Dharamsala: India skipper Shubman Gill opened up on a light-hearted exchange with Rohit Sharma following an unfortunate run-out during the first ODI against Afghanistan national cricket team in Dharamsala, as the hosts secured a comfortable victory in a rain-curtailed contest.
The incident, which briefly put India under pressure early in the chase, saw Rohit dismissed in unusual circumstances at the non-striker’s end. Attempting a quick single, the former India captain was caught out after a moment of confusion that involved the bowler crossing his path, leaving him unable to respond in time to Gill’s call.
Speaking after the match, Gill clarified that there were no hard feelings over the dismissal, revealing Rohit’s calm reaction after reviewing the replay.
“Rohit saw the replay and said it’s fine about the run-out,” Gill said at the post-match presentation, indicating that the senior batter took the incident sportingly.
Debutants shine in India’s dominant win
While the run-out grabbed early attention, the match largely belonged to India’s bowlers and emerging talents. Gill reserved special praise for debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey, who played crucial roles in restricting Afghanistan to a modest total.
Brar impressed with his raw pace, consistently clocking speeds close to 147 kmph and troubling batters with late outswing. He finished with impressive figures of 3 for 27, marking a dream start to his international career.
“Gurnoor’s pace, consistent lengths that he hit and swing was impressive,” Gill noted, highlighting the youngster’s composure and control despite the pressure of debut.
Dubey, a left-arm spinner, had a slightly tougher start, conceding 16 runs in his opening over. However, he bounced back strongly, sticking to his attacking approach and eventually claiming 3 for 47.
“Harsh went for 16 in his first over but still kept tossing the ball up which was very impressive,” Gill added, appreciating the spinner’s resilience and confidence.
Gill leads from the front with the bat
Gill himself played a pivotal role in India’s chase, remaining unbeaten on 84 as the team comfortably chased down a target of 195 in a shortened 25-overs-per-side contest. His composed innings ensured there were no further hiccups after early wickets.
Apart from his batting, Gill also made an impact in the field, pulling off a spectacular catch in the slips to dismiss AM Ghazanfar. The effort drew praise and reflected his commitment to improving his fielding standards.
“I have practised slip catches a lot. I was telling my fielding coach that I haven’t taken any brilliant catch and happy to have taken it,” he said with a smile.
Gurbaz’s blitz keeps Afghanistan competitive
Despite the loss, Afghanistan had moments of brilliance, largely thanks to an explosive innings from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 102 off just 51 balls, hitting eight sixes and eight boundaries in a stunning display of power-hitting.
Gill acknowledged Gurbaz’s effort, admitting that his innings briefly shifted momentum in Afghanistan’s favour.
“It was kind of a T20 game. We started well, they pulled it away from us. Gurbaz was brilliant,” he said.
However, India’s bowlers regained control in the latter half of the innings, executing their plans effectively in the death overs to restrict Afghanistan below what seemed possible at one stage.
Middle overs remain key, says Gill
Reflecting on the match dynamics, Gill emphasised the importance of the middle overs in ODI cricket, even in shortened games. According to him, controlling this phase often determines the outcome.
“Middle overs, in one-day games, are crucial. If we build pressure and create opportunities with the ball, and score at six runs per over with the bat without losing wickets, it’s great,” he explained.
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi echoed a similar sentiment, admitting that his team fell short by at least 30 to 40 runs on a good batting surface.
“It was a tough game. Losing back-to-back wickets hurt us. If we scored 220-230, that would have been a good target,” Shahidi said, also pointing to lapses in discipline with the ball.
Conclusion
India’s victory in Dharamsala not only gave them a strong start to the series but also showcased the depth in their squad, with debutants stepping up alongside established players. While Rohit Sharma’s run-out was an unfortunate moment, Gill’s composed leadership and the team’s overall performance ensured it remained a minor footnote in an otherwise dominant display.
As the series progresses, India will look to build on this momentum, while Afghanistan will aim to address key areas and bounce back stronger.
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