Gurnoor Brar is making quite an impression on the field with his robust bowling style. Standing tall at 6 feet 5 inches, this right-arm pacer charges in with determination, delivering the ball with such force that it showed signs of wear even in just the third over of the match on June 13.
His powerful bowling is one of the key reasons why he has quickly made his way into the Indian cricket team. Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar believes in Gurnoor’s tremendous potential. This was evident during India’s seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
The match was delayed by rain and was reduced to 25 overs, starting four hours later than planned, with the toss happening at 5:15 PM rather than 1:00 PM. Fans, who waited patiently in the stands, finally got to enjoy the game when the rain subsided, and the advanced drainage system quickly dried the field.
With a damp pitch from being covered for hours, the team bowling first was expected to have an advantage. Shubman Gill, who won the toss, called upon Gurnoor to take on the Afghan openers.
Right from the start, Gurnoor delivered a fast outswinging full toss to batter Ibrahim Zadran, showcasing his speed. The Afghan opener struggled to connect with the ball. Gurnoor quickly adapted his length, creating challenges for the batsmen.
As a kid, Gurnoor developed his fast bowling skills playing with tennis balls, a choice driven by the need to avoid being hit too hard. His ability to generate steep bounce was on display when he made Zadran pop the ball into the air, leading to an easy catch for his teammate, Shubman Gill.
Many believe it was Shubman who supported Gurnoor’s inclusion in the squad, even presenting him with his debut cap before the match. Gurnoor’s delight upon capturing a wicket was a touching moment, reflecting his years of hard work.
### Gurnoor and Arshdeep Shine Bright
One of the most noticeable aspects of Gurnoor’s bowling was his speed, consistently hitting between 145 and 150 kph. Although he may not be the fastest bowler in the world, his style reminded fans of India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel, who was known for his hard-hitting approach.
Alongside Gurnoor, Arshdeep Singh disturbed the Afghan batting order with his swing. Afghanistan faced challenges early on, collapsing to a mere 26 runs for 3 wickets during the powerplay as India nicely seized control.
### Rahmanullah Gurbaz Takes Charge
As wickets began to fall, Rahmanullah Gurbaz took it upon himself to shift the momentum. He aggressively targeted the bowlers, effortlessly hitting any full deliveries back over the bowler’s head and sharply cutting those that were short.
Gurbaz’s clear approach set him apart from his teammates. While Gurnoor posed difficulties for everyone else, Gurbaz capitalized on short balls aimed toward his pads, sending one soaring over the boundary. He raced to a remarkable century off just 48 balls, the fastest for an Afghan player and marked as one of the quickest ODI centuries against India.
However, his innings came to an end in the 16th over with Afghanistan at 142, bringing about a swift collapse. They managed only 194 runs instead of the expected 220-230, largely due to Gurnoor returning to claim two more wickets late in the innings.
India’s debutant Harsh Dubey also played a key role, finishing with three wickets and helping close out the innings, although his debut didn’t overshadow Gurnoor’s standout performance.
### Shubman Guides India Home
Chasing a target of 195 runs, India comfortably maintained control with Shubman Gill leading the charge. He ended with 84 runs off 66 balls, ensuring victory in just 22.5 overs.
Gill began cautiously, but things shifted after the early dismissal of Rohit Sharma, who was run out for 16. With the pressure easing after Ishan Kishan stepped onto the field, Gill found his rhythm and expertly targeted Afghanistan’s leading bowlers, especially Rashid Khan.
In a calm finish, KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 39, securing the win with a stunning six. The teams will now head to Lucknow for the next match in this exciting series.
