Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has praised the Indian cricket team's collective mindset following their commanding seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan, arguing that the win reflected a culture of prioritising team success over personal milestones. Speaking to JioStar, Gavaskar singled out several individual performances while emphasising that the defining quality was the dressing room's ethos.

Rahul's Aggression Over Gill's Century

Gavaskar drew particular attention to a pivotal moment in the chase, when KL Rahul launched an aggressive assault on spinner Zia Ur Rahman — plundering 20 runs off a single over — even as Shubman Gill stood 21 runs short of a century with the team still needing roughly 30 to win.

'Before that over from Zia Ur Rahman, he had bowled three overs for just 19 runs. Then KL Rahul took 20 runs off that over. Up until that point, Shubman Gill needed 21 runs to reach his hundred, with about 30 still needed for the team to win. But then Rahul took charge,' Gavaskar said.

For the former skipper, that single passage of play encapsulated the team's character. 'That tells you everything about this team. It's not about personal milestones. It's about what each player can do for the team. To win the match in the 23rd over shows how clinical the chase was. It was a stiff target, not an easy one at all. But they made it look so ridiculously simple because they put the team first,' he added.

Nitish Kumar Reddy's Yorker Proves the Difference

Nitish Kumar Reddy also drew high praise from Gavaskar, particularly for his dismissal of Rahmanullah Gurbaz — who had scored a brilliant century — with a well-executed yorker. Gavaskar noted that Nitish's best deliveries came when he backed his stock ball rather than searching for variations.

'Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up a huge wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a perfect yorker. If you can nail yorkers like that, you become a valuable asset,' Gavaskar said. He added: 'Every time he tried something fancy, it went for runs. But every time he went back to the yorker, it worked.'

Gavaskar believes Nitish's dual-threat value gives India's captain and selectors meaningful flexibility. 'India now have a player in Nitish Kumar Reddy who can fill the role of a fifth or sixth bowler. Depending on the pitch and match situation, he gives the captain and selectors flexibility. 'Pick me as a batter, pick me as a bowler, I am ready.' That is a huge plus for any team,' he said.

Debutant Gurnoor Brar Catches Gavaskar's Eye

Debutant pacer Gurnoor Brar impressed Gavaskar on his maiden ODI appearance, with the former captain highlighting his pace, control, and movement as signs of a high-quality prospect. Brar reportedly clocked around the mid-140s kmph with his opening delivery, generating away movement against right-handers.

'I was very impressed with Gurnoor Brar. He bowled a tight line and length. His pace was good, and he got the ball to move just a little, not too much. You don't need extravagant swing on debut. Control is more important. For a debutant, his control was excellent,' Gavaskar said.

He went further in his assessment: 'What he has done is unbelievable. He looks a very good prospect. His first ball was around mid-140s, moving away from the right-hander. Anyone will tell you, if you can bowl at that pace with the ability to take the ball away, that's gold. Add decent control, good height, and the ability to hit the splice of the bat — you deserve that first wicket. He showed all those qualities. Very promising start.'

What This Win Signals for India

This victory, completed inside 23 overs, underlines India's depth across batting and bowling departments. Notably, the win came despite Afghanistan posting a challenging total — a testament, according to Gavaskar, to India's execution under pressure. With Nitish Kumar Reddy emerging as a genuine all-round option and Brar announcing himself as a fast-bowling prospect, India's squad flexibility appears to be growing ahead of upcoming fixtures.