India won the 1st ODI by 7 wickets at Dharamshala and followed it up with a historic, record-breaking batting performance in Lucknow, where Shubman Gill (154) and Ishan Kishan (125) powered India to a colossal 402 runs in the 2nd ODI.
The bilateral series between India and Afghanistan has delivered spectacular modern-day cricket. From weather disruptions transforming regular fixtures into high-octane 25-over sprints to masterclasses in power hitting, this series encapsulates why Asian cricket rivalries are becoming the marquee attractions of the global sports calendar.
Table of Contents
1. The Context: A New Chapter in an Emerging Rivalry
The history between India and Afghanistan is rooted in deep sporting camaraderie and diplomatic ties. For years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acted as a major pillar of support for Afghanistan’s rise, providing training facilities in Greater Noida, Dehradun, and Ahmedabad. Yet, on the pitch, friendship gives way to fierce competition.
Coming on the back of India’s thumping victory by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test match at New Chandigarh, the transition to white-ball cricket promised a closer contest. With legendary batter Virat Kohli ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the domestic season, India rolled out a squad featuring established superstars mixed with electric new prospects like Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey. Afghanistan, coached by new tactician Richard Pybus following Jonathan Trott’s exit, walked out with a chip on their shoulder, looking to assert their world-class capabilities in the shorter formats.
2. Match 1: The Dharamshala Dash (25-Over Sprint)
The 1st ODI at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala was initially threatened by persistent high-altitude drizzle. After a delay of over four hours, the ground staff pulled off a minor miracle, allowing a shortened 25-over-a-side match. Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field, hoping to exploit the damp, cold overhead conditions.
The Gurbaz Storm Destroys the Powerplay
What followed was an absolute exhibition of single-handed defiance. Afghanistan’s openers walked out into tricky territory. While India’s pacers found initial movement—reducing Afghanistan to a precarious 27/3 in the initial powerplay—wicker-keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz chose a path of counter-attacking fury.
Gurbaz launched into a spectacular onslaught against both raw pace and spin, smashing 102 runs off just 48 balls, decorated with 8 boundaries and 8 towering sixes. He registered the fastest-ever ODI century by an Afghan batter, leaving the Dharamshala crowd breathless.
The Mid-Innings Collapse
Cricket is a game of partnerships, and unfortunately for Gurbaz, he stood virtually alone. While he struck at a strike rate well over 200, the rest of the batting order suffered a catastrophic collective failure. No other Afghan batter managed to find rhythm, with most falling cheaply inside the 30-yard circle due to over-aggressive shot-selection.
Once Gurbaz fell, the Indian debutants took total control. Tall speedster Gurnoor Brar bowled with great discipline to secure figures of 3/20, while left-arm orthodox spinner Harsh Dubey tore through the lower order to grab his own three-wicket haul. From a position of strength, Afghanistan collapsed from 138/2 in the middle overs to be bundled out for 194 in 24.5 overs.
Afghanistan Innings: 194/10 (24.5 Overs)
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Rahmanullah Gurbaz 102 (48) Gurnoor Brar 3/20
Ibrahim Zadran 9 (12) Harsh Dubey 3/35
Rest of Batting 83 Arshdeep Singh 2/30
India’s Clinical Run Chase
Chasing 195 in 25 overs required a steady run-rate of nearly 8 runs per over. Rohit Sharma showed aggressive intent early on, hitting 16 off 16 before an unfortunate communication breakdown resulted in a run-out. However, that was to be Afghanistan’s last moment of real celebration.
Shubman Gill anchored the chase with majestic elegance. He paced his innings expertly, accumulating an unbeaten 84 off 66 deliveries. He found an aggressive partner in Ishan Kishan, who blasted a quickfire 34 off 22 balls to keep the required rate well under control. After Kishan fell to Rashid Khan, KL Rahul arrived to provide the final fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 39 off just 19 balls, punctuated by a flurry of late boundaries. India comfortably crossed the finish line at 195/3 with 13 balls remaining, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI Highlights, YouTube · Fifa Live · 2026 M06 13
3. Match 2: The Lucknow Carnage (400+ Total)
If the first match in Dharamshala was a compressed sprint, the 2nd ODI at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow was a full-scale demonstration of India’s batting depth. Winning the toss, Afghanistan elected to field first, expecting the Lucknow pitch to provide some assistance to their famed spin attack. Instead, they ran directly into a batting hurricane.
A Masterclass from Gill and Kishan
India’s batting line-up put on a show that rewritten record books. While Rohit Sharma looked elegant for his brief 48 off 39 balls before being clean-bowled by a trademark Rashid Khan googly, the platform belonged entirely to Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan.
- Shubman Gill was immovable, playing with pristine timing and targeting the straight boundaries. He smashed a sensational 154 runs off 110 balls, including 22 blistering boundaries and 2 sixes.
- Ishan Kishan acted as the dynamic enforcer, dismantling Afghanistan’s pacers and launching spinners deep into the stands. Kishan brought up his century in just 71 deliveries, eventually falling for a magnificent 125 off 79 balls, featuring 14 fours and 7 humongous sixes.
The pair dismantled the bowling strategy completely. Rashid Khan tried his best to restore order, finishing with fighting figures of 3/48, while spinner Nangeyalia Kharote picked up 4 wickets late in the innings as India looked to clear the boundary on every delivery. India finished their 50-over quota with a staggering 402 all out in 49.5 overs. This marked only the 8th time in ODI history that India breached the historic 400-run mark, matching South Africa’s world record for the most 400+ totals in ODI cricket.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 154 | 110 | 22 | 2 | 140.00 |
| Ishan Kishan | 125 | 79 | 14 | 7 | 158.23 |
| Rohit Sharma | 48 | 39 | 6 | 2 | 123.08 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 26 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 108.33 |
4. Key Performance Indicators & Tactical Analysis
SERIES SNAPSHOT (MID-SERIES)
[AFGHANISTAN] [INDIA]
* Top Gun: R. Gurbaz (102 off 48) * Top Gun: S. Gill (154 & 84*)
* Spin Asset: Rashid Khan (4 Wickets) * Fresh Blood: G. Brar (Debut 3-fer)
* Vulnerability: Tail-end collapses * Milestone: 8th 400+ ODI Team Total
The Evolution of Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill’s performances in this series highlight his growth as a versatile modern anchor. In the first match, under the pressure of a high required rate in a shortened game, he stayed calm and anchored the chase. In Lucknow, he switched gears flawlessly, scoring at a strike rate of 140 to register a mammoth 154. He also became the second-fastest batsman in cricket history to cross the 3,000-run milestone in ODI cricket.
Afghanistan’s Bowling Enigma
Afghanistan’s world-class bowling unit has encountered uncharacteristic issues. While Rashid Khan remains incredibly accurate and dangerous through the middle overs, the lack of consistent support from the fast-bowling department has left them exposed. Speedsters Bilal Sami and Mohammad Saleem struggled deeply on good batting surfaces, with Sami conceding 90 runs in his spell in Lucknow. Without early breakthroughs from the pacers, the spinners are forced into defensive roles rather than hunting for wickets.
5. Global Reactions & Expert Commentary
The explosive nature of the matches triggered a wave of reactions from cricketing legends, analysts, and fans worldwide.
The Experts’ Take
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra, speaking on his analysis show, lauded the flexibility of India’s next-generation batting lineup:
“Chasing down a target in a 25-over match requires an entirely different mindset compared to building an innings in a 50-over game. The way Shubman Gill adjusted his game across both matches proves he is ready to lead this ODI team for the next decade. And Ishan Kishan’s hitting in Lucknow? Absolutely brutal.”
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle took to social media to highlight the silver lining for Afghanistan despite their defeats:
“Yes, Afghanistan’s batting collapsed in Dharamshala, but let’s not overlook Rahmanullah Gurbaz. To score a century against an Indian attack in damp conditions in just 48 balls is pure genius. Afghanistan has the explosive talent; they just need structural discipline to handle 50 overs.”
Social Media Reactions
The cricketing community on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit exploded with memes and praise during the series. Gurbaz’s century was compared to classic legendary knocks, with fans hailing him as one of the most entertaining white-ball openers in modern cricket. Conversely, when India crossed the 400-run mark in Lucknow, cricket forums were flooded with praise for India’s scoring rate, with many observing that modern ODI cricket is increasingly playing out like an extended T20 fixture.
6. What Lies Ahead: The Path to Chennai
With India holding an unassailable lead in the series, the teams head next to the iconic M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai for the 3rd and final ODI.
Strategic Changes Expected
For India, the final match presents an ideal opportunity to test bench strength and give further exposure to younger prospects. Captain Shubman Gill might consider giving resting windows to a few senior pacers, allowing players like Nitish Kumar Reddy or Prasidh Krishna longer spells.
For Afghanistan, the Chennai fixture is a matter of immense pride. The “Chepauk” surface historically favors high-quality spin bowling. This gives Afghanistan’s star spin trio—Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and young Allah Ghazanfar—their best opportunity to exploit turning conditions, contain the roaring Indian batting unit, and head home with a historic victory on Indian soil.
Here are the frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the ongoing India vs Afghanistan ODI series:
1. Who won the matches in the series so far?
- 1st ODI (Dharamshala): India won by 7 wickets.
- 2nd ODI (Lucknow): India won by a massive margin after scoring 402 runs.
2. Why was the 1st ODI shortened to 25 overs?
The 1st ODI at Dharamshala was reduced to a 25-over-a-side match due to a persistent high-altitude drizzle and a four-hour weather delay.
3. Who scored centuries in this series?
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG): Scored a blistering 102 off 48 balls in the 1st ODI.
- Shubman Gill (IND): Smashed 154 runs off 110 balls in the 2nd ODI.
- Ishan Kishan (IND): Blasted 125 runs off 79 balls in the 2nd ODI.
4. What major records were broken during the 2nd ODI in Lucknow?
- Team Total: India crossed the 400-run mark for the 8th time in ODI history, matching South Africa’s world record for the most 400+ totals.
- Shubman Gill: He became the second-fastest batsman in cricket history to cross the 3,000-run milestone in ODI format.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Registered the fastest-ever ODI century by an Afghan batsman (in the 1st ODI).
5. Why is Virat Kohli not playing in this series?
Virat Kohli was ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury sustained during the domestic cricket season.
6. Where and when is the next match?
The 3rd and final ODI of the series will be played at the iconic M. A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai.
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