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Former India opener Aakash Chopra praised the selectors and team management for giving Gurnoor Brar his ODI debut against Afghanistan. Chopra said player selection should not be based only on statistics, adding that statisticians would have become selectors if numbers were the only factor considered.
Brar made his debut in the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala on Saturday, June 13. He impressed with figures of 3/27 in 4.5 overs as Afghanistan were bowled out for 194 in 24.5 overs. In reply, Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 84 off 66 balls as India secured victory in the rain-shortened 25-over contest.
Gurnoor Brar Hadn’t Come After Playing T20s – Aakash Chopra
In a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that many expected Prince Yadav to make his debut, especially after the match was reduced to 25 overs. Chopra stated that India had already decided to play Gurnoor because of his height, high-arm action, ability to generate bounce, and pace.
“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.
Before his debut, Gurnoor had played only 10 List A matches, claiming 15 wickets with best figures of 4/57. He is expected to feature again when India face Afghanistan in the second ODI in Lucknow on June 17.
Gurnoor Brar Was Consistently on the Other Side of 145 – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said that India’s decision to pick Gurnoor Brar was based on qualities that do not always show up in statistics. He pointed out that the left-arm pacer consistently bowled above 145 kmph and gave the team the pace and bounce they were looking for.
“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.
They Are Trying to Groom Players – Aakash Chopra on Harsh Dubey ODI Debut
Aakash Chopra also praised the selectors for picking Harsh Dubey in the ODI squad against Afghanistan. He said that the team management sees Harsh as a better fit for white-ball cricket than Manav Suthar because of his all-round abilities.
“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.
“His bowling style is the beauty. Even though Harsh Dubey has great First-class numbers, he goes to the corner of the box, bowls with a slight sidearm, undercuts the ball a little, and varies his pace a lot. This is almost ideal for white-ball cricket. So you will have to choose Harsh Dubey first in white-ball cricket and leave out Manav Suthar, and that is why you have a selection committee,” Chopra observed.
Harsh rewarded the selectors’ faith in the first ODI against Afghanistan. After conceding 16 runs in his opening over, he bounced back to finish with figures of 3/47 in five overs, dismissing Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Allah Ghazanfar.
