The standout moment from Team India's first ODI win in Dharamshala did not come on the field — it came inside the press conference room. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had just helped restrict Afghanistan with the ball, was facing the media when his phone rang, and the way he dropped everything to take the call quickly won over fans.
The Phone That Stopped the Interview
Reddy was answering one question after another when his mobile suddenly started ringing. The instant he glanced at the screen, he paused mid-conversation. The call, as it turned out, was from his mother. Reddy answered it right there on the live camera and told her that he was in the middle of a press conference and would call her back in five minutes.
What made the moment special is that Reddy could easily have ignored the call — but he chose to respond to his mother first. His affection and simple gesture have been widely praised by fans on social media.
Reddy's Bowling Kept Afghanistan in Check
Before that memorable moment, Nitish Kumar Reddy had already made his mark with the ball. In this rain-hit contest he bowled 4 overs, conceding 31 runs and picking up 2 wickets. It was his tight bowling that ensured Afghanistan could not post a big total despite Rahmanullah Gurbaz's brilliant century. That very performance earned him the post-match press conference slot on behalf of Team India.
Rain Shortens the Game, Gurbaz Makes History
The first ODI, played at the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium in Himachal Pradesh, was reduced to 25 overs a side because of rain. Batting first, Afghanistan were bowled out for 194, just one ball short of their allotted overs.
The heartbeat of Afghanistan's innings was Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who rewrote the record books with a stunning 102 off just 51 balls. Apart from him, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi chipped in with 27 and Azmatullah Omarzai added 26, but the rest of the batters could not hang around for long.
Gill and Rahul Smooth the Chase
Chasing 195, Team India came out aggressive. Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill gave the side a quick start. Rohit Sharma fell after making 16 off 16 balls, while Shubman Gill stayed unbeaten on 84 off 66 deliveries. KL Rahul too kept the momentum going with a brisk 39 off 19 balls.
Riding on these knocks, India reached 195 for the loss of just 3 wickets in only 22.5 overs to seal the contest by 7 wickets. With this win, Team India have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
