Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra praised the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel for picking Gurnoor Brar in three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. On his ODI debut against Afghanistan, Brar impressed one and all with his performance. He returned with impressive figures of 3-27 in 4.5 overs he bowled. The lanky pacer accounted for Ibrahim Zadran, Rashid Khan, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.

Brar bowled consistently around 145 kmph and impressed in his maiden appearance in the Indian colors. Thus, the debutant played a key role in skittling out Afghanistan at 194 and impressed with his pace and bounce.

“All of us were assuming that Prince would play, and when the match was reduced to 25 overs, it’s very close to the T20 format, and Gurnoor Brar hadn’t come after playing T20s just now, we started thinking that Prince would definitely play. However, the Indian team had prepared their plan beforehand that they would play Gurnoor because he is tall, has a high-arm action, generates good bounce, and has pace,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“He was consistently on the other side of 145 clicks. He has been fast-tracked. Our fans lose a little objectivity at times. I am going to be objective. You are looking beyond the numbers because if only numbers are required, you can make a statistician a selector. They wanted pace and bounce, and both those things were seen in his game,” he added.

The renowned commentator added Harsh Dubey, who also made his ODI debut along with Gurnoor Brar, is a mult-facet player.

“Harsh Dubey has picked up a lot of wickets in First-class cricket and has performed decently in the IPL. They are trying to groom players. Manav Suthar is made for Test cricket. So he has been kept there. Harsh Dubey is a slightly multifaceted player. He also bats and fields well,” he said.

After an expensive first over, Dubey bounced back well and returned with impressive figures of 3-47 in his five overs he bowled. 

The second ODI between India and Afghanistan will be played at Lucknow on Wednesday.