India Defeats Afghanistan In 2nd ODI by 170 Runs

LUCKNOW: India defeats Afghanistan in 2nd ODI by 170 runs and leads the three-match series 2-0. A masterclass in power-hitting by stand-in skipper Shubman Gill and opener Ishan Kishan saw India construct a colossal total of 402 all out. This proved too steep a mountain to climb for the visitors, who were bundled out for 232 late in the evening.

Batting Masterclass Sets the Tone

After Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field, India experienced a bumpy start when Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early for just 4 runs. Rohit Sharma laid a fluid platform with a quickfire 48 off 39 balls before being cleaned up by a trademark Rashid Khan googly.

From that point on, it was entirely a two-man show. Gill and Kishan joined forces to orchestrate a staggering 224-run partnership off just 141 deliveries, completely dismantling Afghanistan’s bowling blueprints.

Gill was in sublime touch, punishing both pace and spin with elegant drives and authoritative pulls. He brought up his ninth ODI century, eventually reaching a spectacular 154 off 110 balls (22 fours, 2 sixes) before falling to a reverse sweep.

At the other end, Kishan went absolutely ballistic after crossing his half-century. He targeted the shorter boundaries mercilessly, smashing 14 boundaries and 7 sixes to register his second ODI hundred, a blistering 125 off 79 deliveries.

Kharote Triggers Late Collapse

With India cruising comfortably at 320 for 2 in the 37th over, a monumental 450-plus score looked heavily on the cards. However, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote staged a brilliant individual fightback for the visitors.

Kharote removed Kishan and then sent back Gill and KL Rahul (0) on consecutive deliveries to completely stall India's momentum. Kharote ended a stellar spell with figures of 4 for 76, while Rashid Khan chimed in with 3 for 48, ensuring the Indian lower-order was bowled out for 402 in 49.5 overs.

Chase Crumbles Under Pressure

Chasing a target that required a historic run-rate of over eight per over, Afghanistan's response never found its required rhythm. Explosive opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz flashed briefly, contributing 41 off 33 balls before miscuing a short ball from Gurnoor Brar.

The middle-order fell like a pack of cards under persistent pressure. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was dismissed for just 4, dragging a Brar delivery onto his own stumps. To compound Afghanistan's misery, Darwish Rasooli was retired hurt on 6 due to injury.

Rahmat Shah played a lone, valiant hand, grinding out a hard-fought 79 off 89 deliveries. He completed a 52-ball half-century, but with required rates consistently mounting past 12 runs an over, his anchoring efforts were insufficient.

India’s bowling attack was led superbly by the fast-bowling contingent. Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh was lethal in his return spells, claiming 3 for 45. He was matched step-for-step by the impressive Gurnoor Brar, who mixed his lengths perfectly to return figures of 3 for 60. International debutant Prince Yadav cleaned up the tail, taking 2 for 56 and wrapping up the match in the 45th over to hand Gill his very first series victory as ODI captain.

The two sides will now move to Chennai, where the final dead-rubber ODI is scheduled to take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday, June 20.

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