Rahmanullah Gurbaz Shines with Record Century Against India

Gurbaz's Historic Performance

In a remarkable display of skill, Rahmanullah Gurbaz acknowledged Gautam Gambhir's influence after achieving a record-setting century against India during the first ODI at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on June 13. The Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter scored 101 runs off just 51 deliveries in a match that was shortened to 25 overs per side due to rain interruptions. Gurbaz reached his century in a mere 48 balls, marking the fastest century by an Afghan player in ODI history. This innings was his ninth ODI century, making him the first Afghan cricketer to hit 10 centuries in international cricket. His 48-ball century is now the second-fastest against India, trailing only Shahid Afridi's 45-ball effort in 2005 at Kanpur.

Insights from Gautam Gambhir

Gurbaz shared that a conversation with Gambhir following a recent Test match significantly aided his performance. He expressed gratitude for the guidance he received regarding shot selection, which proved beneficial during his innings. "I put in a lot of effort, and this century is a testament to that hard work. Scoring a hundred against India in their home ground is truly special. After the Test match, I had a productive discussion with Gautam Gambhir sir, which was instrumental for me. I focused on the ideas we discussed during practice, and I am thankful for his advice. I told him I wanted to enhance my shot selection, and he provided me with some valuable insights that I was able to implement today. I aimed to play positively, and it paid off," Gurbaz remarked during an interview at the innings break. This century also marks Gurbaz's first against India, making him only the second Afghan player to achieve a three-figure score against the Indian team.