India vs Afghanistan Highlights, 1st ODI at Dharamsala: Shubman Gill and KL Rahul propel India to emphatic 7-wicket victory, claim 1-0 series lead

That’s all from Dharamshala, where Team India sealed a comfortable seven-wicket win over Afghanistan to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series. The action now shifts to Lucknow for the second match, and we’ll be back with full coverage then. Until next time, goodbye.

Team India captain Shubman Gill was named Player of the Match for his regal knock during the first ODI match. He scored an unbeaten 84 off 66 deliveries and also picked up a brilliant catch at slip.

Gill started the 23rd over with a solid boundary off a Yorker delivery from Saleem. Rahul also struck a solid four through extra cover.

KL wrapped up the chase with a boundary off a lofted straight drive, finishing the game on a high note.

India clinched a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the opening ODI at Dharamshala. Shubman Gill anchored the chase with composure, while KL Rahul accelerated in the latter stages to seal victory, giving the Men in Blue a 1-0 lead in the series.

Well, there you go. What a solid shot slapped over long-on by KL Rahul! A slower delivery from Zia, but KL judged it right and sent the ball flying over the ropes.

Another glorious shot from KL; this time it’s a four, struck brilliantly towards extra cover.

There’s ANOTHER FOUR! Rahul is punching gears, and he flat-batted another slower ball.

There’s an appeal for caught behind, and the umpire went upstairs to check for a bump ball. The replay showed that the ball had bounced. KL remains NOT OUT.

Another dot ball in the fifth delivery.

KL capped off the over with another six, and it was the best of all! 20 runs conceded. IND 182/3 (22)

Ghazanfar has the ball and opens with a dot. Gill then picked up two runs after driving the shot through mid-wicket.

A single in the third delivery as Gill pulled the shot to deep mid-wicket.

Ghazanfar wrapper up his spell wth three singles in the remaining deliveries, conceding six runs. IND 162/3 (21)

Rashid returns to bowl, and Gill pulled the delivery towards long-on for a single. A dot on the second ball as Rahul flicked it to midwicket, but got no runs.

Another dot in the third delivery, followed by two singles in the fourth and fifth balls. A dot in the final delivery completes Rashid’s spell, a quiet and effective over. IND 156/3 (20 Overs)

KL Rahul almost got caught at deep third! There was a little bit of nervousness before the ball sailed over the boundary ropes for a six. The fielder did make a run to the left, but there was no contact.

A single in the second delivery as Rahul hit the ball towards deep cover. A dot in the third.

Gill got a double in the fourth after pulling the short towards deep midwicket. A single and then a dot to end the 19th over. IND 153/3 (19)

Afghanistan picked up their third, and they needed a wicket to stay in the game. Shreyas Iyer struck the shot at mid-on, with Mohammad Saleem completing the catch inside the circle.

Shreyas Iyer 12 (15) | Strike Rate: 80

Ghazanfar is back, and Iyer starts his over with a dot. A single in the next delivery, as the batter pushed the ball towards the left of long-off.

Gill is back on strike and hits two dots before getting a single.

A dot to cap off the over. IND 137/2 (17)

Zia brought back on the attack, and Iyer flicks the first ball of the over towards backward square leg for a single. Two dots in the next two deliveries.

Gill sends the fourth delivery flying in the air, but a fielder at the deep takes it after a bounce.

A dot in the fifth delivery, and then a single from Iyer to wrap up the over. IND 135/2 (16)

Rashid Khan is in for the 15th over. A dot to start the over as Iyer attempted to hit a cover drive but got beaten, gets his heel back in time. He then smashed the second ball towards long-on for a single.

A dot from Gill in the third, and then a boundary over cover. What a solid shot from the skipper as he held the pose after lofting the shot.

Two singles in the remaining deliveries cap off the 15th over. IND 132/2 (15) 

Rashid delivered a spectacular delivery, with the ball tossing up generously. Kishan attempted to drive it straight but was beaten as the ball dislodged the bails and struck the off-stump.

Ishan Kishan 34 (22) 

Gill sends the first delivery for a six! The ball sails over deep mid-wicket. It looked like a catch was possible, but no. It was just right over the fielder. A dot in the second.

The Indian ODI captain completed 3000 ODI runs with a sweet boundary down the ground. A dot in the next.

Gill gets anotbher boundary and brings up his 18th ODI half-century off 37 deliveries.

IND 109/1 (12)

Rashid is back with the ball, Kishan flicks the first ball towards mid-wicket for a single. A dot in the following delivery.

Rashid then bowled right in the slot, and Gill took a step ahead and drove the shot over cow corner for a sublime six.

After conceding a single in the fourth, Rashid goes around the wicket. Two singles in the last two deliveries conclude the over. IND 94/1 (11)

Nabi is now in the attack, and Kishan welcomes him with a boundary towards deep backward square leg. A dot in the following delivery.

Kishan then pulled the third ball over deep mid-wicket for a six. A dot in the following delivery.

A single in the fifth ball, smacking the shot at deep midwicket. A dot caps off the over, 11 runs conceded. IND 84/1 (10)

Rashid Khan is introduced, to bowl over the wicket and has a slip in place.

Kishan gets a double on the first delivery after hitting the ball towards deep backward square leg. Two singles in the next two deliveries.

A dot in the fourth, and a boundary as Kishan slammed the shot towards the left of wide at long-on. IND 73/1 (9)

Ghazanfar, now on the attack, opens the over with a single. A double in the following delivery as Ishan punches the ball through the covers.

Another single and two dots in the following deliveries. Gill then lifted the ball right of sweeper cover for a boundary. IND 61/1 (8)

Mohammad Saleem is now in the attack and opens with a dot and then a wide against Ishan Kishan. A single in the second delivery, followed by a dot.

Gill gets a single in the fourth after smacking the ball to deep backward point. A double in the next, followed by a boundary in the final ball of the over of Kishan. IND 56/1 (7)

A major mix-up from the Indian openers results in Rohit losing his wicket in the process. He was not happy after the dismissal and walked off straightaway, didn’t even look at Gill.

Gill did not take the run when Rohit was halfway there. The man at mid-wicket threw the ball back on the striker’s end, with Gurbaz making a successful stumping attempt.

Rohit Sharma run out – 16 (16)

But they haven’t. Allah Ghazanfar bowled a good delivery, and it was a confident appeal for caught behind but it is not out, says the third umpire. India captain survives.

IND 34-0(4)

Rohit Sharma gets to 16000 international runs as an opener in some style. Omarzai drops it short and Rohit unveils his classic pull shot to send the ball all the way over boundary in the leg side.

The last ball of the over also goes for a four. 10 come from this over and India have started strongly here in this chase.

IND 29-0(3)

Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi has been greeted with a boundary by both Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Rohit plays a beautiful cover drive to start the over and Gill then follows it up with another classy shot through extra cover. 11 runs from this over.

IND 19-0 (2)

An eventful over from Omarzai. He bowled the first ball down the leg for 5 wides. He then re-bowled it as no ball and had to bowl it once more. He followed it up with a wide to make it even worse. However, after the harakiri of the first ball, Omarzai found his spot and ultimately conceded only 8 runs in the opening over.

IND 8-0(1)

Rohit Sharma, who became the oldest man to play ODIs for India, has walked out to open alongside captain Shubman Gill. Azmatullah Omarzai will start with the new ball for Afghanistan.

India need 195 runs in 25 overs to win.

Afghanistan’s innings: Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Reddy 102, Ibrahim Zadran c Gill b Brar 1, Sediqullah Atal lbw b Arshdeep 0, Rahmat Shah c Dubey b Arshdeep 3, Hashmatullah Shahidi c Rahul b Dubey 27, Azmatullah Omarzai st Kishan b Dubey 26, Mohammad Nabi c Arshdeep b Nitish 9, Rashid Khan b Gurnoor 9, AM Ghazanfar c Gill b Dubey 0, Ziaur Rahman c Arshdeep b Brar 4, Mohammed Saleem not out 1, Extras: 12 (b-1, bl-7, w-4)

Total: 194 in 24.5 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-16, 3-26, 4-142, 5-144, 6-172, 7-182, 8-182, 9-193, 10-194

India Bowling: Arshdeep Singh 5-0-27-2, Gurnoor Brar 4.5-0-27-3, Prasidh Krishna 5-0-35-0, Harsh Dubey 5-0-47-3, Washington Sundar 1-0-19-0, Nitish Kumar Reddy 4-0-31-2.

The twin dismissals in an over from Gurnoor Brar restricted Afghanistan to 194 in 24.5 overs. A commanding knock from Gurbaz, but India turned things around as debutants Brar and Dubey picked three wickets each in the competition.

Nitish and Arshdeep also claimed two scalps each, putting pressure on the Afghan batters and restricted them under 200.

India needs 195 runs in 25 overs to win.

Ziaur Rahman is off the mark with a boundary. KL Rahul seemingly made contact with the boundary ropes during the fielding attempt. A bye in the second delivery as Kishan misfields.

And that’s Wicket Number Two for Gurnoor Brar! The debutant dismisses Rashid Khan, who tried to swing it but missed, and the ball hit the leg stump.

A single, and then another dismissal! Gurnoor is on fire in the final over! Caught by Arshdeep at the boundary ropes as Brar claims three wickets on his debut. Zia pulled the shot but Arshdeep was right in position to complete the catch.

Rashid Khan 9(13) 

Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi 4(8) 

Prasidh to deliver the 24th over, opens with two dots against Rashid Khan. The Afghan cricketer then struck a nice boundary.

A wide in the fourth delivery as Rashid let it go due to the height.

Three dots to cap off the over; five runs conceded. AFG 188/8 (24)

Arshdeep Singh avoided conceding big runs as the game inches towards the last few overs in the innings. Only a single was conceded in the six-ball over. AFG 183/8 (23)

What a stunning catch by Shubman Gill at slip! Edged by Ghazanfar, the ball went flying past Kishan, but Gill’s quick reaction helped Dubey claim two wickets in an over. The Indian skipper was left in disbelief.

AM Ghazanfar 0(2)