IND vs AFG 1st ODI 2026 Highlights: Shubman Gill’s Masterclass, Gurbaz’s Blazing Century and Dream Debuts Give India 1-0 Lead
India Beat Afghanistan by 7 Wickets in Rain-Hit Dharamsala ODI
The Afghanistan tour of India 2026 began with a thrilling contest in Dharamsala, where rain delayed proceedings by more than four hours and reduced the match to 25 overs per side. Despite the shortened format, fans witnessed explosive batting, sensational debut performances, and another captain’s knock from Shubman Gill as India defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets with 13 balls to spare.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!While Rahmanullah Gurbaz produced one of the finest ODI innings ever played by an Afghan batter, smashing a breathtaking 102 off just 51 deliveries, India’s disciplined bowling comeback and composed batting display ensured the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
IND vs AFG 1st ODI 2026: Match Summary
| Match | India vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI |
|---|---|
| Venue | HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala |
| Format | 25 Overs Per Side (Rain Reduced) |
| Afghanistan | 194 All Out (24.5 Overs) |
| India | 195/3 (22.5 Overs) |
| Result | India won by 7 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Shubman Gill (84* off 66) |
Rain Creates Delay But Not Drama
Heavy showers forced officials to postpone the scheduled start by more than four hours before the contest was eventually reduced to 25 overs per innings.
Once play began, both teams approached the game almost like an extended T20 contest, with aggressive batting becoming the preferred strategy.
India won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that initially appeared perfect as Afghanistan collapsed to 26/3 inside five overs.
Little did anyone know that Rahmanullah Gurbaz was about to produce a batting exhibition.
Gurbaz Single-Handedly Revives Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s innings revolved around one man.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz attacked India’s pacers from the very beginning, dancing down the wicket against Arshdeep Singh and punishing anything short or overpitched.
Despite losing partners regularly, Gurbaz never slowed down.
His innings featured:
- 102 runs
- 51 balls
- 8 fours
- 8 sixes
- Strike Rate close to 200
The explosive opener reached his century in only 48 deliveries, registering the fastest ODI hundred ever scored by an Afghanistan batter.
Alongside captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Gurbaz stitched together a crucial 116-run partnership that briefly put Afghanistan in command.
At one stage, the visitors looked capable of crossing 220 runs in the shortened contest.
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India’s Debutants Turn the Match Around
Just when Afghanistan appeared ready to post a massive total, India’s newcomers stepped up.
Gurnoor Brar Announces Himself
The tall left-arm fast bowler consistently operated above 145 km/h and generated excellent bounce and movement.
His first international wicket came when Ibrahim Zadran miscued an attacking shot.
He eventually finished with impressive figures of 3 wickets for 27 runs, immediately justifying his selection.
Harsh Dubey Shows Character
Harsh Dubey endured a difficult start as Gurbaz attacked him fearlessly.
Instead of retreating, the young spinner continued tossing the ball up and trusted his strengths.
His patience paid off spectacularly.
Dubey dismissed:
- Hashmatullah Shahidi
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- AM Ghazanfar
He finished with 3 wickets for 47 runs, making it a memorable ODI debut.
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India’s Bowling Comeback Changes Everything
Afghanistan raced along at over nine runs an over while Gurbaz was at the crease.
Then everything changed.
Nitish Kumar Reddy shattered Gurbaz’s stumps, opening the door for India.
From there:
- Hashmatullah Shahidi departed.
- Azmatullah Omarzai couldn’t convert his quick start.
- Rashid Khan played entertaining strokes but lacked support.
- Afghanistan lost momentum rapidly.
After threatening to score beyond 220, they were bowled out for 194 in 24.5 overs.
The collapse highlighted India’s ability to fight back under pressure.
Rohit Sharma’s Brief Stay Ends in Confusion
India’s chase started chaotically.
Azmatullah Omarzai opened with wides and a no-ball before testing Rohit Sharma with a sharp bouncer.
Rohit responded positively with trademark boundaries and a powerful pull-shot six, looking comfortable before disaster struck.
A misunderstanding with Shubman Gill led to a run-out, cutting short Rohit’s innings at 16 and giving Afghanistan a glimmer of hope.
Shubman Gill Delivers Another Captain’s Knock
If Afghanistan believed Rohit’s dismissal would trigger a collapse, Gill had other ideas.
The Indian skipper batted with elegance and authority throughout the chase.
His innings included classical cover drives, effortless pulls and calculated attacks against both pace and spin.
Gill remained unbeaten on:
- 84 runs
- 66 balls
- Several exquisite boundaries
- Match-winning anchor role
In the process, he also crossed 3,000 ODI runs, becoming one of the fastest batters in history to reach the landmark.
It was another reminder that Gill is rapidly becoming India’s batting leader across formats.
Ishan Kishan Makes a Strong ODI Return
Playing his first ODI after a long gap, Ishan Kishan looked fearless.
He attacked Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan alike, scoring 34 runs off just 22 deliveries.
His aggressive approach ensured India stayed well ahead of the required rate before a Rashid googly ended his innings.
Nevertheless, Kishan’s comeback knock provided another positive sign for India’s middle order.
KL Rahul Finishes in Style
With the target within touching distance, KL Rahul walked in and immediately shifted gears.
His unbeaten 39 off 19 balls included:
- Elegant ramps
- Powerful drives
- A stunning six over extra cover
- Calm finishing under pressure
Rahul and Gill added an unbeaten partnership that sealed the chase with more than two overs remaining.
Fielding Moment of the Match
One of the standout moments came when Shubman Gill produced a sensational one-handed catch at slip to dismiss AM Ghazanfar.
Leaping full stretch to his left, Gill grabbed a thick edge that drew applause from teammates and spectators alike.
After the match, Gill himself admitted he had worked extensively on slip catching and was delighted to finally pull off such a spectacular effort.
Captain Shubman Gill Reacts
After receiving the Player of the Match award, Gill praised both debutants and highlighted the importance of India’s middle-over performance.
He acknowledged Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s brilliance but credited India’s bowlers for regaining control after Afghanistan threatened a much bigger total.
Gill also revealed that Rohit Sharma had laughed off their run-out mix-up after watching the replay.
Afghanistan’s Biggest Positive: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Although Afghanistan lost comfortably, Gurbaz emerged as the undisputed star for the visitors.
His fearless approach against quality bowling and ability to dominate even under pressure demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the most dangerous white-ball batters in world cricket.
Had another batter stayed with him longer, Afghanistan could easily have posted a winning score.
Turning Points of the Match
✅ Gurbaz’s dismissal by Nitish Kumar Reddy
Once the opener departed, Afghanistan lost momentum instantly.
✅ Harsh Dubey’s middle-order breakthroughs
His wickets prevented a late surge beyond 220.
✅ Rohit’s run-out not becoming costly
Gill absorbed the pressure perfectly after the early setback.
✅ KL Rahul’s finishing burst
Rahul ensured there were no late twists by attacking immediately.
IND vs AFG 1st ODI 2026: Top Performers
India
- ⭐ Shubman Gill – 84* (Player of the Match)
- ⭐ Gurnoor Brar – 3/27 on ODI debut
- ⭐ Harsh Dubey – 3/47 on ODI debut
- ⭐ KL Rahul – 39* off 19
- ⭐ Ishan Kishan – 34 off 22
Afghanistan
- ⭐ Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 102 off 51
- ⭐ Hashmatullah Shahidi – 27
- ⭐ Rashid Khan – 1 wicket and late cameo
What This Means for the Series
India now lead the three-match ODI series 1-0 and will head into the second match full of confidence.
The emergence of Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey gives the selectors fresh options ahead of future ICC tournaments, while Shubman Gill continues to strengthen his credentials as one of world cricket’s premier ODI batters.
For Afghanistan, the challenge will be finding batting support around Rahmanullah Gurbaz and converting promising moments into complete team performances.
FAQs
Who won the India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI 2026?
India defeated Afghanistan by 7 wickets in Dharamsala.
Who was Player of the Match?
India captain Shubman Gill won the award for his unbeaten 84.
Who scored a century for Afghanistan?
Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed 102 off just 51 balls.
Which debutants impressed for India?
Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey both claimed three wickets on their ODI debuts.
What is the series score?
India lead the three-match ODI series 1-0.
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