India turned the Ekana Cricket Stadium into a batting carnival on June 17, 2026. Two centurions put Afghanistan’s bowlers through absolute torture in Lucknow. By the time the dust settled, the result was barely in doubt and the series had taken a decisive turn.
Gill and Kishan Put on a Batting Masterclass
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bowl first. That decision backfired badly. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early for a single-figure score against debutant pacer Mohammad Saleem Safi. From that point on, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill took control and never let Afghanistan back into the contest.
Gill played the anchor role with his usual composure while Ishan Kishan provided the explosive counterattack. The pair added 224 runs together for the third wicket, completely taking the game away from Afghanistan. Kishan struck two consecutive sixes off Nangeyalia Kharoti before falling for 125. Gill battled cramps in the scorching Lucknow heat but still passed 150 before being dismissed for 154 off 110 balls.
A Stunning Collapse Still Could Not Stop India
India looked set to push beyond 420 at one stage with the score reading 320 for 2. What followed was a dramatic batting collapse. India lost their last eight wickets for just 82 runs. Nangeyalia Kharoti was the destroyer with the ball, finishing with excellent figures of 4 for 76. Rashid Khan picked up three wickets as well.
Even with that late stumble, India still finished with a daunting 402 all out in 49.5 overs. It remains one of the highest totals India have posted against Afghanistan in ODI cricket and proved more than enough on the day.
Indian Bowlers Finish the Job in Style
Chasing 403 was always going to be a near impossible task for Afghanistan. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran gave their side a promising start with a brisk 50-run opening stand. Debutant Prince Yadav thought he had Gurbaz early, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball on review. Gurnoor Brar made the breakthrough instead, removing Gurbaz for 41 in the eighth over.
From there, India’s bowlers took control. Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar each picked up three wickets to dismantle the middle order. Rahmat Shah fought hard for Afghanistan with a gritty 79 off 89 balls, but he ran out of partners. Prince Yadav got the final breakthrough in the 45th over as Afghanistan were bundled out for 232.
Shubman Gill Continues to Lead from the Front
This was Shubman Gill’s second major contribution of the series after his unbeaten 84 in the first ODI at Dharamsala. His consistency at the top of the order has been the foundation of India’s dominant start to this series. He was named Player of the Match for his innings of 154, which also earned him the highest MVP rating of the match according to ESPNCricinfo’s tracking system.
His captaincy has also looked assured. Resting key bowlers and trusting his depth, particularly with Prince Yadav making his debut, shows a captain willing to back young talent even in winning positions. For more on how India’s top batters have built such dominant records over the years, take a look at our list of the best batsmen of the World Cup.
Series Win Sets Up Dead Rubber in Chennai
With the series already won, the third and final ODI in Chennai on June 20 becomes a dead rubber. India are likely to use the opportunity to give more fringe players a chance ahead of the busier international calendar leading into the 2027 World Cup cycle. Afghanistan will simply want pride and a consolation win after two difficult performances in this series. Bowling depth has been one of India’s biggest strengths this series, and fans wanting to revisit how India’s greatest bowlers have performed on the biggest stage can check out our breakdown of the best bowlers in World Cup history.
Conclusion
India delivered exactly the kind of performance their fans expect heading into a big World Cup cycle. Gill and Kishan set the tone with the bat. The bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar, finished the job with control and discipline. Afghanistan fought hard through Rahmat Shah but were always playing catch up. India have wrapped up the series with one match still to play, and the signs for their 50-over cricket ahead of 2027 Cricket Wrold Cup look genuinely promising.
