India May Have Found Jasprit Bumrah's Backup, And Gautam Gambhir Already Knows It

While competition is high among India's pacers when it comes to making the 2027 Cricket World Cup squad, the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand may end up doing wonders for Gurnoor Brar. The 26-year-old from Punjab has heavily impressed in the opening two games of the series, picking up seven wickets, including four in the second ODI. Gurnoor now boasts 21 wickets in only 11 ODIs, and is emerging as a reliable fast-bowling bet for India when Jasprit Bumrah isn't available.

Reflecting on his fiery spell in the second ODI, in which he finished with figures of 4/30 in 10 overs, former India cricketer Murali Kartik heavily praised Gurnoor. Kartik pointed out exactly why India head coach Gautam Gambhir may have a liking for Gurnoor.

"Good to see that hostility from Gurnoor Brar because we want somebody like that. That's one of the reasons why Gautam likes him," Kartik said, speaking on Cricbuzz, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

"He bowls a heavy ball; he bowls those rib-ticklers to the batters, and it could be even foreigners; you can see the number of people he has hit today.

"These are positive signals for India, given the fact that you've got two experienced campaigners still sitting on the bench, people like Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj," Kartik added.

With Jasprit Bumrah not participating in the ODI series and Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana on the sidelines, Gurnoor and Arshdeep Singh are the leaders of India's pace attack in Kiwi conditions.

Kartik claimed that it must be a boost for the likes of Gurnoor and Auqib Nabi to be able to bowl in bowling-friendly conditions after toiling on flat pitches in India.

"What they've encountered from the time they've made their debuts, people like Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar, are really docile, benign conditions. You just feel for them. It's just merciless.

"You come and play the game because you want to enjoy it and the challenges that come with it. But this is one-sided. It feels like that for bowlers. Sometimes you feel so sad sitting in the com box as well. But it's good that they've got certain conditions which have gone their way," he elaborated.

Auqib Nabi also picked up his first two ODI wickets in the second ODI against New Zealand, having gone wicketless in his opening two games for India.

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