Gill's 154 & Kishan's 125 power India to 402 vs Afghanistan in 2nd ODI
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Shubman Gill stroked a commanding 154 off 110 balls and Ishan Kishan blazed 125 off 79 balls as India posted a formidable 402/10 in 49.5 overs against Afghanistan in the second ODI at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Wednesday, 17 June. Despite a dramatic late collapse that saw the last seven wickets fall for just 80 runs, India's batting dominance through the first 40 overs had already secured a total well beyond Afghanistan's reach.
Early Overs and Rohit's Exit
After electing to bat, India encountered an unusual opening gambit from Afghanistan — off-spinner AM Ghazanfar was handed the new ball, a move that caught the hosts off guard. Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to settle and fell early, while Rohit Sharma showed fluency in patches before departing for 48, agonisingly short of a half-century. India were placed at 80/1 at the end of the powerplay, a platform that required a significant acceleration.
Gill and Kishan's Record-Breaking Stand
What followed was a batting exhibition of the highest order. Gill and Kishan combined for a 224-run third-wicket partnership off just 140 deliveries at a strike rate that translated to a run rate of 9.60 — the joint second-highest partnership against Afghanistan in ODIs and one of India's fastest double-century stands in the format. Gill reached his ninth ODI century off 77 deliveries, while Kishan shifted gears dramatically after a measured fifty, racing to three figures in just 71 balls. India stormed past 300 in only 35.5 overs, the fourth-fastest team to achieve that landmark batting first in ODI history.
Individual Milestones
Kishan's knock of 125 featured 14 fours and seven sixes before Nangeyalia Kharoti induced a mistimed pull to deep midwicket. Gill, however, was relentless — reaching 150 off just 108 deliveries before finishing on 154, an innings laced with 22 fours and two sixes. The captain's innings also saw him become the fastest Indian to 3,000 ODI runs in terms of innings played. Shreyas Iyer contributed a brisk 26 off 24 balls to keep the momentum alive through the middle phase.
Afghanistan's Late Fightback
Left-arm spinner Kharoti was the standout bowler for Afghanistan, claiming 4 wickets for 76 runs and dismissing both Gill and Iyer to trigger a lower-order collapse. Rashid Khan also tightened the screws, finishing with 3 for 48, as India's final seven wickets tumbled for just 80 runs in the closing stages. The hosts, who had appeared set to breach 420, were ultimately bowled out for 402 with one ball remaining in the innings.
What This Total Means
A target of 403 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium will test Afghanistan's batting lineup severely. This is only the latest chapter in Gill's outstanding run of form as India's ODI captain, and Kishan's explosive return underlines the depth India can call upon in the middle order. Afghanistan will need a historically unprecedented chase to level the series.
Brief Scores: India 402/10 in 49.5 overs (Shubman Gill 154, Ishan Kishan 125; Nangeyalia Kharoti 4-76, Rashid Khan 3-48) vs Afghanistan.