Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi did not hide behind the toss or the conditions after his side suffered a crushing 170-run defeat to India in the 2nd ODI at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on 17 June. Shahidi pointed squarely at his bowling unit, saying Afghanistan gave India far too much momentum in the powerplay — a lapse that proved decisive as India sealed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

How India Built the Mammoth Total

India posted a commanding 402 before bowling Afghanistan out for 232, sealing the series with one game still to play. The innings was built on a record-breaking 224-run partnership for the third wicket between Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, which transformed a solid foundation into an insurmountable total. Afghanistan did manage to hit back in the closing overs through Nangeyalia Kharoti and Rashid Khan, but the damage had long been done.

What Shahidi Said About the Bowling Collapse

'You cannot put all things on toss. I think we were not good enough at bowling. So many easy options in the bowling for them. We gave them momentum, I think that's why we didn't bowl well in the first 20 overs,' Shahidi said after the match. He acknowledged the heat but refused to let conditions serve as a shield: 'Yeah, it was hot, but at the same time, you cannot put everything on toss. You have to bowl well in the right areas. We didn't do that well today, so hopefully we will learn from this.'

The Rasooli Batting Order Decision

Shahidi also explained the call to send Darwish Rasooli ahead of himself during the chase of 402. Rasooli was reportedly dealing with cramps, but the skipper said the batter himself confirmed he was ready to go. 'I asked him, the coach asked him if he was okay, he said, 'I am okay, I want to bat.' So that's why I told him to go before me because he is a good striker of the ball and we needed someone to hit big for us, but unfortunately, he got cramps again, and hopefully he recovers soon,' Shahidi stated. The move ultimately failed to shift momentum, with India's bowlers remaining in full control throughout the chase.

Rahmat Shah's Fight and Afghanistan's Positives

Rahmat Shah stood out with a fighting 79, providing Afghanistan's most significant resistance and preventing an even heavier defeat. Shahidi also highlighted the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a bright spot across the series. 'I think a lot of learning because it was a tough series for us, and hopefully in the Chennai game, we do well, and I think we had positives also in this series. The way Rahmat played today and the way Gurbaz is playing, we have all these positive things with us,' Shahidi noted.

What Afghanistan Must Fix Before Chennai

With the series already decided, Afghanistan travel to Chennai for the third and final ODI seeking a consolation win — and more urgently, answers with the ball. 'We need to be up to the mark in our bowling department because the next game is also crucial for us, and hopefully we are up to the mark in the bowling department,' Shahidi said. India, meanwhile, will look to complete a clean sweep after back-to-back dominant all-round performances.