Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has hailed selectors for picking Gurnoor Brar and giving them their full backing. This comes after the 26-year-old lit up the ODI series against Afghanistan, taking six wickets from the first two matches of the series.
Gavaskar stated how Brar does not have the best List A record, nor did he shine for India A. However, the Ajit Agarkar-led committee saw something in the bowler outside of the statistics, which is now reaping rewards for the Men in Blue. This was evident
by excellent bowling in the second ODI in Lucknow, where he took 3 for 60, including the prized wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
"His run-up is so good, his rhythm is so good, he was hitting the deck and getting the ball to climb. The wicket he got of Gurbaz was particularly impressive because of the way that bouncer followed him. It's very accurate. It comes right at you, exactly where the batter does not want it. I think the selection committee deserves all the compliments. If you look at his stats, or his India A performances, they're okay, but not to the extent where you would say he deserved an India cap. However, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, saw something in him, and that's why they picked him. He's also been backed by the management, which is so important," Sunil Gavaskar said on JioStar.
Brar made his international debut during the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamshala, where he burst onto the scene with three wickets. The right-arm fast bowler is putting his name in the hat for selection for the upcoming 2027 Cricket World Cup. His pace and ability to extract bounce from the pitch could be a huge asset for India on the South African wickets.
Sunil Gavaskar talks about Shubman Gill's batting form being reflected in his captaincy
Gavaskar strongly believes that Shubman Gill's incredible form with the bat is being rubbed on his time as captain on the field. The former Indian skipper stated that captains usually have a gut feeling on which bowler to use and what field to set. However, if they are not scoring runs, they tend to second-guess everything, including their leadership duties.
"When you're not getting runs, you're not confident about making those marginal moves that come from your gut feel, like holding back a bowler who has bowled well, giving him an extra over, or moving a fielder from a certain position. That gut feel is a lot stronger when you're personally performing. But if you're not performing, even when you get a gut feel, you're apprehensive about making that call because you're worried about getting it wrong. Since you're also not performing as a player, you'll be criticised for your captaincy as well." Sunil Gavakar added on JioStar.
Gill has been excellent with the bat in the two ODIs that India have played against Afghanistan, winning Player of the Match on both occasions. He started the series with an unbeaten 84 to help his side chase down 195 in a rain-affected game. He topped it off with an outstanding 154 in the second ODI in Lucknow, his second-highest score in ODI cricket.
