India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI Live Updates, Dharamsala:
25 overs per side GAME!
Teams:
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Saleem Safi, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
Hashmatullah Shahidi – If we had won the toss, we also wanted to bowl first, but again, toss is not in our hands and we need to start well right from the start of the game. We did very well in recent past, but at the same time, it’s first time we are playing India in their own condition. So it’s been a tough battle for both the sides and we are excited and ready for that challenge and hopefully we do well here. We have three seamers and three spinners combination. So two seamers, one all-rounder and three spinners.
Shubman Gill – We will bowl first. It’s a bit overcast, so the bowlers might get some help. Looks like a good surface, good wicket to bat on, could be something early on for the pacers. It’s all about trying different combinations to see what works for us. We’re playing around 15-20 ODIs before the World Cup, so it’s about trying things. We’re going with two debutants. Jaiswal, Prince and Kuldeep miss out.
India have won the toss and have opted to field
Remember, 6:32 pm is the cut-off time and we need this rain to stop in the next one hour or so.
It’s still drizzling heavily and it’s consistent as well.
The toss for the opening ODI of the three-match series has been delayed due to rain at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
India begin their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup with several first-choice stars unavailable for selection. The hosts will be without key players including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Siraj, who are either rested or sidelined due to injuries.
Despite the absentees, India still boast a strong batting line-up, while the series presents a valuable opportunity for several players to stake their claim ahead of next year’s World Cup.
India head into the contest after suffering a series defeat against New Zealand in January and have not played an ODI since then. Afghanistan, meanwhile, arrive at full strength with star spinner Rashid Khan returning to the squad after missing the one-off Test between the two sides earlier this month. Their last ODI appearance came in October 2025.
Prasidh Krishna spoke to the host broadcaster on the sidelines – (on his bowling in the Test match) We’ve been working on that length for quite some time now, and it’s really pleasing for me to see it come off in game time as well. The idea is to bowl a little fuller and hit that uncomfortable length where batsmen find it difficult to make decisions. (Changes for the white-ball) The changes are mainly about the approach and mindset. We’ve played T20s, then a one-off Test, and now we go back to white-ball cricket. As I said before the Test, it’s about adapting to the situation, the format, and the demands of the game. For me, it’s about trying to keep things tight, block the runs, and make it harder for the batsmen. It’s very important. As a group, we’ve been playing this format together for a while now, so we understand each other’s roles well. (On the importance of the series) These matches help us find the right combinations and build the right rhythm going into the World Cup. We also get to learn what’s working, what can improve, and what we can take forward into the tournament. (On being a senior in this squad) Honestly, nothing really changes. We’ve all been playing together for quite some time, so there isn’t a strong sense of seniority. We all learn from each other and support each other — that’s the best way to move forward as a team.
