Gill lauds debutants Brar and Dubey after India's opening win 2026

India’s captain praised debut bowling performances that helped secure a 1-0 ODI series lead over Afghanistan.

Captain’s praise for new stars India skipper Shubman Gill expressed admiration for the early displays of fresh faces Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey in their maiden international outings. The match in Dharamsala was shortened to 25 overs due to rain, but Brar and Dubey still made their mark by claiming three wickets each. Gill highlighted Brar’s fiery pace near 150kph and his ability to maintain a consistent length while generating swing, calling it an impressive debut. He also commended Dubey’s left-arm finger spin that stifled Afghanistan’s momentum in the middle overs after Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive start. ## Afghanistan’s early surge halted Rahmanullah Gurbaz blazed to a 48-ball century, setting Afghanistan on course for a big total, but India’s bowling duo disrupted their rhythm. Brar and Dubey combined to restrict Afghanistan to 194 all out in just 24.5 overs, with Dubey especially effective in the middle phase by removing key wickets and slowing the scoring rate. Gurbaz’s rapid start had given Afghanistan hope, but the young Indian bowlers ensured they never consolidated their advantage. The early breakthroughs proved crucial in India’s comfortable bowling display. ## Gill and Rahul guide India to victory India chased down their target with ease, taking a 1-0 series lead after Afghanistan’s modest total. Shubman Gill anchored the innings with an unbeaten 84 off 66 deliveries, while Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul added quick half-centuries to secure a dominant win. Gill’s composed knock ensured there was no resistance from Afghanistan’s bowling attack, which had struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting. The partnership between Gill and Rahul put the game beyond Afghanistan’s reach well before the scheduled end. ## Captain analyzes middle-overs strategy Gill emphasized the importance of the middle overs in ODIs, both with bat and ball, as key areas for team success. He noted that controlling the game during this phase could create pressure and set up favorable conditions for the death overs. Gill pointed out how the bowling unit must maintain pressure to generate wickets, while batters need to rotate strike and maintain a healthy scoring rate without losing wickets. These tactical discussions form a central part of India’s preparation ahead of future matches, aiming to refine their approach in high-pressure situations. ## Quotes from the post-match discussion Shubman Gill shared his thoughts after the win, saying, "Very impressive upfront - how Gurnoor bowled, brilliant pace and the way he was swinging the ball, the kind of lengths he bowled consistently." He also praised Harsh Dubey, adding, "And even Harsh as well. After, in the first over, he went for 16-17 runs [16].. the way he pulled the game back, trusted himself and kept tossing the ball up. It was very impressive." Gill’s comments reflected his satisfaction with the debutants’ contributions and their impact on the match outcome.