Gurnoor Brar, the right-arm fast bowler from Punjab, has set his sights on becoming an all-format bowler for India. The 26-year-old made his international debut after impressing in domestic cricket, particularly in the Ranji Trophy and India A competitions. Now, playing for North Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, Brar is focused on learning from the experiences of senior bowlers and coaching staff to refine his craft.
Brar has had the opportunity to interact with India head coach Gautam Gambhir,
bowling coach Morne Morkel, and senior colleagues Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. These interactions have shaped his approach to the game and his understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Speaking about his ambitions, Brar explained his selection to the India team and his broader goals for his career.
"I got selected to the India team because of the way I was performing in the Ranji Trophy and India A. But I was looking for more learnings as to how I can be more consistent on my lengths and which batsman I can bowl according to which wicket. That was my aim," Brar said as quoted by NDTV Sports.
"I would say that there has been a lot of growth as a bowler after my interactions with Morne sir and Gambhir Sir. Obviously, after seeing and talking to Boom (Bumrah) Bhai, Siraj Bhai, Prasidh (Krishna) Bhai...it's an experience. From the beginning, I have only one goal. I have to load my body so that no matter how many overs I bowl, or how many balls I bowl, it doesn't matter to my body. I enjoy bowling more," he added.
The growth in Brar's bowling has already become evident through his recent performances. In two multi-day matches against Sri Lanka A and SLC XI in Galle and Colombo, he took 13 wickets while bowling 54.3 overs. These numbers demonstrate his ability to maintain consistency and effectiveness over extended spells, a key requirement for an all-format cricketer.
"But according to me, the more we push, the stronger our body will become. I have a mindset like the old fast bowlers -- just keep bowling. ...because that was a slow wicket and if you take a wicket on a pitch like that, then obviously, it's a very good feeling. After that performance, I have gained a lot of confidence that I can bowl on any wicket," Brar said.
"If I bowl on such wickets, then my motive is to give my best and keep the wicket out of the game. If it is a slow wicket, then you can hit the wicket, you can try to hit it in the pads...those options also open up," he added.
