India registered a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the rain-truncated first ODI at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala on Saturday (June 13).

In a contest which was reduced to 25 overs per side, Afghanistan posted 194/10 on the board thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s blazing 102 off 51 balls.

The hosts replied with 195 for 3 in 22.5 overs. While skipper Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 84 off 66 balls, Ishan Kishan contributed 22-ball 34 and KL Rahul scored 19-ball 39* during the chase.

Rahul hit the winning runs for India, a boundary off Azmatullah Omarzai. Although the wicketkeeper-batter was put at No. 3 in the team sheet, he walked out at his tried-and-tested spot of No. 5 with India needing 53 runs in 7.3 overs.

Rahul’s cameo was highly impressive as he hammered 4 fours and 3 sixes. One of his strokes left even head coach Gautam Gambhir in awe.

On the last ball of the 22nd over, Rahul played an exquisite lofted cover drive off Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi for a six. The shot was so aesthetically pleasing that it drew a viral reaction from Gambhir.

Cameras caught Gambhir turning to batting coach Sitanshu Kotak with a look of pure admiration for the stroke.

Here’s the video:

KL Rahul has firmly established himself as one of the most reliable and prolific middle-order batters in the world, amassing 969 runs in 22 innings at a staggering average of 74.53 since 2023. His exceptional record features two centuries and five fifties, with no other player across global cricket scoring more runs at a better average from the No. 5 slot during this period.