India opened their ODI campaign with a composed seven-wicket victory in a rain-curtailed 25-over contest at Dharamsala, chasing down 195 against Afghanistan to take a 1–0 lead in the series.
Afghanistan’s innings revolved around Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who hammered a breathtaking 102 off just 51 balls. His counterattack lifted the visitors to 194 despite early setbacks. Once Gurbaz fell, India’s bowlers regained control, with Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey picking up three wickets each to restrict Afghanistan’s final surge.
India’s reply was built on calm assurance and calculated aggression. Captain Shubman Gill anchored the chase with an unbeaten 84, guiding the innings with maturity and control. Ishan Kishan injected early momentum with a brisk 34, putting pressure back on Afghanistan during the field restriction phase.
Though India lost a couple of wickets in the middle overs, the required rate never became a concern. KL Rahul then finished the job in style, smashing 39 off just 19 balls to ensure victory with more than two overs to spare.
Afghanistan showed flashes of fight, particularly through Rashid Khan, but struggled to apply consistent pressure with the ball in a shortened format where margins were tighter.
