Afghanistan’s opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz credited India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir for helping him improve his shot selection, leading to a remarkable century in the rain-affected first ODI against India. Gurbaz’s explosive 102 off 51 balls was the highlight of Afghanistan’s batting, marking his ninth ODI century in just 48 balls, the fastest by an Afghan player and the second fastest against India in ODIs.
Following a conversation with Gambhir post the Test match, Gurbaz expressed gratitude for the valuable guidance received. He mentioned working on Gambhir’s suggestions in the nets, leading to a successful application in the match. Gurbaz emphasized playing positively as his key strategy, which proved effective in his performance.
Despite Gurbaz’s stellar innings, India’s debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey, along with Arshdeep Singh, took crucial wickets, restricting Afghanistan to 194 all out in 24.5 overs. Gurbaz acknowledged the significance of contributing to his country and attributed his success to rigorous training and preparation.
Reflecting on the challenging batting conditions, Gurbaz acknowledged the pitch’s spin-friendly nature, posing difficulties for batsmen. He highlighted the importance of backing oneself and maintaining a positive mindset, especially against spinners who could exploit the pitch conditions effectively.
