Chasing a target of 195 in a 25-over contest, India was guided home by Gill, who produced a composed and commanding unbeaten 84 off 66 deliveries. His innings came after Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz struck a brilliant century to set up a competitive total.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted Gill’s remarkable ability to adapt across formats. The Indian skipper entered the ODI series in red-hot form, having scored centuries in IPL Qualifier 2 and the recent one-off Test against Afghanistan. His latest knock featured 11 boundaries and two sixes, further underlining his consistency and class.
Chopra described Gill as a batter who transitions effortlessly between formats while maintaining complete control over opposition bowling attacks. He praised the elegance of Gill’s strokeplay, particularly a cover drive that set the tone for his innings, and noted how the youngster continues to establish himself as one of India’s premier batters.
Chopra also reserved special praise for KL Rahul, who played a crucial supporting role with an unbeaten 39 off just 19 balls. Rahul joined Gill in an unbroken 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket that sealed the chase comfortably for India.
The former opener pointed to Rahul’s versatility, noting how he has excelled in multiple roles across formats in recent weeks. After scoring heavily in the IPL and registering a century in the one-off Test, Rahul once again showcased his adaptability by finishing the game in style from the middle order.
With the victory, India has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The teams will now travel to Lucknow, where the second ODI is scheduled to be played on June 17 at the BRSABV Ekana Stadium.
