Uncapped Gurnoor Brar Tipped as India’s ‘X-Factor’ for Sri Lanka Tests by Farveez Maharoof
As India prepares to kick off its two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on August 15th in Galle, former Sri Lankan all-rounder Farveez Maharoof has singled out an intriguing pick for the visiting side’s potential game-changer: uncapped pacer Gurnoor Brar.
Brar, who earned a spot in India’s Test squad, made his international debut in an ODI earlier this year against Afghanistan. Despite his limited international exposure, the 25-year-old boasts impressive statistics. In six List A innings, he has claimed 11 wickets at an average of 32.81. His first-class record is even more compelling, with 62 wickets from 19 matches at an average of 25.24, including four four-wicket hauls, two five-wicket hauls, and a remarkable 10-wicket match haul.
‘He has the bounce, pace and fighting spirit’: Maharoof backs Brar
During an interaction organised by Sony Sports Network, Maharoof passionately endorsed Brar, highlighting the qualities that could make him a vital asset for India in the subcontinent.
“I like Gurnoor Brar. I think he can be an X-factor. He has the bounce, pace, the fighting spirit, and he can be nasty,” Maharoof stated, painting a vivid picture of the young pacer’s potential.
Brar’s recent performance in India’s warm-up game against the Sri Lanka XI further fueled Maharoof’s conviction. The pacer picked up three wickets and reportedly made life difficult for several batters with Test experience, even inflicting body blows.
“If you watched the warm-up match, some of the deliveries he bowled against the batters who have already played Tests, he made them quite uneasy. A couple of players also got some body blows,” Maharoof recounted.
While acknowledging Brar’s lack of red-ball international experience, Maharoof believes the potential reward outweighs the risk. He sees Brar as a strategic weapon, particularly in short, impactful spells.
“If I am the think tank of India, I will be tempted to try Brar. I know he has not played red-ball cricket and has just played white-ball cricket for India, but he brings that X-factor, those short spells where you just want to break the rhythm of the batter. He can be a lethal weapon,” he added.
Maharoof backs ‘quality player’ Shubman Gill
Beyond his surprising choice for an X-factor, Maharoof also reserved significant praise for India’s captain,
“Shubman Gill is a quality player. He is one of the best going around; his Test average this year is 70-odd. Numbers speak for themselves. The way he batted in the second innings of that warm-up match was superb. He is one of the best going around, not only in Tests, but also in all formats,” Maharoof lauded.
India’s squad for Sri Lanka Tests
The Indian squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka includes a blend of experienced players and exciting young talent:
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- KL Rahul (Vice-Captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Manav Suthar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Gurnoor Brar
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Saransh Jain
- Auqib Nabi
With the series just days away, all eyes will be on whether India’s think tank heeds Maharoof’s advice and unleashes the “lethal weapon” that is Gurnoor Brar, potentially adding an unpredictable dimension to their bowling attack.
