In the first ODI between India and Afghanistan at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, a clip of head coach Gautam Gambhir reacting animatedly to KL Rahul’s six went viral online. Television cameras turned to the Indian dressing-room balcony as Rahul hit the ball over the boundary during the chase. In the video, Gambhir initially appears stunned and then shows an animated response.
On the field, India win by seven wickets and take a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. The match is rain-shortened to 25 overs, with Afghanistan posting 194/?, and India chasing 195. Shubman Gill leads the run chase with an unbeaten 84, while Rahul contributes 39 in quickfire fashion. India complete the target with more than two overs to spare.
Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz scores a century, but the innings falls short as India’s debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey take three wickets each. The result leaves Afghanistan restricted despite Gurbaz’s effort.
