Last Updated: June 14, 2026 05:55 PM
Team India secured a magnificent victory in the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamshala, but the talk of the town was young fast bowler Gurnoor Brar.
He grabbed everyone’s attention with a powerful bowling performance in his very first international match.
Following the match, Gurnoor Brar also made an emotional statement, reflecting on his long journey of struggle.
A Dream Debut
Punjab’s 26-year-old fast bowler Gurnoor Brar justified the selectors’ faith in him by taking three wickets on his debut.
He consistently bowled at speeds exceeding 145 km/h, with one delivery clocking in at 148.2 km/h.
In a video shared by the BCCI after the match, Gurnoor Brar said, “Obviously, I wouldn’t say there was pressure but there was excitement…like, I have to do well for India, I have to bowl well. Obviously, everyone wants to give their best here and I was doing the same. I just had to give my best and with God’s grace it went well.”
Speaking about his first wicket, he said, “It’s a special feeling, like all the hard work has finally paid off, all the grind like I did in this heat…yeah it’s a special moment.”
He added, “(The first wicket) yeah, it’s like a milestone that you just have to cross. When that first wicket happened suddenly it brought a sense of relief like ‘now there’s no tension’.”
Gill Plays a Captain’s Knock
When Shubman Gill jokingly asked if he was worried about the catch for his first wicket, Gurnoor Brar smiled and replied, “Since you were under it, I knew it wouldn’t be dropped.”
Although Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 102 runs off just 51 balls to help his team reach a total of 194, Indian captain Shubman Gill turned the match into a one-sided affair by scoring an unbeaten 84.
Explaining his strategy after the match, Gill said, “So, when I went in to bat, my main thing was that I wanted to be there till the end. I wanted to finish the game for the team.”
He added, “The ball was turning a bit and seaming slightly. So I thought if I could get through that period, the game would become easier and easier.”
Thanks to Gill’s composed innings and Gurnoor Brar’s memorable debut, India chased down the target in 22.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
This match in Dharamshala turned out to be a lifelong memorable occasion for Gurnoor Brar.
