Lucknow, Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — India sealed the India Afghanistan ODI series with a match to spare on Wednesday, posting a mammoth 402 and then bowling Afghanistan out for 232 to claim a commanding 170-run victory at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in sweltering Lucknow. Captain Shubman Gill’s masterful 154 and a ferocious 125 from Ishan Kishan, built on a 224-run third-wicket stand, proved too formidable a foundation for Afghanistan’s bowlers or batters to overcome.
Gill and Kishan Build A Match-Winning Third-Wicket Stand
Afghanistan’s bowlers wilted in the heat as Gill top-scored with 154 and Kishan struck 125, the left-handed batter racing to his century off 71 balls with a flurry of boundaries as the pair constructed a 224-run partnership for the third wicket.
Afghanistan’s skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi had won the toss and elected to field first, only to watch his attack toil through one of the most punishing batting exhibitions seen at the Ekana ground this season.
Rohit Sharma opened alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in a reshuffled order, making 48 before his dismissal brought the skipper to the crease at number three. Gill and Kishan then took complete control, stitching together their 224-run stand to put India in a commanding position.
Gill reached his ninth ODI century with a boundary, adding to his unbeaten 84 from the series opener. He battled cramps throughout his 110-ball knock of 22 fours and two sixes before his tired reverse sweep was caught at deep cover. Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote finally ended the partnership by having Kishan caught out, then removed KL Rahul for a golden duck, before being denied a hat-trick by Washington Sundar.
India Post 402 Despite Late Collapse
Kishan’s innings of 125 came off just 79 deliveries at a strike rate of 158, featuring 14 fours and seven sixes. Despite the platform Gill and Kishan had built, India suffered a late batting collapse, losing seven wickets for 42 runs, with Shreyas Iyer contributing 26 and Sundar 19 before the side were bowled out in 49.5 overs.
The extreme heat forced organisers to schedule three drinks breaks per innings, with several players from both sides requiring on-field treatment for cramps. India had been tracking towards their ODI record total of 418 before the late implosion, though 402 still set a daunting target.
Arshdeep and Brar Wrap Up Afghanistan’s Chase
Indian quicks Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar each took three wickets to help bowl Afghanistan out for 232 in 44.3 overs, giving India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Rahmat Shah led Afghanistan’s resistance with a valiant innings, supported by Sediqullah Atal who made a steady 42 after Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran contributed 41 and 21 respectively at the top of the order. Rahmat Shah lacked the support required from the lower order, and the climbing run rate forced errors as debutant Prince Yadav chipped in with two wickets for 56 runs alongside a single wicket for Sundar. India.com
Rashid Khan picked up wickets during a late burst but could not prevent Afghanistan from folding before the 45th over.
Kohli Absence Opens Door for Batting Experiments
In Virat Kohli’s absence, India’s management experimented with their batting order, moving Jaiswal to open alongside Rohit and dropping Gill to number three, with Kishan slotting in at four. The new combination delivered immediate dividends, with Kishan in particular cementing his case for a high-order position ahead of the upcoming European tour of Ireland and England.
Gill added to his unbeaten 84 from the series-opening win in Dharamshala, where India had also claimed victory by seven wickets. With the India Afghanistan ODI series already secured, the third and final match is scheduled for Chennai on Saturday, offering India’s fringe players a further opportunity to press their claims for the touring squad.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 18, 2026
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