Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar has received his first-ever Test team call-up after being included in India’s squad for the upcoming one-off match against Afghanistan in Mullanpur next month. With Jasprit Bumrah being rested, the selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar has decided to give opportunities to new faces, with Brar joining players such as Manav Suthar, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj in the squad.
Brar’s express pace first grabbed the attention of India captain Shubman Gill during their Under-19 cricket days. Gill played an important role in guiding Brar’s early journey and also helped him secure a place in the district team, support that became vital in his rise through Punjab’s cricketing system.
His experience at the elite level grew further after joining Punjab Kings as a net bowler, where he managed to impress several senior cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan. Consistent performances later paved the way for his IPL debut.
During an important phase of his career, Shubman Gill once again backed Brar by helping him secure a role as a net bowler with Gujarat Titans. Working under head coach Ashish Nehra, Brar focused on workload management and injury recovery. Gujarat Titans later signed him for Rs 30 lakh in 2025 and retained him for the 2026 season, underlining the franchise’s faith in his abilities.
Although his white-ball statistics are still evolving, Brar’s steady performances in red-ball cricket have marked him out as an exciting fast-bowling talent who now stands close to making his international debut.
Who is Gurnoor Brar?
The 6-foot-5 fast bowler was initially involved in football and tennis before eventually shifting his focus to cricket. Inspired by legendary South African pacer Dale Steyn, Brar started developing his craft as a bowler, making the most of his height to generate extra bounce and troubling angles for batters.Brar’s express pace first grabbed the attention of India captain Shubman Gill during their Under-19 cricket days. Gill played an important role in guiding Brar’s early journey and also helped him secure a place in the district team, support that became vital in his rise through Punjab’s cricketing system.
His experience at the elite level grew further after joining Punjab Kings as a net bowler, where he managed to impress several senior cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan. Consistent performances later paved the way for his IPL debut.
During an important phase of his career, Shubman Gill once again backed Brar by helping him secure a role as a net bowler with Gujarat Titans. Working under head coach Ashish Nehra, Brar focused on workload management and injury recovery. Gujarat Titans later signed him for Rs 30 lakh in 2025 and retained him for the 2026 season, underlining the franchise’s faith in his abilities.
Although his white-ball statistics are still evolving, Brar’s steady performances in red-ball cricket have marked him out as an exciting fast-bowling talent who now stands close to making his international debut.
