New Delhi: Growing up, Gurnoor Brar was one of the many Indian kids who used to mimic the bowling actions of Dale Steyn, Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, even while crossing the road.Although Brar picked up the red cherry at the age of 16, the Mohali lad was always fascinated by South Africa great Dale Steyn. “I am a Dale Steyn fan. Because of him, I picked 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 tells TimesofIndia.com. Although he admired Steyn, Brar’s first love was never cricket. “I used to play football and tennis in school. I never took cricket seriously. It was just for fun,” he says.“One of my friends suggested that I give trials at school. He reasoned that since I have good height, I could be a good bowler,” laughs Brar, who stands six feet five inches.It turned out to be great advice. Within two years, Brar met Shubman Gill, who was with the India 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) since our Under-19 days. I remember when he was playing for India Under-19, he played a couple of Katoch Shield matches. He saw me bowling and helped me get into the district team.
Gurnoor Brar
“I used to bowl to him since our Under-19 days. I remember when he was playing for India Under-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 Under-23 side,” he recollects.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.
Gujarat Titans’ Gurnoor Singh Brar during a warm-up session before an 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 Punjab Kings’ then skipper 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 throughout the season. Later, I joined as a replacement for Raj Angad Bawa,” Brar recollects.Then came his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants, a side that had wanted to sign him as a net bowler before Punjab Kings came calling. Brar says the IPL debut gave him a reality check.“In the first season, you are never sure whether you will get a match. One evening during a pool session, Shikhar paaji told me to be ready as I could get a game. Two days later, I was playing in the IPL,” Brar shares.
Ashish Nehra always tells me about his injuries and the mistakes he made in his career, like not taking care of his body and working excessively. He says working hard is important, but you must listen to your body. He keeps telling me to manage my workload and allow enough time for recovery.
Gurnoor Brar
“At the toss, Shikhar paaji told me that I would bowl the first over. With Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada and Sam Curran in the team, I was given the new ball. It boosted my confidence. On the very first ball, a regulation catch was dropped off KL Rahul. I bowled a good over and conceded only two runs. In my second over, I bowled a no-ball and the free hit went for a six. The next no-ball also went for a six.“The biggest learning was that bowling a no-ball is a sin. Seekha ye ki thodi planning karni chahiye. Tez ball se aaj kal koi nahi darta chaahe aap 155 pe daal rahe ho (I have learnt that you need to plan a bit. These days, no one is afraid of sheer pace, even if you are bowling at 155 kmph).”A few weeks later, while playing the Sher-e-Punjab Trophy – Punjab’s domestic T20 tournament – Brar learnt another valuable lesson, this time about his body.“After the IPL, we had the Sher-e-Punjab league. During that tournament, I suffered a disc bulge, which later turned into a fracture. I missed the 2023-24 season because of that injury. Obviously, I did not take care of these things. I was not educated about workload and fitness. The load increased, I was not doing enough recovery work and then I got injured,” says Brar, who hails from village Kheo Wali in Punjab’s Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
Gurnoor Brar (Photo credit: Gurnoor Brar Instagram)
With no IPL contract and having missed an entire season, Brar received support from Gill, who called to check on him 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. Tu ja, kaafi seekhega (Go there, you will learn a lot). Shubman pushes you a lot. He never gets satisfied and does not let his teammates be content. His grind is extreme and it has made him mentally strong as well,” Brar says.At Gujarat Titans, Brar found a mentor in Ashish Nehra. For a bowler returning from injury, Nehra shared stories from his own injury-ridden career.“He always tells me about his injuries and the mistakes he made in his career, like not taking care of his body and working excessively. He says working hard is important, but you must listen to your body. He keeps telling me to manage my workload and allow enough time for recovery,” Brar shares.After spending a year at 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 spells, he stands and watches me bowl. He tells me to keep it simple and hit the good length with good pace
Gurnoor Brar
“It has been a great learning curve for someone like me who started playing the sport so late,” he says.At GT, Brar also forged 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 spells, he stands and watches me bowl. He tells me to keep it simple and hit the good length with good pace,” Brar says.Brar has played 18 first-class matches and is a regular for Punjab. His height and ability to generate pace have caught the selectors’ attention and he is now a regular in India A squads, having taken 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 do not have an overseas tour for a while, so we have more time. He shows promise and the India A tour gave us a chance to see him,” Agarkar had said.
What sport did Gurnoor Brar initially play before taking cricket seriously?
With only one ball now used in domestic cricket, Brar has also learnt the art of reverse swing with the help of his coaches.“As far as reverse swing is concerned, the faster you bowl, the more it tends to reverse, provided the ball is well maintained,” Brar says.“When I get the old ball, I have only one thought in mind: bowl fast and attack the stumps. If I see even a slight hint of reverse swing, I go full throttle.“In my List A debut, when two balls were used, I remember bowling 18 yorkers on the trot with the old ball because it was reversing slightly. It is a great weapon to have and I am still learning.”With India’s pace-bowling backup looking thin and injury-prone, a couple of strong performances could bring Brar into national contention.
