India fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has revealed that he sought bowling advice from veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during a match-simulation practice session in New Zealand, crediting the two ex-captains for helping him fine-tune his lines and lengths ahead of the ongoing ODI series. The disclosure came during Brar's post-match press conference following India's victory in the second ODI at Wellington on 7 November 2026.

Career-Best Performance at Hnry Stadium

Brar was named Player of the Match after returning career-best figures of 4 for 30 as India bowled out New Zealand for 134 and won the second ODI by four runs via the DLS method at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington. He had also claimed 3 for 44 in the opening game at Eden Park in Auckland, underscoring his rapid rise as a key weapon in India's pace attack.

What Rohit and Kohli Told Him

Speaking after the match, Brar described a practice session held two to three days before the second ODI at an open facility in New Zealand. 'When I bowled to Virat and Rohit 2-3 days ago, we got an open facility here and had a match simulation type. So I was asking them, like you have so much experience here. On which lengths and which line can I bowl. So those were the practice sessions which helped me a lot,' Brar said.

He also credited captain Shubman Gill for similar input, explaining his process of consulting the batters on what deliveries would be most difficult to face. 'The same thing keeps happening with Shubman — like as a batsman, what do you think will happen if I bowl here and it will be more difficult to face. So that's what I try to do,' he added.

Dressing Room Culture and Freedom to Express

Brar was effusive about the support structure within the Indian team, noting that the leadership backs bowlers to express themselves even on flat, unhelpful tracks back home. 'Even after coming to New Zealand, they said the same thing — that you back your strength and only you have to bowl that ball — whether it goes for a six or a four, it doesn't matter to me. You just have to bowl openly and that's what I'm doing and the results are coming,' he said.

He was equally generous in his praise for Gill's leadership style, describing a captain who values intent and effort over raw numbers. 'He doesn't judge anyone by performance or anything like that and how much effort is being put and in which direction is the training taking place — that matters here,' Brar said.

Morkel's Mentorship and the 2027 World Cup Goal

Brar also highlighted the role of bowling coach Morne Morkel, whose similar tall build and bowling style makes him a natural mentor. Brar said Morkel regularly guides him on which lengths to target on different surfaces. While acknowledging that the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup remains the ultimate goal, Brar said his personal focus stays strictly match-by-match. 'Personally, I think about how I can become better in the next game. If I have made a mistake, how can I minimise it if we go to Hamilton and do it better,' he said.

With the series now poised heading into the remaining games, Brar's emergence as a consistent wicket-taker gives India's pace-bowling stocks a significant boost for the World Cup cycle ahead.