India fields two debutants, left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey and right-arm fast bowler Gurnoor Brar, in the first ODI against Afghanistan. The team hands their maiden ODI caps ahead of the series opener as it continues to develop its squad depth. In the match at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, Brar takes an early breakthrough by dismissing Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, giving India their first wicket. Dubey also contributes during the innings with a sharp catch that helps send back Rahmat Shah. Both players’ early involvement features in reports highlighting their immediate impact at international level. The selections are linked to their performances in domestic cricket, where they have built reputations as promising talents. One report also notes that Dubey has spent time with the Sunrisers Hyderabad setup in IPL 2026. The first ODI is affected by rain and is reduced to a shortened format, with modified playing conditions mentioned in coverage. Together, the accounts portray a debut-focused India XI that aims to broaden its bench while playing Afghanistan in the series opener.