India captain Shubman Gill lauded debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey after their impressive performances helped India secure a convincing victory over Afghanistan in the opening ODI of the three-match series in Dharamsala.
The rain-affected match was reduced to 25 overs per side, but the young bowlers made an immediate impact on their international debuts. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar impressed with his pace and movement, consistently clocking speeds close to 150 kmph while troubling Afghanistan’s batters with disciplined line and length. Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey also played a crucial role by applying pressure during the middle overs and slowing Afghanistan’s scoring rate.
Despite Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring a rapid century, Brar and Dubey claimed three wickets each to help bowl out the visitors for 194 in 24.5 overs. Their breakthroughs proved decisive in restricting Afghanistan to a manageable total.
Speaking after the match, Gill praised both youngsters for their composure and execution under pressure. He highlighted Brar’s ability to generate pace and swing while maintaining consistency, describing his spell as highly impressive. Gill also commended Dubey for bouncing back strongly after conceding runs in his opening over, noting that the spinner trusted his skills, continued to attack, and successfully pulled the game back in India’s favour.
India’s chase was anchored by Gill, who remained unbeaten on 84 from 66 deliveries. Valuable contributions from Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul ensured the hosts comfortably reached the target and took a 1-0 lead in the series.
Gill emphasized the importance of controlling the middle overs in modern ODI cricket. He explained that building pressure with the ball during this phase creates wicket-taking opportunities, while maintaining a steady scoring rate with the bat helps set up strong finishes. According to the captain, India’s focus remains on dominating these crucial periods of the game, both while batting and bowling.
The performance of the debutants provided a major positive for India as they continue to build depth ahead of future international assignments.
