Gurnoor Brar of India (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

India’s impressive win over Afghanistan in the opening ODI in Dharamsala was at opposite ends of the international journey of the two players. While debutant Gurnoor Brar declared himself captain on the big stage with an impressive spell of fast bowling Shubman Gill Once again showed why he remains one of the leading ODI batsmen in the world.India won a comfortable seven-wicket victory in a rain-interrupted contest and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, but for Brar, the match was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.The Punjab pacer, who earned his maiden India cap after a strong domestic performance, admitted that excitement rather than pressure dominated his thoughts before stepping onto the field.“Obviously, I wouldn’t say there was pressure but there was excitement… like, I have to perform well for India, I have to bowl well. Obviously, everyone wants to give their best here and I was doing the same. I just had to give my best and by the grace of God it turned out well,” Brar said in a video shared during his conversation with Gill. bcci.Brar immediately justified the selectors’ confidence. Working with real pace, he consistently crossed the 145 kmph mark and touched 148.2 kmph during one memorable spell, taking figures of 3/27.The 26-year-old, who has taken more than 50 wickets in 18 first-class matches and impressed in last season’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, said getting his first international wicket brought an instant feeling of peace.“It’s a special feeling, like all the hard work has finally paid off, all the hard work I’ve put in this summer… Yeah, it’s a special moment.“(First wicket) Yeah, it’s like a milestone that you just have to cross. When that first wicket suddenly happened it brought a feeling of relief like ‘there’s no tension now’.”Gill then reminded Brar about his first wicket, which came when Ibrahim Zadran was caught high in the air. The Indian captain jokingly asked if the debutant was worried that his chances might be over.Brar’s answer brought a smile.“Since you were under it, I knew it wouldn’t be toppled.”Despite Brar’s stellar performance, Afghanistan remained competitive thanks to his sensational innings Rahmanullah GurbazWho blasted 102 in just 51 balls and took the visitors to 194.However, India’s chase was controlled by Gill. The captain remained unbeaten on 84 and cautiously chased the target on a surface that was not entirely easy to bat on.Explaining his approach, Gill said that he went in with a clear objective of staying till the end and finishing the match himself.Gill said, “So, when I went to bat, my main thing was that I wanted to be there till the end. I wanted to finish the game for the team. And, you know, I didn’t get the start the way I was expecting. So, I knew I had to struggle a little bit. The wicket was good, but it was a little sticky.”“The ball was turning a bit and seaming a bit. So I thought if I could go through that period, the game would get easier and easier.“Then once the runs started coming, I found my rhythm. Obviously, when you plan something and everything goes according to plan, you feel great.”Gill’s calculated innings ensured there were no late problems and India completed the chase in 22.5 overs. While the captain took the hosts home with another mature ODI innings, Brar left Dharamshala with memories that will last a lifetime after a dream debut in Indian colours.