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New Delhi: Growing up, Gurnor Brar was one of the many Indian kids who imitated the bowling action. Dale SteinBrett Lee et al Shoaib AkhtarEven when crossing the road.Although Brar picked the red cherry at the age of 16, the boy from Mohali was always drawn to South African great Dale Steyn. “I’m a fan of Dale Steyn, that’s why I took up bowling. He ruled world cricket for almost a decade. He was not only fast, but it was his skill that made him the best in the world,” Brar told TimesofIndia.com. Although he admired Steyn, Brar’s first love was never cricket. “I played football and tennis in school. I never took cricket seriously. It was just for fun,” he says.“A friend of mine suggested that I give trials at school. He reasoned that since I am tall, I can be a good bowler,” laughs Brar, who stands six feet five inches.This turned out to be great advice. Within two years met Brar. Shabman GulJo was with India’s Under-19 team at the time, and Brar’s pace left a mark on the current India Test and ODI captain.
I used to bowl to him (Shubman Gill) from my under-19 days. I remember when he was playing for India Under-19, he played two matches of the Cutch Shield. He saw me bowling and helped me get into the district team.
Gurnoor Brar
“I used to bowl to him since my U-19 days. I remember when he was playing for India U-19, he played a couple of Katoch Shield matches. He saw me bowling and helped me get into the district team. I played for Mohali and was then picked for the Punjab U-23 team,” he recalls.Brar made his List A debut for Punjab in 2021 and played five first-class matches the following year. Although his returns were modest, he caught the attention of Punjab Kings and joined the franchise as a net bowler.
Gurnoor Singh Brar of Gujarat Titans during the warm-up session before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 T20 cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI photo)
It was in Mohali where he impressed the then Punjab Kings captain. Shikhar Dhawan.“I impressed Shikhar Paaji with my pace. I was with the team as a net bowler. He told me that I would be with the team for the entire season. Later, I joined as a replacement for Raj Angad Bawa,” recalls Brar.He then made his IPL debut against Lucknow Supergiants, a team who wanted to sign him as a net bowler before Punjab Kings called him up. Brar says his IPL debut gave him a reality check.“In the first season, you were never sure if you would get a match. One evening during the pool session, Shikhar Paaji told me to be ready as I might get a game. Two days later, I was playing in the IPL,” explains Brar.
Ashish Nehra always tells me about his injuries and the mistakes he made in his career, like not taking care of his body and overworking. They say working hard is important, but you should listen to your body. He keeps telling me to manage my workload and give me enough time to recover.
Gurnoor Brar
“On the toss, Shikhar Paaji told me that I will bowl the first over. Along with Arsdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada and Sam Curran In the team, I was given a new ball. It boosted my confidence. A regulation catch was dropped off KL Rahul on the very first ball. I bowled a good over and gave away just two runs. In my second over, I bowled a nine and free hit a six. The next nine ball also hit a six.“The biggest lesson was that noballing is a sin. Learned that a little planning should be done. You are putting on 155 with the fast ball these days (I have learned that you need to plan a bit. Nobody is afraid of fast pace these days, even if you are bowling at 155 kmph).A few weeks later, while playing in the Sher Punjab Trophy – Punjab’s domestic T20 tournament – Brar learned another valuable lesson, this time about his body.“After the IPL, we had the Lions Punjab League. During that tournament, I suffered a disc bulge, which later turned into a fracture. I missed the 2023-24 season due to this injury. Obviously, I didn’t take care of these things. I wasn’t educated about workload and fitness. The load increased, I wasn’t doing enough rehabilitation and then I got injured,” says Brar, who hails from Khewwali village in Punjab’s Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
Gurnor Brar (Photo Credit: Gurnor Brar Instagram)
After not having an IPL contract and missing the entire season, Brar received the support of Gill, who called him for a check-up and offered him a chance to join Gujarat Titans as a net bowler for IPL 2024.“He asked me to come to GT as a net bowler. So go find some coffee. (Go there, you will learn a lot). Shubman pushes you a lot. He is never satisfied and does not allow his colleagues to be satisfied. His grind is extreme and it has made him mentally strong as well,” says Brar.At Gujarat Titans, Brar found a mentor in Ashish Nehra. For a bowler coming back from injury, Nehra shares stories from his injury-hit career.“He always tells me about his injuries and the mistakes he made in his career, like not taking care of his body and overworking himself. He says it’s important to work hard, but you have to listen to your body. He keeps asking me to manage my workload and allow enough time for recovery,” shares Brar.After spending a year in GT as a net bowler, Brar was signed by the Ahmedabad franchise for Rs 30 lakh in the 2025 IPL auction and has been retained for the 2026 edition.
Kagiso Rabada watches my bowling closely. Once he finishes his spell, he stands up and watches me bowl. He tells me to keep it simple and hit a good length at a good pace.
Gurnoor Brar
“It’s been a great learning curve for someone like me who started playing the game so late,” he says.At GT, Brar also formed a close bond with Kagiso Rabada, with whom he had previously shared the dressing room at Punjab Kings.“KG watches my bowling closely. Once he finishes his spell, he stands up and watches me bowl. He tells me to keep it simple and hit a good length with good pace,” says Brar.Brar has played 18 first-class matches and is a regular for Punjab. His height and ability to generate pace have caught the attention of selectors and he is now a regular in India A squads, taking 12 wickets in three matches so far.BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has identified Brar as ‘one for the future’. “We are always looking. We don’t have an overseas tour for a while, so we have more time. He shows promise and the India A tour gave us an opportunity to see him,” Agarkar had said.
Which sport did Gurnor Brar initially play before taking cricket seriously?
Now using only one ball in domestic cricket, Brar has also learned the art of reverse swing with the help of his coaches.“As far as reverse swing is concerned, the faster you swing the ball, the more it tends to reverse, provided the ball is maintained well,” says Brar.“When I get the old ball, I have only one thought: bowl fast and attack the stumps. If I see even the slightest hint of reverse swing, I go full throttle.“In my List A debut, when two balls were used, I remember hitting 18 yorkers on the trot with the old ball because it was reversing a bit. It’s a huge weapon and I’m still learning.”With India’s fast bowling back-up looking thin and injury-prone, some strong performances could bring Brar into national contention.
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