Dharamshala: India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field first against Afghanistan in a rain-truncated opening One Day International on Saturday. Following persistent showers that kept the ground staff busy all afternoon, the match was reduced to a 25-overs-a-side contest and scheduled for a delayed start at 5:45 PM.
The fixture marked a monumental milestone for Punjab fast bowler Gurnoor Brar and spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey, both of whom received their maiden ODI caps from skipper Gill before the team took the field. To accommodate the new combinations, the Indian team management opted to bench opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, all-rounder Prince Yadav, and premier spinner Kuldeep Yadav for the abbreviated clash. Explaining his tactical decision at the toss, Gill noted that the overcast conditions and the lingering threat of further weather interruptions prompted the team to bowl first while experimenting with different lineup variations to see what works best for the squad.
The breakthrough came as a relief to thousands of diehard cricket fans who had waited patiently inside the stadium for nearly four hours. Moderate rain had lashed the town since morning, keeping the pitch and the outfield under heavy covers until approximately 5:00 PM. Earlier in the afternoon, the prospects of any play seemed highly unlikely, yet spectators clad in raincoats and ponchos steadfastly filled the stands. The stadium’s disc jockey became an absolute crowd favourite during the long delay, keeping spirits high by playing popular tracks that turned the wet stands into an impromptu dance floor. The energetic atmosphere reached its peak when the DJ played the iconic Bollywood rain anthem, “Tip Tip Barsa Paani,” prompting cheering fans to wave their jerseys and raincoats in the drizzle. Meanwhile, inside the pavilion, the Indian cricketers passed the time by engaging in a competitive game of ‘keepie-uppies’ outside their dressing room, a playful nod to the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place in North America.
