Aakash Chopra, a former player for India, has expressed his opinions on whether or not Gurnoor Brar should only be used during Test matches. But he wondered if that would be the best course of action.
In the just-finished two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, India won 1-0. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were chosen as the two seamers in both games; hence, Gurnoor was left out.
The former India opener Aakash Chopra was questioned on whether Gurnoor should only be used in Test matches rather than being used in other forms.
"It's a good thought, but is it the right thought? That question will definitely be there because Test cricket happens very sporadically. A series ended just now in August, and then you will see a test series in November. After that, you will get to see the next Test series in January," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Chopra also stated that Brar could be a handy pacer on pitches that offer bounce and pace, like those in the South Africa 2027 World Cup.
"It happens so sporadically that you say whether you will play him this only. How would it work out if you are going to play him this only? It's also on your mind that the ODI World Cup is approaching. We might need pace and bounce in the ODI World Cup in South Africa. Gurnoor Brar is a bowler who has just started," he observed.
In order to make sure the 26-year-old is prepared for the World Cup, Chopra continued, he should be given regular opportunities across formats.
"If someone has just started, you also want to give him a lot of opportunities so that he should play ODIs and T20Is as well, in different conditions and situations, because you don't know how he would perform and respond. These are little, little tests you want to keep taking consistently, just to know that by the time the World Cup comes, our man is ready," Chopra elaborated.
Brar is yet to play any Tests or T20Is but has taken 11 wickets in six ODIs for India.
Chopra highlighted that workload management isn’t about resting someone and added that Gurnoor Brar should be managed but allowed to play all formats.
"You have to look at it from many perspectives. The tempting option is to play only tests so that he plays for a long time and will be more consistent and reliable and won't get injured. However, I believe that if you are young, workload management is not only about not playing someone.
Workload management is also about playing someone. You need to just keep bowling the overs. Just build up the stamina. You have to do that job as well. Many times, we feel that not playing someone and resting them is workload management. Resting alone is not workload management. I feel he should be allowed to play. Manage him slightly, but play him in all formats," Chopra concluded.
Gurnoor Brar has picked up 67 wickets at an average of 25.00 in 20 first-class games. He has accounted for 23 dismissals at an economy rate of 6.67 in 15 List A games and 10 scalps in nine T20s while conceding an average of 10.81 runs per over.
