‘That is the kind of fast bowler I want to be’ – Gurnoor Brar shares his bowling inspiration & feeling of being capped by India

Newly capped India bowler Gurnoor Brar has talked highly of former South Africa speedster Dale Steyn and also shared his thoughts on getting a chance to represent his country on the international stage. 

Brar stated how he takes inspiration from Steyn, not only as a bowler but also as a fiery competitor. The 26-year-old strives to be like the now-retired fast bowler and replicate the level of consistency, pace and aggression in his bowling as he looks to build on the incredible start to his international career. 

“My favourite bowler is Dale Steyn. Being the number one bowler for seven to eight years is a huge achievement. That kind of consistency is rare. The aggression he bowled with was incredible. He didn’t just take wickets; he made batters fear him. Every time he ran in, you knew something was going to happen. I am a big fan of that attitude. The way he celebrated after picking up a wicket, the roar, the energy, the intensity, I loved that. It showed how much it meant to him. He didn’t just want wickets; he wanted to dominate. I really liked his whole approach. That is the kind of fast bowler I want to be,” Gurnoor Brar said to JioStar. 

Brar made his India debut against Afghanistan during the first One Day International (ODI) in Dharamshala, and had an immediate impact on the proceedings. The right-arm fast bowler was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking 3 for 27 on debut. In the second ODI in Lucknow, the 26-year-old once again ended up with a three-wicket haul, helping the Men in Blue secure the three-match series with one match to spare. 

The Gujarat Titans bowler, however, does not want to take the India call-up for granted and instead wants to work hard to play for a long period of time. He understands that he has been given an opportunity dreamed of by millions in the country and must deliver whenever he dons the iconic blue jersey. 

“Every cricketer dreams of playing for India. I feel truly blessed to have been selected. When I started my career, my only goal was to get here. Now that I am here, my mindset hasn’t changed. I don’t just want to play; I want to perform, succeed, and stay at this level. I want to prove that I belong in international cricket. That mindset will never change – whether it’s my first game or my 100th. When I wear the Indian jersey, I want to give everything for it. I don’t want to carry unnecessary pressure about what might happen or how I will perform. Of course, nervousness and pressure will always be there. But I choose to see it as a proud moment. Out of millions of people in this country, I have been given this chance. That is a huge honour. I feel blessed, and now I must deliver. With that positive mindset, I will go out and give my absolute best every time,” Gurnoor Brar added. 

Brar also pulled back the curtain on the time when he first learned he had been selected to represent India, not only in Tests but also in ODIs. The seam bowler talked about the emotional moment he shared with his parents and also with the rest of the Punjab squad. 

“Before every practice session, I take a 45-minute nap. It’s my routine. On the day of the squad announcement, I was doing the same, just resting at home. While I was sleeping, my friend called and told me that I had been selected. I was expecting to make Test squad only, but then I found out I was also in the ODI squad. That was unexpected. I don’t have enough words to describe that feeling. It was overwhelming. My parents called immediately. They were emotional. When I reached the ground for practice, the entire Punjab team congratulated me. The coaches shook my hand. It was a special moment. That day felt different as all the hard work had finally paid off,” Brar added when speaking to JioStar.