IND vs AFG: 3 Players who missed out on major career milestones in 1st ODI

The opening ODI between India and Afghanistan at the scenic HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala was a spectacle in itself. Persistent drizzle delayed proceedings, but once the skies cleared, officials announced a reduced 25‑over per side contest, much to the delight of the patient crowd.

Afghanistan posted a competitive 195‑run target, riding on a dazzling century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, before India chased it down with seven wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare. While the match offered plenty of entertainment, three players narrowly missed out on significant career milestones.

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz

It was the Gurbaz show in the first innings. The opener unleashed audacious stroke play, smashing a brilliant 102 off 51 balls, decorated with eight fours and eight sixes. He reached his century in 48 balls, just three short of Shahid Afridi’s record (45 balls) for the fastest ODI hundred against India, set in Kanpur in 2005.

Despite his heroics, Gurbaz also fell 10 runs short of the 2000‑run milestone in ODIs. He now has 1990 runs in 53 matches, ranking seventh among Afghanistan’s all‑time ODI run‑getters.

2. Ishan Kishan

During India’s chase, Ishan Kishan played a brisk cameo of 34 off 22 balls at a strike rate of 154.54, striking three boundaries and a six. His knock provided the momentum India needed, but he missed out on reaching the 1000‑run mark in ODIs. Kishan entered the game with 933 runs and required 77 to reach the milestone, but now remains 33 runs short.

3. Shreyas Iyer

India’s newly appointed T20I captain, Shreyas Iyer, walked in at his preferred No. 4 slot but managed only 12 runs before falling to Ziaur Rahman. As a result, he missed the chance to cross the 3000‑run milestone in ODIs, falling short by just 11 runs.

While India celebrated a convincing win and Afghanistan took pride in Gurbaz’s fireworks, these missed milestones added a bittersweet edge to the contest. With the series still alive, all three players will have another opportunity to etch their names into the record books.