India have been outstanding in the New Zealand series. There were concerns that challenging conditions and extra bounce would make life difficult for the visitors. The T20 series had offered batting-friendly surfaces, but the expectation was that the ODI pitches would present a tougher test.
India, however, have sprung a surprise. It is New Zealand who have struggled against the Indian bowlers in their own conditions. One of the biggest reasons has been Gurnoor Brar, the 6-foot-5-inch fast bowler whose pace and steep bounce have troubled the hosts.
Gurnoor Brar delivers in both ODIs
Brar made an immediate impact in the first ODI in Auckland, taking 3 wickets for 44 runs in 9.2 overs. He dismissed Tim Seifert and Tom Latham during his spell, helping India bowl New Zealand out for 185.
He followed that performance with an even better spell in the second ODI in Wellington. Brar finished with 4 wickets for 30 runs in 10 overs, including 2 maidens, removing Latham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith.
| Match | Overs | Maidens | Runs conceded | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First ODI, Auckland | 9.2 | 0 | 44 | 3 |
| Second ODI, Wellington | 10 | 2 | 30 | 4 |
Those performances gave him 7 wickets for 74 runs across the two matches. Beyond the numbers, the way he has unsettled established New Zealand batters makes his contribution particularly encouraging for India.
Why his bounce is proving so difficult to handle
Brar’s height gives him a high release point, while his ability to bowl consistently above 140 kmph makes his short-pitched deliveries difficult to negotiate. On surfaces offering extra bounce, batters have less time to adjust when the ball climbs higher than expected.
The dismissals of Latham and Phillips in the second ODI showed the value of that combination. One is a left-hander and the other a right-hander, yet a similar short-pitched approach brought Brar both wickets.
Phillips had been a major threat during the T20 series, when India found him difficult to dismiss. This time, Brar sent him back for a duck. Latham, who has often troubled India, also fell while trying to deal with the bounce.
Brar then removed Santner after he had settled in and added Smith’s wicket. His spell showed that he could break a partnership and continue taking wickets as the innings progressed.
A promising weapon for SENA conditions
SENA refers to South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. Conditions vary across these countries, but on pitches offering pace and steep bounce, Brar’s natural strengths could give India an important wicket-taking option.
His performances in New Zealand point towards a useful role in the middle overs. When batters are trying to rebuild or increase the scoring rate, his ability to make the ball climb sharply can prevent them from settling.
That is the promise behind these two spells: India may have found a fast bowler who can turn bounce into regular breakthroughs, even against batters familiar with those conditions.
Better control will decide his next step
Brar still has considerable room to improve on batting-friendly pitches. The same short-of-a-length deliveries that trouble batters on a lively surface can sit up at a comfortable height on a flatter one.
Without that extra bounce, batters can line him up and attack. Such a length may still bring wickets, but it can also become expensive if he keeps repeating it without adjusting to the surface.
Brar already has the height and pace. His next challenge is to sharpen his control over line and length and learn when to change his approach. Those improvements could help him become a dependable wicket-taker across conditions.