Dharamsala: Rahmanullah Gurbaz produced a sensational century, but India secured a comfortable victory in the rain-curtailed first ODI, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Gurbaz scripts history with blazing century
The young Afghan wicketkeeper-batter etched his name in history with a breathtaking 102 off just 51 balls, registering the fastest ODI century for Afghanistan, reaching the milestone in only 48 deliveries. His innings, laced with eight fours and eight sixes, came at a crucial juncture after Afghanistan were reduced to 26/3 early in the innings.
With this knock, Gurbaz also became the first Afghan batter to score 10 international centuries. He surpassed Ibrahim Zadran to become Afghanistan’s fourth-highest run-scorer in international cricket.
In 143 international matches, Gurbaz now has 4,403 runs at an average of 30.36, including 10 centuries and 20 fifties. He also reached another milestone, becoming only the second Afghan batter after Mohammad Nabi to hit over 200 international sixes, with his tally now standing at 204.
Afghanistan recover after early collapse
Afghanistan’s innings got off to a disastrous start after India opted to bowl first in the rain-reduced 25-overs-per-side contest. The visitors slipped to 26/3, putting immense pressure on the middle order.
Gurbaz, however, launched a fierce counter-attack, dominating the Indian bowlers, particularly targeting the spinners. He stitched a vital 116-run partnership with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who contributed 27 runs off 30 balls.
Despite the recovery, Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 194 in 24.5 overs. India’s debutants impressed, with Gurnoor Brar picking up 3/27 and Harsh Dubey claiming 3/47. Arshdeep Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with two wickets each.
Gill anchors India’s successful chase
India’s chase began steadily, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on 46 runs for the opening wicket before Rohit departed for 16.
Gill held the innings together with a composed unbeaten 84 off 66 balls, striking 11 fours and two sixes. He was well supported by Ishan Kishan (34 off 22) and KL Rahul, who finished unbeaten on 39 off 19 balls.
India comfortably chased down the target in 22.5 overs, showcasing their batting depth and composure under pressure.
Conclusion
While Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive century stood out as the defining highlight of the match, it ultimately came in a losing cause. India’s balanced performance with both ball and bat ensured a clinical win, giving them an early advantage in the series. Gurbaz’s innings, however, will be remembered as one of the finest by an Afghan batter in ODI cricket, underlining his growing stature in international cricket.