The Rise of Gurnoor Singh Brar: India’s 6’5” Answer to Express Pace
INTRODUCTION
Indian cricket has a new pace weapon on the horizon, and he comes with a rare combination: towering height, steep bounce, and raw speed consistently clocking over 140 kph. Gurnoor Singh Brar, the 25-year-old speedster from Punjab, has officially arrived on the big stage following his maiden call-up to the Indian Test and ODI squads for the Afghanistan series.
But the journey of this 6-foot-5-inch right-arm fast bowler wasn’t built entirely on traditional cricket academies. It started with basketball dreams, Dale Steyn videos, and a chance encounter with India’s current captain.
From the Basketball Court to the Cricket Pitch
Born in Kheo Wali village in Punjab’s Sri Muktsar Sahib district, Brar didn’t take cricket seriously until he was 15. His father, Sukhvir Singh Brar, was a national-level basketball player who hoped his tall son would follow in his footsteps. Instead, Gurnoor spent his evenings mesmerized by videos of Dale Steyn, studying the South African legend’s outswing, aggression, and relentless pace.
Despite the late start, Brar’s natural physical attributes made him a menace in the nets. Within two years of joining a Mohali academy, he crossed paths with Shubman Gill during a district tournament. Gill, who was already making waves in the U-19 circuit, immediately recognized Brar’s raw talent and backed him for the Punjab district and U-23 sides.
The IPL Grind and Finding His Footing
Brar’s path to professional cricket required patience. He worked as a net bowler for the Mumbai Indians in 2019 before eventually making his List A and First-Class debuts for Punjab in December 2022.
His first major break came during the 2023 IPL season. After impressing Shikhar Dhawan in the nets with his heavy ball, Punjab Kings signed him as an injury replacement for Raj Bawa. Brar made his IPL debut against the Lucknow Super Giants, where Kagiso Rabada handed him his debut cap.
While an injury sidelined him for the 2023-24 domestic season, Brar utilized the time to rebuild his mechanics. Gill stepped in again, bringing Brar to the Gujarat Titans as a net bowler for the 2024 season. Under the mentorship of Ashish Nehra, and by closely observing the routines of Rabada and Mohammed Siraj, Brar refined his stock bouncer and outswing. His hard work paid off when the Gujarat Titans secured his services for INR 1.3 Crore at the 2025 IPL Mega Auction.
Fantasy Outlook: A High-Value Differential Pick
For those monitoring team news and building fantasy lineups, Brar represents a classic “trump pick” in the making. His profile offers distinct advantages for platforms like Dream11:
Pitch Dependency: Brar is lethal on hard, bouncy tracks where his 6’5″ frame allows him to hit the deck and extract steep bounce from a good length. On slower tracks, he relies heavily on his newly developed outswing.
Partnership Breaker: With 52 wickets in 18 First-Class matches, his role in domestic cricket has often been to break established partnerships through sheer pace and intimidation.
Hidden Value: Brar is an underrated lower-order left-handed batter. He famously scored a match-saving 64 for Punjab in a 2023 Ranji Trophy game against Jammu & Kashmir, adding valuable potential fantasy points to his bowling returns.
What’s Next?
With the team management actively searching for tall, hit-the-deck pacers to round out India’s fast-bowling arsenal, Brar’s selection for the Afghanistan series is a clear signal of intent. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has openly praised his promise, highlighting his ability to create uncomfortable angles for batters.
From imitating Dale Steyn’s action on the streets of Muktsar to potentially making his international debut just a few kilometers from home at the Mullanpur stadium, Gurnoor Singh Brar is ready to let his pace do the talking.
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