Shubman Gill's unbeaten 84 guided India to a seven-wicket victory against Afghanistan in the first ODI. Gill anchored the chase of 195, showcasing his mastery in ODI cricket despite a rain-truncated match and debutant Gurnoor Brar's impressive bowling.
Ricky Ponting believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma aim for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Both players are performing well in IPL 2026, with Kohli scoring 542 runs and Rohit showing improved fitness.
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to handle the reduced frequency of ODI cricket ahead of the 2027 World Cup, citing their experience and professionalism. Dhawan, who himself became a one-format player later in his career, acknowledged that limited match exposure can disrupt rhythm but emphasized that seasoned players like Rohit and Kohli are well-equipped to convert the challenge into an opportunity. He highlighted Rohit's fitness transformation and noted that the scheduling leading up to the 2027 World Cup will provide them ample match time.
