Prince Yadav debuts as Afghanistan bowl first in 2nd ODI, Lucknow
Synopsis
Prince Yadav becomes India's third debutant in as many ODIs as Afghanistan opt to bowl first in Lucknow. With Nitish Kumar Reddy sidelined by a quad injury and senior players absent, the second ODI is shaping up as another high-stakes audition — this time on a surface the Afghan captain expects to spin early.
Key Takeaways
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl in the 2nd ODI at Lucknow on 17 June .
Prince Yadav received his debut cap, becoming the third Indian debutant in this series after Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar .
Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out due to a quad injury .
India lead the three-match series 1-0 after a seven-wicket win in the rain-shortened opener at Dharamsala .
Afghanistan were without Mohammad Nabi (illness) and Azmat (injury) for the second game.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 17 June. The match marks a significant moment for Prince Yadav, who received his debut cap, becoming the third debutant of this series.
Prince Yadav Gets His Debut Cap
Prince Yadav became the third Indian player to debut in this series, following Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar, who earned their first caps in the opening ODI at Dharamsala. Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out of the second game due to a quad injury, opening the door for the new entrant. India also brought in Kuldeep Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal into the playing XI, making a total of three changes to the side.
What the Captains Said at the Toss
Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi explained the decision to field first, saying: 'Wicket looks fresh. I think it'll be spinning in the first innings. In the last game, we played really well, we missed the partnerships. We had one partnership and then threw away our wickets. Hopefully we come back stronger. Our boys have a lot of passion of cricket. We have three changes. Nabi is sick, Azmat got injured and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi isn't playing. Bilal, Darwish Rasooli and one more.'
India captain Shubman Gill acknowledged the toss outcome, saying: 'We'd have bowled as well as we're forced to play with five bowlers. All about being in difficult situations and being able to chase down big scores and how we can be clinical with our bowling. Three changes. Prince makes his debut. We've got Kuldeep and Jaiswal in.'
Series Context: India Lead 1-0
India drew first blood in the series opener at Dharamsala, clinching a convincing seven-wicket victory in a rain-curtailed 25-overs-a-side contest. With several senior players unavailable for the series, the fixtures have doubled as an audition platform for India's emerging talent — a theme that continues in Lucknow with Prince Yadav's inclusion. India hold a 1-0 lead heading into this match.
Afghanistan's Injury Concerns
Afghanistan entered the second ODI with notable absentees of their own. All-rounder Mohammad Nabi was ruled out due to illness, while Azmat sustained an injury and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi was also left out. Darwish Rasooli and Bilal Sami were among those drafted into the playing XI as replacements.
Playing XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Darwish Rasooli, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Bilal Sami.
With India chasing on a surface Shahidi expects to spin early, the second ODI sets up as a compelling test of India's depth and their new faces under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Prince Yadav and why is his debut significant?
Prince Yadav is an Indian cricketer who received his ODI debut cap in the 2nd ODI against Afghanistan in Lucknow on 17 June. He is the third Indian to debut in this series, following Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar, reflecting India's push to blood new talent during the Afghanistan fixtures.
Why did Afghanistan choose to bowl first in the 2nd ODI?
Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi cited a fresh pitch he expected to assist spin in the first innings as the reason for electing to field. He also referenced missed batting partnerships in the first ODI as motivation to come back stronger.
What is India's current lead in the series?
India lead the three-match ODI series 1-0 after winning the opening game in Dharamsala by seven wickets in a rain-reduced 25-overs-a-side match.
Which players are missing from the 2nd ODI?
India's Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out with a quad injury. Afghanistan were without Mohammad Nabi (illness), Azmat (injury), and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, forcing three changes to their XI.
Where is the 2nd ODI between India and Afghanistan being played?
The match is being played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 17 June.
