India arrived at the top of the scorecard in brutal fashion and left Afghanistan chasing a near-impossible target in Lucknow. In the India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan turned the evening into a batting showcase, lifting India to 402/10 before the bowlers completed a 170-run victory and sealed a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: Gill and Kishan rewrite the script
The match changed shape during a long and punishing third-wicket stand. Gill and Kishan added 224 runs together, taking the pressure off India after an early loss and then driving the innings into overdrive. Gill finished with 154 off 110 balls, while Kishan made 125 off 79, and both batters kept forcing Afghanistan to defend deep fields for long stretches of the evening.
Gill’s innings had the look of a player who was never in a rush, even while scoring quickly. He struck 22 fours and two sixes, built the innings in layers, and accelerated once the platform was set. Kishan, by contrast, played the high-risk, high-reward role and hammered 14 fours and seven sixes, making sure every boundary burst changed the feel of the contest.
Key batting numbers
- Gill: 154 off 110 balls, 22 fours, 2 sixes.
- Kishan: 125 off 79 balls, 14 fours, 7 sixes.
- Partnership: 224 runs for the third wicket.
The contest was played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, June 17, and Afghanistan won the toss before opting to bowl first. That decision made sense on paper, but the surface quickly tilted toward India once the openers settled and the middle order began to cash in on the start.
Gill’s effort also stood out in the broader match context because it was the kind of innings that controls every phase of a 50-over game. He was later listed as the player of the match on the scorecard feed, a fitting reflection of how completely he shaped the contest once India had been forced to rebuild after the first wicket.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: India keeps the pressure on
India’s innings did not begin with complete freedom. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early, and Rohit Sharma’s 48 off 39 provided the first real burst of tempo before the innings moved into a much more decisive phase. Once Gill and Kishan settled in, Afghanistan’s bowlers had little breathing room, and the total kept rising even after the century stand had long become a memory.
What kept India ahead
- A quick opening burst from Rohit Sharma.
- Stable middle-order support from Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar.
- Lower-order runs that carried India deep into the 50th over.
That was one of the most striking features of the India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: the innings did not depend on a single explosive cameo. Shreyas Iyer’s 26 added stability, Washington Sundar’s 19 gave the lower middle order a push, and even the final overs produced useful runs. India were eventually all out in 49.5 overs, but not before crossing the 400-mark for the eighth time in ODI cricket.
The score was also built on accumulation as much as power. India reached 320 for 3 before losing a cluster of wickets in the back end, yet the damage had already been done by then. By the time the final wicket fell, the target had moved far beyond the range of a chase built on ordinary pressure.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI: Afghanistan’s reply fades late
Afghanistan showed glimpses of fight through Rahmanullah Gurbaz (41), Sediqullah Atal (42), and Rahmat Shah’s determined 79, but regular wickets prevented any sustained challenge.
India stayed in control throughout, with Arshdeep Singh (3/45) and Gurnoor Brar (3/60) leading a disciplined bowling effort to dismiss Afghanistan for 232 in 44.3 overs, sealing a convincing victory.
Takeaway: once Gill and Kishan had settled, Afghanistan were chasing control rather than just chasing runs. India’s length in batting and balance with the ball made the result feel inevitable well before the finish.
What the result means for the series
India’s victory secured a 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, leaving Afghanistan with only the final game to restore some pride. The win highlighted India’s batting depth, as they recovered from an early setback to post a commanding total before the bowlers completed a comfortable finish.
Afghanistan showed flashes of promise through Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Nangeyalia Kharote, and Rashid Khan, but they failed to capitalize on key moments. Overall, it was a dominant all-round performance from India that put the result beyond doubt well before the final over.
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