Gurnoor Brar returned with figures of 3/27 on his India debut. But, mere weeks before, everyone was fuming. Auqib Nabi’s omission after back-to-back incredible Ranji Trophy seasons was questioned. However, most didn’t realise that Brar was already in the system.
Gurnoor Brar’s impressive India debut
He’d been playing for India A. The 6’5 fast bowler was next in the pecking order. That warranted his selection for the India vs Afghanistan one-off Test over Nabi, especially since Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep weren’t in the scheme of things.
However, the public online wasn’t pleased. They felt there was some bias, since India’s Test captain Shubman Gill was Brar’s captain in domestic cricket (Punjab) and the Indian Premier League (Gujarat Titans). However, that wasn’t the call at all. The tall pacer was earmarked for his raw talent, much like Harshit Rana was before him.
Brar didn’t play the Test but made his international debut against Afghanistan in the Dharamshala ODI. Within minutes, everyone realised why he was selected. On his fifth ball, he took a wicket. The rain-curtailed game deprived him of his full quota, but he ended up with a 3-fer in 4.5 overs.
The stuff dreams are made of Gurnoor Brar strikes in his very first over in international cricket Updates t.co/lCuohEZYAl #TeamIndia | #INDvAFG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/x7qIkDWPZr
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 13, 2026Why selectors picked him over Nabi Auqib
All of a sudden, all those who criticised him were all praise. Ravichandran Ashwin wasn’t against Brar’s selection to begin with. After his stunning performance on debut, the former India cricketer has lauded the selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar for recognising Brar’s talent.
“Gurnoor Brar, we have to say that he is really impressive. He is tall, and it seems like he is quite strong too. He bowled every ball over 145 kmph. There is a massive upside. The skill, action, and swing he gets with the new ball – there is a lot of upside with him. He can bowl even faster; he is young,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
As Ashwin pointed out, Brar’s the complete package. He’s tall, bowls over 140 with ease, can swing and seam the ball, and generates bounce. He’s got everything. Now, it’s about putting it all together. Something he’ll learn as he plays more. You can’t forget that Brar’s selection was made keeping the bouncy tracks in South Africa for the ODI World Cup 2027 in mind.
The selectors have been on point to fast-track and deserve praise for it. While Nabi most likely has better control, he doesn’t have Brar’s height to generate the bounce or to hit the deck hard if need be. It’s clear what the vision is and why Brar was pushed ahead of Nabi.
“When the selectors chose Gurnoor Brar and not Auqib Nabi, many people talked about it. I think it was a very good spot. This is not a comparison between them, but the selectors and the coaches who saw Gurnoor have to be praised; that is a really good eye. If he stays fit and does all the right things, he can become a really big bowler for India in the future,” he added.
Gurnoor Brar over Auqib Nabi, right call: Ashwin lauds Ajit Agarkar for IND vs AFG selection Inside Sport India.
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