Learning From Shubman Gill, Growing With GT: Gurnoor Brar Brimming With Excitement After Maiden India Call-Up | Exclusive

Learning From Shubman Gill, Growing With GT: Gurnoor Brar Brimming With Excitement After Maiden India Call-Up | Exclusive

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026, 10:33 IST

From Mohali to Team India, Gurnoor Brar’s journey blends raw pace, setbacks, and resilience, with Shubman Gill’s relentless push shaping his rise to the biggest stage

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Punjab's Gurnoor Brar received a maiden India call-up for Afghanistan Test and ODIs

Ever since the BCCI announced the squads for the one-off Test and three ODIs against Afghanistan, one name that has piqued fans’ curiosity is Gurnoor Brar. A 25-year-old pacer from Mohali, who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall, bowls with genuine pace and took up cricket following a friend’s advice, who believed Brar was meant to be a bowler.

After years of hard work and persistence, Brar‘s dream finally came true on Monday when BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the squad via an online press conference. His raw pace and ability to extract steep bounce even from placid surfaces have impressed the selectors enough to look beyond his modest first-class tally of 52 wickets in 18 matches.

The first call he made after receiving the news was to his parents back home, who have been his backbone throughout his journey.

“I got to know when the team was announced. I spoke to my parents first after that. They were obviously very happy for me. My father said that my hard work paid off," Brar told News18 Cricketnext in an exclusive conversation.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gurnoor Brar (@gurnoorsbrar)

Brar has been on the BCCI selection committee’s radar for quite some time now. He broke into the India A squads last year, featuring in the series against South Africa A in Bengaluru and Kanpur. He picked up 12 wickets in three matches and impressed alongside established names like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

The Punjab pacer has been part of the Gujarat Titans setup since IPL 2025. Although he hasn’t made his debut for the franchise, being in the camp with his statemate Shubman Gill has been a massive learning curve for Brar.

“Learning never ends," he says. “I’m in Gujarat Titans, where I get to learn a lot from our head coach, Ashish Nehra, sir. Being surrounded by international bowlers obviously teaches you how a bowler functions at the international level and how they handle pressure."

“Even our skipper, Shubman pushes us a lot. He doesn’t get satisfied easily. That grind makes us give our best. It also pushes us to think about how we can contribute to keep the team moving. The focus is entirely on improving ourselves every day," he added.

The camaraderie between Gill and Brar dates back to their Under-19 days with Punjab. It was Gill who helped Brar make further progress in his career.

In 2021, Brar broke into List A cricket, and a year later, he made his Ranji Trophy debut.

Brar had become a regular face in the Punjab setup by then. He featured in five Ranji matches during the 2022-23 season and subsequently joined the Punjab Kings camp, where he played a game against Lucknow Super Giants under the leadership of Shikhar Dhawan. After the IPL season, he participated in the state T20 tournament, the Sher-e-Punjab Trophy.

However, continuous cricket and limited awareness about workload management took a toll on his body. He suffered a hairline fracture in his lower back.

“I didn’t know about workload management. Not paying enough attention to recovery led to the injury. But I feel it was a blessing in disguise. It taught me a lot, especially how to take care of my body," Brar said.

“The injury ruled me out for the entire season. Since I had ample time, I focused entirely on getting better. I worked on my bowling post-recovery. I changed my run-up and reduced my speed to minimize the load on my body. The following year, I returned and ended up being the highest wicket-taker for Punjab," he added.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gurnoor Brar (@gurnoorsbrar)

As Brar recalled, the 2024-25 season marked his stirring comeback. While Punjab faltered as a unit, the young pacer delivered a standout campaign with 26 wickets in just seven matches, including a five-wicket haul. The same year, he was picked by Gujarat Titans in the mega-auction.

Brar has been in an environment that further accelerated his growth. Sharing the dressing room with seasoned international bowlers gave him invaluable exposure, helping him better understand the demands, discipline, and mindset required to succeed at the highest level.

“The atmosphere in the GT camp is amazing. There are world-class players around me who are specialists across all formats – like Siraj bhai, Prasidh bhai, Rabada, and especially Ishant Sharma, who is an inspiration. One can learn from him how a bowler plays 100 Test matches and takes care of his body," Brar said.

“Then we have our coach, Nehra sir, and obviously Shubman is there. So, it’s a very positive atmosphere where you can learn a lot instead of cribbing about not getting a chance to play. I will definitely give my best when I get a game, but when I’m not playing, I utilize the time by learning from others."

“Even Nehra sir keeps speaking to us about match scenarios and how to deal with certain situations. I keep discussing with Siraj bhai and Rabada about bowling," he added.

Brar grew up admiring Dale Steyn. Inspired by the South African legend’s aggression and bowling style, he has always aspired to be quick and give his best on the field.

“Playing for India has always been a dream. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity to don the India jersey. It’s a proud moment for me. Obviously, I’m excited to play with Shubman for the country, but at the same time, it’s God’s grace that I got this opportunity," Brar said.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gurnoor Brar (@gurnoorsbrar)

“I’m also thankful to the selectors and the Indian team management for giving me a chance. I have reached here through a lot of hard work, and I just want to make the most of it now. I want to enjoy it without taking any pressure. My only motive is to give my best and win matches for my country," he added.

It’s just one Test against Afghanistan that Brar has been called up for, with Jasprit Bumrah rested. One game doesn’t guarantee a long rope, but Brar isn’t fazed by that. Instead, he wants to live the moment and understand how players operate in the Indian dressing room.

“I’m not thinking about what’s going to happen after this game. I’m only focusing on how I can give my best. I want to experience how bowlers function in the Indian team. Those observations will definitely help me when I return and play elsewhere," he said.

“As I said, learning goes on. I’m just thinking about what new I can explore and grasp. I just want to be true to myself and give my best for the long run," Brar concluded.

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First Published: May 21, 2026, 10:33 IST

News cricket Learning From Shubman Gill, Growing With GT: Gurnoor Brar Brimming With Excitement After Maiden India Call-Up | Exclusive

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