taking a wicket.
Reasons Behind Gurnoor Brar's Selection
Despite his statistics not being particularly eye-catching, it is Gurnoor's inherent qualities that have garnered him significant attention. His height enables him to generate additional bounce and express pace, providing a unique skill set as a 'Hit The Deck Bowler,' which is currently a rarity in Indian cricket.