India Secures Series Victory with Dominant ODI Win Over Afghanistan

India Clinches ODI Series Against Afghanistan

In a commanding performance at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, India triumphed over Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second ODI, securing a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Afghanistan began their chase of a daunting target of 403 runs with openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmatullah Gurbaz, who quickly put together 52 runs for the first wicket.

Gurnoor Brar, playing only his second ODI, provided India with the crucial first wicket by dismissing Gurbaz in the eighth over. Gurbaz scored 41 runs off 33 balls, featuring seven fours and a six.

Initially, it was debutant Prince Yadav who had dismissed Gurbaz, but the third umpire ruled the delivery a No-Ball, delaying Yadav's first international wicket.

Zadran followed soon after, caught out by Prince off Arshdeep Singh's bowling, contributing 21 runs from 31 balls.

A partnership of 57 runs for the third wicket between Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah was broken by Washington Sundar, with Atal scoring a solid 42 off 50 balls.

Darwish Rasooli, who came in next, had to retire hurt due to cramps, having previously experienced discomfort while fielding.

Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi started with a boundary but was dismissed by Brar on the very next ball.

Prince Yadav claimed his first international wicket in the 31st over by taking out Nangeyalia Kharote, while Rashid Khan added 12 runs before falling to Arshdeep.

Rahmat Shah fought valiantly, scoring 79 runs off 89 balls, forming small partnerships with the tailenders. However, he was eventually dismissed by Prince in the 45th over, leading to Afghanistan's total of 232 runs.

Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar each took three wickets, while Prince Yadav secured two and Sundar claimed one.

Earlier, India set the stage with impressive centuries from Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, helping the team post a total exceeding 400 runs.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, India began with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma. Mohammad Saleem Safi struck first, dismissing Jaiswal in his opening over.

Gill joined Sharma at the crease, with Sharma accelerating the scoring. He hit six fours and two sixes before being bowled by Rashid Khan for 48 runs.

Kishan entered the game at number four, maintaining the momentum with aggressive shots.

Gill reached his fifty with a six off Nangeyalia Kharote in the 17th over, followed by a couple of fours in the next over bowled by Safi.

Kishan then shifted gears, hitting a six off Safi, a boundary off Shahidi, and three more boundaries in Bilal Sami's next over. He completed his half-century with a boundary in the 28th over.

Gill continued to rotate the strike and approached the 90s, while Kishan kept the pressure on from the other end.

In the 33rd over, Bilal Sami bowled, and Gill hit a boundary to complete his ninth ODI century, marking his first hundred since becoming ODI captain.

Kishan followed suit, hitting three consecutive boundaries in Sami's over to also reach his century, marking his second ODI hundred. After scoring his fifty in 52 balls, he added another 53 runs off just 19 deliveries.

The duo formed a formidable partnership, adding 224 runs for the third wicket before Kharote ended their stand in the 37th over. Kishan finished with 125 runs off 79 balls, including 14 fours and seven sixes.

Shreyas Iyer contributed 40 runs alongside Gill, who surpassed the 150-run mark with a single off Allah Ghazanfar in the 42nd over. Gill was dismissed while attempting a big shot against Kharote in the 43rd over, scoring 154 runs off 110 balls with 22 fours and two sixes.

KL Rahul was dismissed for a golden duck, while Iyer added 26 runs before falling to Kharote.

Sundar's late contributions helped India surpass the 400-run mark, as they lost all wickets in 49.5 overs, setting a target of 403 runs for Afghanistan.

The final ODI of the series will take place in Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.