Who is Gurnoor Brar? 6ft 3in Punjab pacer earns maiden India Test call-up for Afghanistan Test
Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar has earned his maiden India Test call-up for the one-off match against Afghanistan next month following a string of impressive performances in domestic cricket and the IPL. The right-arm fast bowler's consistent rise over the last two seasons has now brought him to the doorstep of an international debut.
India have handed maiden Test call-ups to three uncapped players, Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar and left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan next month. Among them, Gurnoor’s inclusion has drawn attention after the fast bowler’s consistent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL.
WHO IS GURNOOR BRAR?
Born in Punjab, Gurnoor Singh Brar has steadily risen through the domestic ranks to establish himself as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the country. Known for his pace, bounce and ability to move the ball both ways, the tall right-arm pacer has become an important figure for Punjab in red-ball cricket over the last two seasons.
Although Brar made his first-class debut in 2022 and IPL debut in 2023 for Punjab Kings, the 2024-25 domestic season proved to be the turning point in his career. He finished as Punjab’s leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy, claiming 26 wickets in seven matches with disciplined spells and consistent control.
Brar also revealed how his connection with India captain Shubman Gill dates back to their junior cricket days in Punjab, with Gill playing a role in helping him progress through the ranks.
"I used to bowl to him since our Under-19 days. I remember when he was playing for India Under-19, he featured in a couple of Katoch Shield matches. He saw me bowling and helped me get into the district team. I played for Mohali and was then picked for the Punjab Under-23 side," Brar told TOI.
One of his standout performances came against Bihar, where he returned figures of 5/14 to help Punjab dominate the contest. Across the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, Brar picked up 33 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 25.66 and maintained an economy rate of 3.43.
Brar also impressed in white-ball cricket. In the 2024 Sher-E-Punjab T20 League, he topped the wicket-taking charts with 22 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 14 and an economy rate of 7.33. His performances across formats strengthened his reputation as one of Punjab’s emerging fast-bowling prospects.
Before entering professional cricket, Brar worked as a net bowler with Mumbai Indians during the 2019 IPL season. He later made his List A debut against Goa and his first-class debut against Railways in 2022.
Apart from his bowling, Brar has also contributed useful runs in the lower order. During a Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir in 2023, he scored a crucial 64 and added a 100-run partnership with Siddharth Kaul to guide Punjab to a four-wicket win.
Brar’s IPL journey began when Punjab Kings signed him in 2023 as a replacement for Raj Bawa for Rs 20 lakh. He made his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants later that season. His domestic performances earned him a move to Gujarat Titans in the 2025 IPL auction, where he was bought for INR 1.30 crore.
He continued to impress with steady performances in domestic cricket and the IPL, earning a place in the India A setup before breaking into the senior squad. His maiden Test call-up for the Afghanistan series now marks the biggest moment of his career so far as he moves closer to making his international debut.