Sunil Gavaskar praised India’s ruthless, team-first approach after they brushed aside Afghanistan in the rain-hit opening ODI in Dharamshala, saying the batting unit showed rare clarity while chasing a revised target in difficult conditions. India went 1-0 up in the three-match series with a seven-wicket win in a match reduced to 25 overs per side, and Gavaskar said KL Rahul’s decisive strokeplay summed up the team’s mindset. Rather than chasing personal milestones, the Indian middle order stayed focused on finishing the job as quickly and cleanly as possible.
“Before that over from Zia Ur Rahman, he had bowled three overs for just 19 runs. Then KL Rahul took 20 runs off that over. Up until that point, Shubman Gill needed 21 runs to reach his hundred, with about 30 still needed for the team to win. But Rahul took charge,” Sunil Gavaskar said on JioStar’s Cricket Live.
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“That tells you everything about this team. It’s not about personal milestones. It’s about what each player can do for the team. To win the match in the 23rd over shows how clinical the chase was. It was a stiff target, not an easy one at all. But they made it look so ridiculously simple because they put the team first.”
Gavaskar was also impressed with India’s bowling balance, especially the growing value of Nitish Kumar Reddy as a batting all-rounder. He said the youngster’s ability to offer extra overs gives the captain more flexibility and strengthens the side’s overall structure.
“Depending on the pitch and match situation, he gives the captain and selectors flexibility. Pick me as a batter, pick me as a bowler, I am ready. That is a huge plus for any team,” he said.
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The former India captain also reserved special praise for debutant Gurnoor Brar, whose pace and control stood out immediately.
“For a debutant, his control was excellent. His first ball was around mid-140s, moving away from the right-hander. If you can bowl at that pace with the ability to take the ball away, that’s gold,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
