Armed with a 1-0 lead, India will look to seal the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the second game when the teams take the field at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The series opener in Dharamsala was heavily affected by rain, but the two sides still managed to produce an entertaining contest, with India registering an impressive seven-wicket victory.
Before the series began, India ODI captain Shubman Gill had indicated that the team would experiment with different combinations as it begins the process of building a balanced squad for the 2027 World Cup.
That raises an important question: Will India make changes for the second ODI?
Conventional wisdom suggests sticking with a winning combination. However, given that this is a bilateral series and with a larger objective in mind, the hosts may be tempted to test a few different options.
In the first ODI, India left Kuldeep Yadav out and handed a debut to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, who impressed with figures of 3/47 from five overs.
Kuldeep’s form has come under scrutiny following a modest IPL campaign with the Delhi Capitals and the lack of rhythm he showed during the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur where debutant Manav Suthar, a left-arm spinner, picked up a five-wicket haul. However, the 31-year-old remains a proven performer in the ODI format, and his effectiveness in the middle overs continues to be a valuable asset.
Rohit’s Minor Injury Scare
Rohit Sharma had brushed aside fitness concerns in the lead-up to the series, only to face another injury scare in the opening ODI. During his brief stay at the crease, the former captain was struck on the wrist while batting and required treatment on the field.
Although Rohit resumed batting after the blow before being run out, the 39-year-old appeared to be in some discomfort, raising doubts about his availability for the Lucknow ODI.
If the team management decides to rest him, Yashasvi Jaiswal could come into contention. The young batter’s limited ODI appearances have all come as an injury replacement, and in his most recent outing under such circumstances, he scored an unbeaten century.
India also handed an international debut to fast bowler Gurnoor Brar in Mullanpur, and he made an immediate impact with a three-wicket haul on a batting-friendly surface.
Following the first ODI, only one uncapped player remains in India’s squad: Prince Yadav, who enjoyed an impressive IPL 2026 campaign.
Will he become the third Indian player to make his debut during the ongoing series? If so, who makes way for him? It could come down to a choice between Prasidh Krishna, who went wicketless in his five overs in the opener, and Brar.
India’s Probable XI for the 2nd ODI
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma/Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna/Prince Yadav.
