Captain Shubman Gill battled intense heat and cramps to produce a masterful 154, while the increasingly confident Ishan Kishan struck a statement century as India registered a dominant 170-run win over Afghanistan in the second ODI on Wednesday to seal the series.
India have now taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Afghanistan’s decision to bowl first under the scorching afternoon sun backfired as Gill and Kishan, who brought up their second ODI hundred in his comeback series, powered India to a formidable 402.
The conditions were extremely demanding throughout, with several players struggling with cramps. Gill himself batted with an ice collar and did not return to the field after his dismissal.
Gill and Kishan put the Afghan
bowlers to the sword with a blistering 224-run stand for the third wicket off just 141 deliveries, effectively taking the game away from the opposition.
Chasing over 400 was always a daunting task for Afghanistan, who were also searching for their first-ever win over India in any format. They were eventually bowled out for 232 in 44.3 overs despite Rahmat Shah’s fighting 79.
None of the Afghan batters showed the urgency required. While several top and middle-order players got starts, they failed to convert them into big scores.
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (41) and Ibrahim Zadran (21) failed to provide the desired start. Gurbaz even survived briefly after being caught off a no-ball before falling 11 deliveries later to Gurnoor Brar.
Darwish Rasooli, who had earlier been stretchered off, came out to bat but soon retired hurt due to a hamstring injury.
Debutant Prince Yadav (2/56) picked up his maiden ODI wicket by rattling Nangeyalia Kharote’s stumps and later dismissed Rahmat. Arshdeep Singh (3/45) and Brar (3/60) also impressed, while Kuldeep Yadav went wicketless.
Earlier, India continued their experimentation ahead of next year’s World Cup, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) opening alongside Rohit Sharma (48), and Gill dropping to No. 3.
Jaiswal fell early, while Rohit looked in fine touch before being undone by a Rashid Khan googly.
Gill was flawless, blending precision with elegance and making batting look effortless despite the heat. He reached his ninth ODI century with authority.
Kishan provided solid support before shifting gears after his fifty. The left-hander, whose confidence has grown in recent months, registered his second ODI century, his first since the double hundred against Bangladesh in December 2022.
His innings was packed with power, including clean pulls and audacious one-handed sixes.
The heat began to take a toll on Gill as he approached his hundred, requiring treatment on his back. Despite cramps and visible exhaustion, he carried on with remarkable resolve.
His dismissal, however, triggered a collapse as India lost seven wickets in the final 10 overs.
Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote (4/76) led Afghanistan’s late fightback, while Rashid Khan picked up three wickets.
(With PTI Inputs)
