India vs Afghanistan faceoff for second ODI of a three-match series at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on June 17, 2026. The match begins at 1:30 PM IST. India lead the series 1-0 after a comfortable seven-wicket win in Dharamsala. They will want to seal the series tonight and give their fringe players more game time ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle.
Match Overview
The second ODI at Lucknow is a day-night fixture starting at 1:30 PM IST. India took the first match convincingly at Dharamsala, bowling out Afghanistan for 194 in a rain-reduced 25-over game before chasing down the target with seven wickets in hand. Two debutants stood out for India in that match. Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar both picked up three wickets each on their first appearance in ODI cricket.
Afghanistan will come into this match determined to level the series. They showed glimpses of what they are capable of in the first ODI. Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a sublime 51-ball century, the fastest hundred ever by an Afghan batter in ODI cricket. The rest of the batting collapsed around him. That has been Afghanistan’s problem in this series and it will be the issue India target again tonight.
India Team Form and Recent Results
India won the first ODI by seven wickets. Shubman Gill was the standout with 84 not out off 66 balls as he anchored the chase with real class. KL Rahul played a composed 39 not out alongside him to finish the job. The two debutants with the ball were the real story of the day. Harsh Dubey took 3 for 47 and Gurnoor Brar took 3 for 27 on their debut appearances.
Rohit Sharma batted at number two in the first ODI and contributed 31. He is in reasonable touch and will look to build on that at Lucknow. India have not had Virat Kohli or Hardik Pandya for this series due to injury. That has opened the door for younger players and they have taken their chances so far.
Afghanistan Team Form and Recent Results
Afghanistan were bowled out for 194 in a 25-over game at Dharamsala. That is below their best. Gurbaz played a brilliant knock of 102 off 51 balls that gave them genuine hope in the first half of the innings. Once he was dismissed, the rest of the batting fell apart. Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, and Rahmat Shah all failed to contribute meaningfully.
Their spinners were not at their best in the first match either. Rashid Khan took only one wicket. AM Ghazanfar went wicketless. Afghanistan need a complete team performance in Lucknow to stay in this series. Gurbaz must bat deep and the middle order must take responsibility alongside him.
Head to Head Record
India have a dominant record against Afghanistan in ODI cricket. They have never lost an ODI series against Afghanistan in bilateral competition. In the last five ODIs between the two sides, India have won four. Afghanistan’s only win came in a neutral venue contest. Playing in India, on Indian surfaces, against an Indian attack of this quality makes Afghanistan’s task even more difficult.
Key Players to Watch
Shubman Gill
Gill leads India with composure and bats at the top of the order. His 84 not out in Dharamsala was exactly what India needed on a reduced-overs pitch. At Lucknow, with a full 50 overs likely, he will want to go bigger and put the series beyond Afghanistan’s reach inside the first innings.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep was rested in the first ODI. He is expected to return at Lucknow. His wrist spin on a surface that tends to turn in the second innings makes him a match-winning option against Afghanistan’s middle order. Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar pose similar threats with the ball for India’s batters.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Gurbaz is Afghanistan’s most dangerous player in this format. His 102 in the first ODI showed exactly what he can do when he gets going. Afghanistan need him to bat long, not just bat fast. If he converts an early start into a 70-over innings at Lucknow, Afghanistan can post a target that challenges India.
Rashid Khan
Rashid took only one wicket in Dharamsala. He will not accept that performance and will come to Lucknow motivated to change the series with his bowling. He is still the most dangerous spinner in this Afghanistan side and India’s middle order will need to approach him with care.
Ekana Stadium Lucknow Pitch Report
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium pitch in Lucknow generally favours batters early in a match. The surface is true and offers pace and carry in the first 15 overs. As the match progresses into the second innings under the lights, the pitch tends to slow down significantly. Spinners become increasingly difficult to play as the ball grips and turns.
The average first innings total at this ground in men’s ODIs is 236. The average second innings total is 213. Teams batting first have a better record here overall. Winning the toss and batting first at Lucknow is likely to be the preferred option for both captains tonight.
Weather Forecast for Lucknow on June 17
The weather in Lucknow on match day is set to be hot and clear. The temperature will reach a high of around 40 degrees Celsius during the afternoon. There is zero percent chance of rain on June 17. A full 50-over match will be played with no weather interruptions. Conditions under the lights in the evening will still be warm. Both sides will need to manage player hydration carefully throughout the day session.
Predicted Playing XIs
India Predicted XI: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.
Afghanistan Predicted XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Nangyal Kharotai, Ziaur Rahman.
Who Will Win the 2nd ODI
India are strong favourites at home. The Ekana Stadium surface under the lights will suit their spin options. Their batting is deep enough to chase any total Afghanistan might set. Afghanistan need everything to go right to level this series.
Their best realistic chance is for Gurbaz to score a big hundred and the middle order to support him to a total of 270 or more. If Afghanistan post that kind of score, Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar become very dangerous under the Lucknow lights in the second innings.
But India have too much quality at home for Afghanistan to win this series. You can understand more about how India’s batters have dominated Afghanistan historically in our piece on the 10 best Indian batters in cricket history.
India win probability: 75 percent
Afghanistan win probability: 25 percent
Conclusion
India arrive at Lucknow with the series in their hands and real momentum from Dharamsala. Afghanistan have shown they can produce individual brilliance but they need a collective effort to stay in this contest. The conditions at Ekana under the lights will eventually favour India’s spinners. If India bat first and post a total above 270, this match could be over by the 40th over of the second innings. For another big win at Lucknow tonight, also check out where India’s finest have ranked historically among the top 10 active batsmen of the world as Gill and Rohit look to add more to their growing records.
