A shaky start didn’t stop India from finding rhythm early, thanks to new faces stepping up when it mattered most. Harsh Dubey opened the door with sharp pace right off the bat, while Gurnoor Brar followed close behind using guile over speed.

Their efforts tightened the screws under cloudy skies, leaving Afghanistan scrambling for momentum. When showers cut things short, few doubted the outcome – Shubman Gill had already taken charge without flash or fuss.

His calm presence at the crease turned pressure into progress, guiding runs steadily alongside quieter partners.

The scoreboard ticked forward like clockwork until the target sat neatly in reach. Victory arrived not through fireworks but steady hands and clear heads after nature trimmed the contest.

Rain held things up for over four hours, trimming the match to 25 overs a side. Only when the clouds cleared did Rahmanullah Gurbaz spark life into the ground, smashing 102 off just 51 balls, the quickest ODI ton by any Afghan, marking his ninth in one-dayers.

Yet nobody else stuck around long enough to back him up, leaving Afghanistan all out at 194 after only 24.5 overs.

Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar each grabbed three wickets in their first outing, while Arshdeep Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy added two more apiece.

Gurbaz Shines but India Finish Strong with Shubman Gill’s Strong Partnership

From the first over, India held firm during their pursuit of 195. Though Rohit Sharma fell early at 16, run out trying to stretch a single, Shubman Gill stayed calm and composed throughout – closing on 84 not out from 66 deliveries. His knock included his 18th half-century in ODIs, marking another steady milestone.

Meanwhile, reaching 3,000 ODI runs faster than nearly anyone before him, only one man got there quicker. Back into the side after some time away, Ishan Kishan wasted little time getting going, racing to 34 off just 22 balls.

Then came KL Rahul, who arrived late but swung hard, finishing unbeaten on 39 from 19 as he guided them home with ease. More than two full overs still left unused when the winning boundary was crossed. The win put India ahead by one match to none in the three-game set.

Gurbaz held things together right from the start. Trouble hit fast when Gurnoor made Ibrahim Zadran mistime a shot, then Arshdeep struck twice – Atal and Rahmat both fell – with Afghanistan tottering at 26 for 3 before five overs had passed.

Out came Gurbaz with fire in his eyes. A massive chunk of that 116-run partnership fell off his bat – 82 runs built through sharp timing and bold intent. With Shahidi holding firm at the other end, the pair disrupted India’s rhythm just when control seemed certain. Boundaries poured forth as Prasidh Krishna suddenly looked shaky under pressure.

A blistering start saw Gurbaz reach fifty in 25 balls, then pile on the pressure right away.

Targeting Sundar, he launched two huge sixes and a sharp four in a single over. Off 48 balls came his hundred, nudged through midwicket for two.

A sudden surge came from India during the final overs. A quick ball from Nitish Kumar Reddy sent Gurbaz back, right after Dubey dismissed Shahidi – his first-ever international victim. Just when Omarzai looked dangerous, smashing two big sixes, Dubey struck again. Then, out of nowhere, Gill plucked a one-handed grab at slip, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 182 for 8.

Bursts of four came off Rashid’s bat near the close, yet it was Gurnoor who sealed things, ending a standout first appearance with control. Shortly after, silence followed his final delivery – clean, sharp, effective.

Bursting out of the gate, India stumbled when Omarzai sent five wides flying, then tossed in a no-ball plus one more errant delivery before finally bowling straight. A quick bouncer clipped Rohit’s glove, sparking a brief pause for care, yet he responded fast, smashing a six followed by a boundary off the same bowler.

Shubman Gill started strong, timing his shots beautifully to cover point right away. Six overs flew by with India already at forty, thanks to smooth strokes on the off side. A miscommunication between batsmen gave Afghanistan their first chance, but Rohit Sharma fell short. Still, Kishan kept pushing forward, refusing to let the rhythm stall.

Ishan Kishan looked right at home despite the long break, stitching together 70 with Gill in barely over four dozen deliveries. Boundaries came often, each one tightening India’s grip while making life harder for Afghanistan’s bowlers. Momentum shifted early, thanks to sharp running and well-placed hits between fielders.

Off 37 deliveries, Shubman Gill got to fifty fast – Nabi copped the wrath through a big six followed by two fours. Kishan, pushing hard, met trouble when Rashid spun one past him; the bails flew, the timber exposed.

Shreyas Iyer managed only 12 runs. Right after, Rahul shifted gears fast. A bold ramp shot opened his account. Then came a six off Ziaur Rahman, followed by two boundaries in one over – a turning point. The momentum swung hard.

KL Rahul and Gill put together fifty-three unbroken runs at the fourth wicket. A boundary from Rahul off Mohammad Saleem sealed India’s commanding win.