Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan picked 26-year-old Gurnoor Brar as the standout up-and-coming seam bowler in the country ahead of the Test series in Sri Lanka. Brar debuted for India in the home ODI series against Afghanistan earlier in the year on the back of solid domestic performances.
The tall seamer has impressed in his six ODI appearances with 11 wickets, including best figures of 3/27. Brar also delivered an impressive performance in the recent red-ball game for India A against Sri Lanka, finishing with match figures of 10/145.
When asked about the young pacer he has been most impressed with, Zaheer told journalist Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel (7:32):
“It’s good to see a young crop of fast bowlers coming through that bowl high speeds. I believe Gurnoor Brar is the one who has the ability to have a good and lengthy career. Its good that he has been fast-tracked. Even when I spent some time with him, I could see exciting potential in him. We have to wait and see how his career materialises eventually, but on potential, he has impressed me the most.”
Brar boasts an excellent first-class record with 62 wickets in 11 outings at an average of 25.24.
Gurnoor Brar is part of the Indian squad for the Sri Lankan Test series
Gurnoor Brar is one of the four pacers in the Indian 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series in Sri Lanka. The 26-year-old earned his maiden red-ball call-up earlier in the year for the one-off home Test against Afghanistan.
However, he did not feature in the playing XI as India went with only two pace-bowling options, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj. Brar is part of the Indian playing side in the ongoing warm-up game against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) XI and picked up a wicket in the first innings of the contest.
It remains to be seen if the up-and-coming tall pacer earns a Test debut in the series opener against Sri Lanka at Galle on August 15.
Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
