Shubman Gill slammed a breathtaking 84-run knock, with India securing a convincing seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the opening ODI at Dharamshala on Saturday. With the win, India have easily taken a 1-0 lead in the series after a dominant performance with both ball and bat.
The match, which was reduced to 25 overs per side due to rain interruptions, saw India chasing a target of 195 in 22.5 overs following Gill's batting masterclass. Shubman Gill remained the standout performer in the run chase, remaining unbeaten on 84 and anchoring the innings nicely. Ishan Kishan also played a valuable role at the top, contributing 34 runs and helping the side maintain momentum.
Earlier, Afghanistan recovered from a shaky start after a remarkable innings from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who counterattacked fearlessly, taking the Indian bowlers on with an explosive century. After India opted to bowl, Afghanistan found themselves in trouble at 25/3 within the first five overs. However, Gurbaz stepped up, smashing 102 runs from 51 deliveries, striking eight boundaries and eight sixes to propel the team to a total of 194 before they were bowled out in 24.5 overs.