Gurnoor Brar had a debut to remember for India, picking up three wickets in the first ODI against Afghanistan at the scenic HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday (June 13).
The 6-foot-5-inch speedster needed only five deliveries in international cricket to claim his maiden wicket, removing Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran.
Operating consistently at speeds above 145 kmph and touching close to 150 kmph, Gurnoor closed out his spell by picking up two more wickets (Rashid Khan and Zia Ur Rahman) in the final over of the innings.
In a rain-curtailed 25-over contest, Gurnoor’s disciplined figures of 4.5-0-27-3 helped restrict Afghanistan to 194, paving the way for a comfortable seven-wicket victory for India.
Impressed with Gurnoor Brar’s performance, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised the selectors' bold decision and conviction in picking the Punjab pacer over Jammu & Kashmir's Auqib Nabi for the senior team.
Gurnoor’s selection was backed by his high release point and steep bounce, while Nabi missed out despite a stellar 60-wicket Ranji Trophy season.
"Gurnoor Brar, we have to say that he is really impressive. He is tall, and it seems like he is quite strong too. He bowled every ball over 145 kmph. There is a massive upside. The skill, action, and swing he gets with the new ball, there is a lot of upside with him. He can bowl even faster, he is young," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"When the selectors chose Gurnoor Brar, and not Auqib Nabi, many people talked about it. I think it was a very good spot. This is not a comparison between them, but the selectors and the coaches who saw Gurnoor, they have to be praised, that is a really good eye. If he stays fit, and does all the right things, he can become a really big bowler for India in the future," he added.
Along with Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey made his India debut in Dharamsala ODI. The left-arm spinner returned with the figures of 3 for 47 in his five overs.
Sharing his thoughts on the young spinner, Ashwin remarked: "I know Harsh Dubey very well, there was no doubt in my mind that he would be a good player. He always fights, never backs down from a contest. He proved to be a little expensive, but the way he made a comeback, that is Harsh Dubey for you. He can also bat very well."
