Shubman Gill Reflects on Series Win Against Afghanistan and Upcoming Challenges

Indian skipper Shubman Gill reflects on his team's successful ODI series against Afghanistan, highlighting key performances and looking forward to the upcoming challenge in England. With a clean sweep in the series, Gill emphasizes the importance of maintaining intensity and capitalizing on opportunities. The young pace attack's impressive display and Gill's own contributions have set a positive tone as the team prepares for conditions similar to those expected in South Africa for the 2027 World Cup. Afghanistan's captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, acknowledges the challenges faced during the match and expresses hope for improvement in future games.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 20, 2026, 21:43 IST

Gill's Insights on Series Performance

After leading his team to a clean sweep against Afghanistan, Indian captain Shubman Gill expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, particularly in the middle overs with both bat and ball. He anticipates that the upcoming ODI series in England will present conditions similar to those expected in South Africa for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

A New Era for Indian Pacers

Following earlier setbacks in Australia and a home series loss to New Zealand, Gill finally secured a series victory as an ODI captain. The young pace attack, featuring Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna, showcased impressive skills. Gill himself contributed significantly, earning the 'Player of the Series' title with 238 runs across two innings, including a century and a half-century. Rohit Sharma also made notable contributions with scores of 48 and 79 in the second and third ODIs, respectively, proving his worth as he faces scrutiny regarding his fitness and form ahead of the World Cup.

'A Lot of Boxes Ticked': Gill on Team's Progress

In his post-match comments, Gill praised the opening spells from Gurnoor and Prasidh, noting their exceptional pace under challenging conditions. He mentioned, "It was impressive to see their effort, although I did consider giving them an extra over, they were quite exhausted." He emphasized that the team had addressed key areas of focus, particularly maintaining intensity during the middle overs and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

Looking Ahead to England

Gill remarked on the upcoming series in England, stating, "The conditions will be somewhat similar to what we expect in South Africa. We hope to have all players fit and ready, as it promises to be another exciting series for us."

Shahidi's Take on the Match

Afghanistan's captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, acknowledged India's strong bowling during the powerplay while expressing disappointment over his team's batting finish. He noted, "We lost crucial wickets early, which put us under pressure. Although Azmat and I had a good partnership, we failed to capitalize on it, leading to our downfall." Shahidi celebrated his first ODI century after 95 matches, stating, "I feel great and will strive to replicate this performance for my country."

Match Summary: India Dominates

In the match, Afghanistan set a target of 218 runs, bolstered by Shahidi's century (102 runs off 131 balls) and Omarzai's fifty (50 runs off 56 balls). However, India's response was formidable, with Jaiswal scoring an unbeaten 110 runs off 86 balls and Rohit contributing 79 runs. Their partnership of 170 runs for the first wicket paved the way for a comfortable victory, with India reaching the target with over 21 overs to spare.