Lucknow: India piled up a massive 402 all out in the second ODI against Afghanistan at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, putting themselves in a commanding position and tightening their grip on the three-match series after taking a 1-0 lead.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first, but India’s batters made the most of the opportunity. The hosts suffered an early setback when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed cheaply. Rohit Sharma then provided momentum at the top with an attacking 48 off 39 balls, before being bowled by a Rashid Khan googly just two runs short of a half-century.
The highlight of India’s innings was a breathtaking partnership between Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan. Promoted to number three instead of his usual opening role to accommodate Jaiswal at the top, Gill produced a sublime 154 off 110 balls, anchoring the innings while scoring at a rapid pace.
At the other end, Kishan tore into the Afghanistan attack with an aggressive display. The left-hander smashed 125 off 79 balls, bringing up a brilliant century and keeping the pressure firmly on the visitors throughout his stay at the crease.
The Gill-Kishan duo added a stunning 224 runs off just 140 balls, completely taking the game away from Afghanistan. Their partnership laid the foundation for India’s huge total and ensured the scoring rate remained high through the middle overs.
India received further contributions from the middle and lower order to push beyond the 400-run mark. The batting unit maintained relentless pressure on the Afghanistan bowlers and eventually finished on an imposing 402.
The match also marked the ODI debut of fast bowler Prince Yadav, who came into the side in place of the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy. India made three changes to their playing XI as part of their preparations for a busy international calendar.
India’s key scores:
- Shubman Gill – 154 (110)
- Ishan Kishan – 125 (79)
- Rohit Sharma – 48 (39)
With a daunting target of 403 runs to chase, Afghanistan were left needing a remarkable batting performance to stay alive in the contest. A victory for India would seal the ODI series with one match still remaining.
