Shubman Gill played a captain’s knock in India’s seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first ODI on June 13. Chasing 195 in a 25-over per side contest, the right-handed batter scored an unbeaten 84 runs off 66 balls, laced with 11 fours and 2 sixes. He added 46 runs with Rohit Sharma and stitched a 70-run stand with Ishan Kishan.

Rohit, who made a return to international cricket since January, looked rusty during his 16-ball stay and was even hit on the wrist after failing to connect with the ball.

He was run out after amassing 16 runs with the help of 2 fours and 1 six. Ishan, who has been consistent in white-ball cricket, didn’t allow the bowlers to settle down, accumulating 34 runs in 22 deliveries, including 3 boundaries and 1 maximum.

Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer was unable to get going and scored just 12 runs. Shubman then found an able partner in the form of KL Rahul, who remained not out on 39 runs in 19 balls as India completed the chase in 22.5 overs.

Rahul smashed 4 boundaries and 3 sixes.

Earlier, Gill won the toss and invited the rivals to bat first. Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar kept things tight and reduced the Afghans to 26 for 3 in 4.3 overs, with Ibrahim Zadran (1), Sediqullah Atal (0), and Rahmat Shah (3) returning to the dressing room. However, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a brilliant knock and hit his 9th ODI hundred. The veteran managed 102 runs in 51 balls, packed with 8 fours and 8 sixes at a strike rate of 200.00.

Apart from him, skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (27 off 30) and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai (26 off 16) added important runs to the total.

The failure of Mohammad Nabi (9) and Rashid Khan (9) didn’t give the much-needed momentum in the death overs as Afghanistan were dismissed for 194 in 24.5 overs.

For India, it was the day of two debutants, Gurnoor and Harsh Dubey, with the two claiming three wickets each. The 26-year-old pacer from Punjab was the pick of the bowlers as he conceded 27 runs from his 4.5 overs. Dubey was expensive, giving away 47 runs from his quota of five overs. Arshdeep was spot on with the ball and picked up two wickets for just 27 runs.

Nitish Kumar Reddy also managed to take two wickets.

The second and third ODIs will be played on 17 and 20 of this month in Lucknow and Chennai, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Indian team management will experiment in the ongoing assignment, keeping in mind the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.