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Shubman Gill-led India started their ODI series against Afghanistan with a comfortable seven-wicket win at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Friday, June 13.
Chasing the target of 195 runs in a rain-interrupted 25-over match, the hosts scored 195/3 in 22.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
India defeated Afghanistan in the first ODI
After electing to bowl first, India were quickly put under pressure by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who produced one of the finest ODI innings of his career. The Afghanistan opener scored 102 runs in just 51 balls at a strike rate of 200 with the help of eight fours and eight sixes. His century came off just 48 balls, making it the fastest ODI century for Afghanistan and the second fastest century scored in this format against India.
However, once Nitish Kumar Reddy ended Gurbaz’s innings with a brilliant yorker, Afghanistan’s innings quickly lost momentum. Arshdeep Singh and debutant Gurnoor Brar took three wickets each, while Harsh Dubey also took three wickets. Nitish took two wickets as Afghanistan were ultimately restricted to 194/9 in the allotted 25 overs, despite Gurbaz’s heroics.
India had a positive start to chase the target, but after a mistake with captain Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma was run out on 16 runs. With his dismissal, Rohit’s seven-year streak of not being run out in ODI cricket ended and he looked very disappointed while returning to the pavilion.
However, this setback had little impact on India’s target. Gill played a brilliant inning of 84 not out with the help of 11 fours and two sixes in 66 balls. Ishan Kishan provided strong support with a quickfire 34 off 22 balls before KL Rahul completed the job in style. The wicketkeeper-batsman remained unbeaten on 39 off just 19 balls, ensuring India crossed the win mark with 13 balls to spare.
The way we started, they took the game away from us – Shubhman Gill
Shubman Gill won the Player of the Match award for his heroics, and speaking after the match, he praised Rahmanullah Gurbaz for his century and talked about his own catch to dismiss AM Ghazanfar.
“It was a one-of-a-kind T20 match. The way we started, they took the game away from us. Gurbaz was brilliant and took the game away from us, but we fought well. It was a great wicket to bat on. When we were bowling, there was a bit of grip, but when we batted it came along nicely,” said Shubman Gill.
Gill said, “I have practiced a lot in taking catches at slip. I have not taken many spectacular catches in my career, so I am happy.”
He saw the replays and said it was fine, he was run out in the last match too – Shubman Gill on Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill further spoke on Rohit Sharma’s run out and said that the veteran batsman was not bothered by the incident.
“He saw the replays and said it was okay, he was run out in the last match as well. Gurnoor, the way he bowled with the new ball and then came back in the death overs. Also Harsh, the way he came back after giving away 16 runs in his first over,” said Shubman Gill.
“In ODIs, the middle overs are important, in bowling you need to keep creating chances and maintain pressure. In batting, it is about finding the gaps and rotating the strike. We also discuss the same in team meetings.”