The first One-Day International between India and Afghanistan in Chennai saw the home side stamp their authority with a comprehensive 7-wicket win. Afghanistan, batting first, posted a respectable 265/8, largely thanks to a gritty 85 from Hashmatullah Shahidi and a late flourish from Rashid Khan (45 off 28 balls). India's spinners, Kuldeep Yadav (3/45) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/38), were instrumental in restricting the Afghan middle order.
However, India's chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression. After an early wicket, Virat Kohli (108* off 102 balls) combined with Shreyas Iyer (72 off 65 balls) for a match-winning 150-run partnership. Kohli's 48th ODI century was a testament to his enduring class, guiding India past the target with 25 balls to spare. The Afghan bowlers, despite their best efforts, couldn't break the partnership at crucial junctures.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma lauded Kohli's innings, saying, "Virat was exceptional today. He showed why he's one of the best in the world at chasing. It's a great start to the series for us." Afghanistan will need to regroup quickly, with their batting needing more impetus and their bowlers needing to find early breakthroughs in the upcoming matches.