Gurnoor Brar can be India's X-factor in Bumrah's absence: Maharoof
Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof has identified rookie fast bowler Gurnoor Brar as a potential X-factor for India in the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The series begins in Galle on Saturday.
India, placed fifth in the World Test Championship standings, enter the series under pressure following a home series defeat to South Africa. Bumrah's absence leaves a significant void in the pace attack, with Mohammed Siraj expected to lead the bowling unit.
Speaking to PTI in a virtual media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network, Maharoof highlighted Bumrah's unique ability to reverse-swing the old ball, a skill that will be missed. "The ability to reverse-swing the ball, especially with the older ball, is something Bumrah brings, and that is going to be a massive miss for India," he said. "That is where I think they could lack some wicket-taking ability. Mohammed Siraj is a good bowler, with all due respect to him, but when you compare the two fast bowlers, there is a bit of a difference."
Maharoof, however, expressed strong support for Brar, the 26-year-old Punjab pacer who has been included in the Test squad despite limited first-class and IPL experience. "I really like Gurnoor Brar. I think he can be the X-factor. He has the bounce, the pace and the fighting spirit. He can be nasty," Maharoof said. He noted Brar's performance in the warm-up match, where his aggressive bowling troubled several batters from the Test squad.
"If you watched the warm-up game, some of the deliveries he bowled to batters who are in the Test squad made them quite uneasy, and he even hit a couple of players on the body. If I were in the Indian think tank, I would be tempted to give Gurnoor a go. I know he has only played white-ball cricket for India, but he brings that X-factor. In short, burst spells, when you want to break a batter’s rhythm, he can be a lethal weapon," he added.
Brar made his ODI debut against Afghanistan and has taken 11 wickets in six matches. He also featured in India A's tour to Sri Lanka last month, claiming a ten-wicket haul in the first match at Galle. There is speculation that he could replace Prasidh Krishna, who played in India's last Test against Afghanistan.
On the spin department, Maharoof noted that India will miss the retired Ravichandran Ashwin and the injured Washington Sundar. He observed that Sri Lankan pitches often provide bounce for spinners rather than just turn. With Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav likely to be the first-choice spinners, there is a debate over the third spinner.
India have young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who claimed seven wickets on debut against Afghanistan, and uncapped 31-year-old off-spinner Saransh Jain, who toured Sri Lanka with India A and claimed seven wickets while also scoring an unbeaten 70 batting at No. 7. Maharoof believes Suthar's ability to generate bounce could give him the edge, even if it means fielding three left-arm spinners.
"If you ask me, I would be tempted to go with the two left-arm spinners as well as Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep is a frontrunner to start in Galle, especially considering his record and the number of wickets he took in the last Test against Afghanistan. I see three spinners for India. Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and either Suthar or Jain. Ideally, you would like an off-spinner for variation, but I would not be surprised if Manav Suthar plays because his ability to get bounce off the surface could be very handy in Galle," he said.
Regarding Rishabh Pant, who has been struggling for form, Maharoof said the flamboyant keeper-batter remains dangerous and can take the match away with his unorthodox technique.
The series is part of the World Test Championship cycle, and India will look to bounce back after their recent setback.
