India Vs Afghanistan Highlights, 2nd ODI: Gill, Kishan's Centuries Help Hosts Clinch Series Victory

Greetings, we are back with another live blog, and this time it is India vs Afghanistan in the second ODI. Stay tuned for all the live updates, action, and key moments from the match.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prince Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav

Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Ikram Alikhil, Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami, Nangeyalia Kharoti

Afghanistan have won the toss and have opted to field.

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Darwish Rasooli, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Bilal Sami

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav

And we are underway in Lucknow! The second ODI has begun, and India’s opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma are out in the middle, ready to set the tone for the chase. Jaiswal takes guard, while Afghanistan hand the new ball to the talented young spinner AM Ghazanfar.

The stage is set, the crowd is buzzing, and the first delivery is about to decide the mood of the contest. Game on.

A breakthrough for Afghanistan, and it’s a memorable one for Saleem Safi. The pacer has picked up his maiden ODI wicket as Yashasvi Jaiswal departs early.

Safi went short and wide, tempting Jaiswal into the cut once again. The Indian opener went for the shot but couldn’t keep it down, getting more height than distance. Nangeyalia Kharoti at backward point kept his eyes on the ball, juggled it once before completing a fine catch on the second attempt.

Jaiswal walks back for 4 off 9 balls, and Afghanistan have the early opening they were searching for. The visitors are right into this contest.

Bilal Sami offers a little width, and Shubman Gill wastes no time putting it away! The Indian captain stays strong on the off side, unleashing a crisp cut shot that races through the gap and reaches the boundary in a flash.

One loose delivery is all it takes, Gill makes Afghanistan pay and adds a much-needed boundary to the scoreboard.

Rohit Sharma is into his rhythm. A back-of-a-length delivery outside off from Bilal Sami gives the Indian opener enough room, and he uses his experience to guide it beautifully through the gap. The ball races away to the boundary as Rohit picks up another valuable four for India.

Rohit Sharma is looking in fine touch! Bilal Sami pitches one up, and the Indian opener steps forward confidently to lift it over mid-on. The ball takes a couple of bounces before reaching the fence, adding another stylish boundary to India’s total.

Rohit is starting to find his rhythm, and Afghanistan’s bowlers are feeling the pressure early on.

Rashid Khan has done what he does best, deliver a moment of magic. The Afghanistan spinner brings out the googly, and Rohit Sharma is completely beaten by the sharp turn.

The ball comes in from a short length, Rohit stays back and tries to bring his bat down in time, but the delivery sneaks through the inside edge and crashes into the stumps. A brilliant piece of bowling ends a fluent knock from the Indian opener.

Rohit walks back for a well-made 48 off 39 balls, smashing six fours and two sixes, just missing out on a deserved half-century. Afghanistan finally have a big breakthrough.

Shubman Gill is making batting look effortless. The Indian captain reaches his second consecutive fifty with a towering six off Nangeyalia Kharoti.

A friendly long hop from Kharoti sits up nicely, and Gill wastes no time putting it away, sending the ball over the ropes in style. He lifts his bat to acknowledge the applause as the crowd celebrates another classy innings from the skipper.

Gill has been in complete control from the start, and Afghanistan are struggling to find a way to stop his fluent strokeplay.

That’s as easy as it gets for Ishan Kishan! Bilal Sami switches over the wicket but sprays it down the leg side, and Kishan happily helps it on its way. No real effort needed, just a touch, and the ball races away to the fine-leg boundary. Afghanistan will know they can’t afford freebies like that.

Rashid Khan has produced a moment of brilliance. Bowling a teasing googly at 92.7kph, he completely outsmarts Ishan Kishan, who fails to pick the variation. Kishan rocks back too late, trying to adjust, but the ball zips in, takes a faint inside edge, and crashes into the stumps.

It’s a sharp, decisive strike from Afghanistan’s ace spinner, and Rohit’s solid partner at the other end watches in disbelief as Kishan departs after a brisk start. Afghanistan are right back in the contest with a big wicket.

Second drinks break in Lucknow, and it’s well-earned out there in the heat. If you missed it earlier, the conditions are scorching, and as a result we’ll be getting three drinks breaks instead of the usual two in this match. Players are taking a much-needed breather, rehydrating, and resetting before the next phase of action kicks in.

Gill is timing it to perfection. Ghazanfar tosses one up, full and inviting, and Shubman Gill is already in control of the situation. He shuffles across to the leg side, creates just enough room, and brings the bottom hand into a controlled drive straight down the ground.

Long-off gives it a chase, even puts in a dive to his left, but the ball has too much class and pace behind it. Another elegant boundary for the Indian captain as he keeps the scoreboard moving smoothly.

Kishan is finding his rhythm now. Shahidi floats it full, and Ishan immediately backs away, opening up the off side with intent. He doesn’t quite middle it, but there’s enough power behind it, the ball comes off the bat flat and races over the infield.

Extra cover gives chase, but it’s already skidding away on one bounce to the fence. Not the cleanest strike, but it brings the result Kishan wanted.

Shubman Gill does it again. A length ball straying onto the pads from Bilal Sami, and the Indian captain calmly closes the bat face, working it fine through backward square leg with trademark timing.

It races away to the fence, completing a flawless century, his ninth in ODIs, following a Test hundred and an unbeaten 84 in the previous game. Gill removes his helmet, raises his bat, and bows down in his signature style as the crowd erupts in applause. A captain’s knock of the highest order.

Ishan Kishan is in full flow! Bilal Sami offers width, and Kishan reacts instantly, cutting it away with lightning-quick hands. The ball hurries through backward point and races to the fence, bringing up a superb second ODI hundred.

Kishan raises his arms, takes off his helmet, and acknowledges the roar from the crowd as he soaks in the moment. Shubman Gill walks across with a big smile, sharing a brief embrace with his partner at the crease. It’s been a remarkable acceleration, from a steady fifty off 52 balls, Kishan has surged with 53 runs off just 19 deliveries to reach three figures in style.

Afghanistan finally have something to celebrate! Nangeyalia Kharoti strikes to end a sensational 224-run partnership as Ishan Kishan’s explosive innings comes to a close.

Kishan goes back looking to muscle a shorter delivery over the leg side, but the ball stays a touch low and takes the timing out of the shot. The bottom hand slips off, the connection lacks control, and it goes up rather than out.

Substitute fielder Ikram Alikhil judges it perfectly from deep midwicket, coming in and taking a clean reverse-cupped catch to seal the dismissal. A brilliant knock ends on 125 off 79 balls, packed with 14 fours and 7 sixes, after completely turning the momentum India’s way.

Shubman Gill is right back in rhythm after the break in momentum. Nangeyalia Kharoti tosses it up, and Gill uses his feet brilliantly, stepping out and drifting across to the leg side before opening up the off side.

He goes inside-out with perfect timing, using the spin and lifting it cleanly over extra cover. The ball sails through the gap and races away to the boundary, a shot full of class and control from the Indian skipper.

Shubman Gill keeps the milestones flowing. Ghazanfar nudges one through for a single, and that brings up a magnificent 150 for the Indian skipper.

It’s been a masterclass in timing, placement, and calm control at the crease. Gill raises his bat to acknowledge the applause once again, soaking in a well-deserved ovation as he continues to anchor India’s charge in style.

Afghanistan finally break through, and it’s the big wicket of Shubman Gill. Nangeyalia Kharoti tempts him with a tossed-up delivery around leg stump, and for once Gill goes for the uncharacteristic option, attempting a reverse sweep.

But the length isn’t right for the shot, Gill doesn’t get low enough, ends up swatting at it awkwardly, and mistimes it badly. The ball lobs towards deep extra cover where Rasooli settles under it and takes a straightforward catch.

That brings an end to a sublime innings of 154 off 110 balls, featuring 22 fours and 2 sixes, and Gill walks off to a standing ovation after yet another commanding display at the crease.

India’s lower order continues to crumble! AM Ghazanfar comes up with another breakthrough, this time using his clever carrom ball that drifts in on a full length.

Arshdeep Singh looks to work it into the leg side, but ends up getting it off the middle, only to loft it straight towards long-on. Rashid Khan settles under it comfortably and completes a routine catch.

India are now eight down with just 12 balls remaining as Afghanistan keep chipping away at the tail.

India posted 402 all out in sweltering conditions in Lucknow, where the heat played a major role throughout the innings with multiple drinks breaks and visible signs of fatigue among players.

The innings was powered by a magnificent 224-run stand between Shubman Gill (154) and Ishan Kishan (125), both of whom brought up their centuries in the same over before India’s momentum dipped after their dismissals.

Rohit Sharma made 48, but once the partnership broke, India failed to accelerate through the death overs and were eventually bowled out with a ball to spare. Afghanistan’s bowlers fought back well in the closing stages to pull things back after India looked set for an even bigger total.

Chase is underway in Lucknow! Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran walk out with a massive task ahead as Afghanistan look to hunt down 402. Gurbaz takes strike, and Arshdeep Singh has the new ball in hand, ready to test the openers under pressure.

Big chase, big stage, and we’re set for fireworks right from ball one.

Arshdeep Singh hits a back-of-a-length spot outside off, but Rahmanullah is quick to adjust. He stays well outside the line and chops it firmly, sending it flying past short third. It hangs in the air for a moment, but safely clears the fielder and races away to the boundary.

Prince Yadav strikes with his maiden ODI wicket as Rahmanullah Gurbaz departs after a lively start to the chase. Gurbaz goes for the shot but only manages a top-edge, and Arshdeep Singh settles under it to complete a safe catch. A breakthrough India were looking for, ending a quickfire 32 off 28 balls from the Afghanistan opener, who had struck five fours and a six before falling.

Gurnoor Brar goes back of a length but drifts it too wide outside off, and Sediqullah Atal makes full use of the room. He stands tall, punches it crisply through the covers, and even though it travels in the air for a moment, it lands perfectly in the gap. The timing does the rest as the ball races away to the boundary.

Kuldeep Yadav tosses it up on middle and leg, and Ibrahim Zadran rocks back calmly to work it away off the back foot. It goes neatly past mid-wicket, just a single on offer as Afghanistan keep the scoreboard ticking without taking risks.

Kuldeep Yadav fires in a legbreak from over the wicket with a slip in place, keeping it slightly short. Rahmat Shah goes back looking to cut, but the timing is off just a touch as he finds the cover-point fielder. No run, and Kuldeep keeps the pressure building.

Washington Sundar goes full at 93kph, giving it a good loop, but Sediqullah Atal stays compact and watchful. He meets it right under his eyes and pushes it softly into the covers. No run, just a calm defensive response as Afghanistan steady things after the early wicket.

Rahmat Shah welcomes Gurnoor Brar with a statement shot. A sharp, short-pitched delivery at 142.7kph sits up nicely, and Rahmat is quick to read the length. He swivels across, rolls his wrists over the ball, and keeps it down beautifully as he pulls it through square leg.

Pure control, no fuss, just a clean boundary to get moving.

Atal responds right away! Gurnoor Brar comes round the wicket and floats it up just fuller than a length, and Sediqullah Atal simply presents the full face of the bat.

It’s a gentle push back down the ground, but the timing is pure class, it races past the bowler before Shreyas Iyer gives chase. He slides in near the rope and tries to drag it back, but the ball wins the race. Another elegant boundary for Afghanistan.

Rasooli makes that look effortless! Gurnoor Brar goes in with a sharp, in-slanting length delivery at 142.7kph, but Darwish Rasooli is already on the move, creating room by staying leg-side of the ball. He opens the bat face and simply guides it through backward point.

It’s barely more than a push, but the timing is so clean that it absolutely flies to the fence. No chance for the fielders, just pure placement and timing doing the damage.

Rahmat Shah gets a huge slice of luck! Gurnoor Brar digs it in short at 144.1kph, and Rahmat goes hard on the pull but only manages a top edge. Kuldeep Yadav charges across from long leg, times his run perfectly and even gets both hands to it as he dives full stretch.

But he can’t hold on, the ball pops out and escapes through his grasp, rolling away to the fence. A dropped chance that will sting India, and Rahmat survives to breathe again.

Afghanistan are under serious pressure now with India in the ascendancy with the run rate now over 10 rpo. Rahmat Shah is the only serious batter remaining for the visitors as India look to close out the innings and win the match.

Afghanistan are six down and it seems it's just a matter of time when the Indian bowlers clean up the rest of the tail. Afghanistan's latest wicket was the experienced Rashid Khan as Arshdeep Singh took his second wicket.

Gurnoor Brar stays full and on the money at 138.9kph, targeting the stumps. Saleem Safi responds solidly, bringing the bat down straight and compact to block it out. No run, just a calm, controlled defence as Gurnoor keeps probing.

Rahmat Shah is living dangerously but getting away with it! He dances down the pitch, only to meet a short-of-a-length delivery, and goes through with the pull despite not timing it cleanly. The ball loops into the gap and evades a backtracking fielder at mid-wicket as they come back for a couple.

There’s a worrying moment in the field though, the fielder lands awkwardly while chasing the ball and appears to clutch his left shoulder immediately. The physio is out to have a look, and Ishan Kishan is slowly walking off the field for further assessment. A tense pause in the contest here.

The scoreboard at the 43-over mark paints a challenging picture for Afghanistan, who currently find themselves at 227/8. With India having posted a formidable 402, the required run rate has climbed to a steep 25.14.

Afghanistan needs 176 runs off the remaining 42 balls.

Rahmat Shah has been the anchor of the Afghan innings, putting up a resilient 77 runs off 83 balls, featuring 8 boundaries. He is currently joined by Bilal Sami, who is holding steady on 2 off 11 balls.

India’s bowling attack has been disciplined and clinical today. Gurnoor Brar has been the standout performer, claiming 3 wickets for 58 runs in his 9-over spell. The pressure remains high on the Afghan tail-enders as India looks to close out the final few overs.

India has officially clinched the three-match ODI series, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead after a dominant 170-run victory over Afghanistan in Lucknow. The win was sealed in emphatic fashion when Prince Yadav dismissed Rahmat Shah, who had been the lone warrior for the visitors.

Rahmat Shah’s valiant resistance finally came to an end at 79 off 89 balls, as he attempted to pull a short ball from Prince Yadav. He failed to keep the shot down, hitting it flat toward fine leg, where Gurnoor Brar completed a brilliant, diving catch that highlighted India’s clinical performance in the field.

With the match effectively over following Shah’s dismissal and Rasooli unable to return to the crease, India celebrated a comprehensive win. This result underscores India's tactical superiority in the series and provides the team with significant momentum as they continue their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.