Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has opined that Gurnoor Brar is well-suited for Tests and ODIs, advising against rushing him into T20I cricket where batters might target his pace.
Jaffer’s suggestion came amidst the ongoing India versus England ODI series, where Brar has claimed four wickets in two matches so far.
The towering 6'5" speedster from Punjab rose to prominence with his stunning exploits in the home ODI series against Afghanistan last month. He consistently troubled batters by combining raw pace over 145 km/h with steep bounce.
Across the three games, Brar picked up seven wickets at an average of 25.14. As a result, he became India’s leading wicket-taker in a debut ODI series, surpassing the previous record of 6 wickets jointly held by Yuzvendra Chahal and Prasidh Krishna.
Gurnoor Brar then carried this international confidence back to red-ball cricket. He spearheaded India A to a dominant 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka A in Galle, registering a sensational 10-wicket match haul (4/77 and 6/68).
“As for Gurnoor Brar, I think he looks really good. I had said earlier as well that he is a good option for Test cricket and ODIs. In my opinion, he shouldn't be rushed into T20 cricket. These formats suit him better because he can bowl at his own pace and hit the right lengths consistently. If he plays T20 cricket, I don't think he'll be as effective because batters will go after him. So, I feel he should primarily be used in this format and in Test cricket,” Jaffer said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
Jaffer also noted that an extended break after the IPL has helped Jasprit Bumrah, who looked in good rhythm in the first two ODIs against England.
Notably, Bumrah endured a dismal IPL 2026 campaign, where he claimed just four wickets in 13 matches for Mumbai Indians.
“I think the break has served him well. We were just talking about how, after the World Cup, he looked very jaded during the IPL. It felt like he was carrying fatigue, and that usual X-factor we associate with Jasprit Bumrah wasn't quite visible. But I think the break he got after the IPL has really helped him. This is the Bumrah we want to see,” Jaffer added.
Wasim Jaffer also called out India's decision to bench left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for the first two ODIs against England.
By bringing in spin bowling all-rounders Washington Sundar and Axar Patel alongside three frontline pacers, the visitors secured batting depth. However, this tactic invited scrutiny as Jaffer and many experts worry that the team management is filtering out its most potent wicket-taking option in the middle overs.
“You know, I feel Kuldeep should be playing. Again, it's a bit difficult to understand why he isn't. In the middle overs, you need a wrist-spinner because, on this kind of wicket, a wrist-spinner can provide you with breakthroughs. If you go in with only finger spinners, I think you're likely to face a few problems,” Jaffer remarked.
The series-deciding third ODI will be played at Lord’s on Sunday (July 19).
