Gurnoor Brar delivered a match-winning spell in the second ODI against New Zealand.
Young India pacer Gurnoor Brar credited senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli along with captain Shubman Gill for guiding him on ideal lines and lengths during open-net match simulations in New Zealand.
The advice helped Gurnoor bounce back from difficult earlier performances to take career-best ODI figures of 4 for 30 in Wellington, leading India to a 4-run win (DLS method) in the second game of the series. He had also claimed 3 for 44 in the opening game at Eden Park.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the tall fast bowler noted that Rohit and Kohli shared their extensive experience on what lengths make it challenging for batters in Kiwi conditions, telling him to back his natural strengths and hard-length bowling.
“According to me, the backing or support you get for being that X-factor is there. But after that everyone has to do the hard yards. So that was the same thing in my mind. I was not taking anything lightly in my mind – like that I got it and I will do wonders or something will happen. But obviously you have to put efforts for it. You have to push a lot in practice.
“So when I bowled to Virat and Rohit 2-3 days ago, we got an open facility here and had a match simulation type. So I was asking them, ‘Like you have so much experience here. On which lengths and which line can I bowl.' So those were the practice sessions which helped me a lot. The same thing keeps happening with Shubman (Gill, current captain) – like as a batsman, what do you think will happen if I bowl here and it will be more difficult to face. So that's what I try to do,” Brar told reporters.
Gurnoor Brar also acknowledged the support from the Indian team management towards the bowlers.
“Backing is the most important thing for every player. Every player is getting it here. There is a very good atmosphere.
“As far as the flat tracks in India are concerned, we were bowling anyway. But obviously, we should also bowl well there. But he backed us there too and told us that the more you hit the right length, the more good results you will get.”
“Even after coming to New Zealand, they said the same thing - that you back your strength and only you have to bowl that ball - whether it goes for a six or a four, it doesn't matter to me. You just have to bowl openly and that's what I'm doing and the results are coming,” he added.
Brar was effusive in praise for Gill, adding that the skipper is someone who values effort and intent over stats.
“Obviously, he backs everyone. He doesn't judge anyone by performance or anything like that and how much effort is being put and in which direction is the training taking place and in what direction is the player trying to improve - that matters here.
“Shubman is the same. He himself has a lot of hunger in terms of how can I do better for the team, and how can I improve myself better in terms of plans or something. So he keeps discussing that and we just move forward,” he remarked.
The 26-year-old Brar, who stands at 6 feet 5 inches, also discussed his growth under the mentorship of India's bowling coach, Morne Morkel.
“Morne Morkel teaches us a lot. Obviously my height and similar kind of style of bowling, he tells us a lot about which length will suit us more on which wicket. So the same thing goes on. Like you said about the World Cup - the ultimate goal is to win the World Cup.
“So that is the back of the mind. But personally, I think about how I can become better in the next game. Like if I have made a mistake, how can I minimize it if we go to Hamilton and do it better. So in my mind, I go match by match and the ultimate goal is that. So I have kept that in mind,” he stated.
(With PTI Inputs)