India and Afghanistan return to action on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, for the second match of their historic three-game ODI series, this time at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. With India already 1-0 up after a comprehensive seven-wicket win in the rain-curtailed series opener in Dharamsala, the hosts will be looking to wrap up the series with a game to spare, while Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghan side face a virtual must-win situation to keep the contest alive. The match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 PM IST, with the toss taking place thirty minutes earlier.
A Look Back at the Dharamsala Opener
The series got off to a dramatic start when persistent rain delayed the first ODI by more than four hours, forcing officials to reduce the contest to a 25-overs-a-side affair. Once play finally got underway, Afghanistan’s innings was built almost entirely around an extraordinary knock from wicketkeeper-opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who blazed his way to 102 off just 51 balls, the fastest century by any Afghan batter in ODI history and his ninth hundred in the format. Despite his heroics, the rest of the Afghan batting unit struggled to make a similar impact, and the side was eventually bowled out for 194 in 24.5 overs. ODI debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey both claimed three wickets apiece on their first outing in India colours, while Arshdeep Singh chipped in with two scalps to peg back the visitors after a promising start from Gurbaz.
Chasing 195 for victory, India suffered an early setback when Rohit Sharma was run out for 16, but captain Shubman Gill anchored the innings beautifully, finishing unbeaten on 84 off 66 balls and sharing useful partnerships first with Ishan Kishan (34) and then with KL Rahul, who finished the game off with an unbeaten 39 off just 19 deliveries. India completed the chase with 13 balls to spare, sealing a seven-wicket win and a 1-0 series lead. Gill’s knock also saw him become the second-fastest batter in history to reach the 3,000-run mark in ODI cricket, while he was deservedly named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution. With most of India’s frontline batters not getting extended time at the crease due to the shortened format, the management is unlikely to tinker much with a winning combination heading into Lucknow, barring any conditions-based adjustments.
Why Lucknow Matters for Both Sides
The shift from the cool, overcast conditions of Dharamsala to the searing heat of Uttar Pradesh marks a complete change in scenery for both teams. Temperatures in Lucknow are expected to hover around 39 degrees Celsius during the afternoon session, dropping to about 33 degrees by the time the game moves into its night phase, with no threat of rain disrupting play this time. The conditions are expected to closely resemble those the teams experienced during their recent assignment in New Chandigarh, hot, dry, and physically demanding for fast bowlers in particular.
The Ekana Cricket Stadium itself is no stranger to international cricket, having hosted matches across formats including the 2023 ODI World Cup, but this will only be India’s third ODI at the venue, compared to Afghanistan’s fourth. The surface is generally described as a mixed-soil pitch that historically offers a fairly even contest between bat and ball, with no overwhelming toss advantage recorded across previous fixtures at the ground. That said, teams chasing have enjoyed marginally greater success here, having won five of the nine ODIs played at the venue. Given this trend, most analysts expect the toss-winning captain to elect to field first, with a target in the range of 210 to 230 likely to keep a side competitive if batting first, while a score of 260-plus would be considered a strong total to defend.
Squad Watch: India
India head into the contest with a settled core but a few selection conversations brewing, particularly around their spin-bowling combination. Kuldeep Yadav, who missed the series opener with Harsh Dubey preferred in his place, could come into contention if conditions in Lucknow turn out to favour wrist-spin more than the surface in Dharamsala did. India’s spin-bowling coach has indicated that team management wants to assess the pitch closely before finalising their final combination, acknowledging that the much hotter conditions in Lucknow add another layer to that decision.
The likely top order remains unchanged, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening the innings, followed by Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul anchoring the middle order at number five. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are expected to continue in their all-round roles, offering balance with both bat and ball, while youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal may have to wait a little longer for his opportunity given the form of those ahead of him. On the pace front, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Prasidh Krishna remain the frontline options, with Prince Yadav also part of the squad as backup. Shreyas Iyer comes into the match just eleven runs short of the 3,000-run landmark in ODIs, while Ishan Kishan is 33 runs away from his first 1,000 ODI runs, both personal milestones that add extra interest to the contest.
Squad Watch: Afghanistan
For Afghanistan, the result in Dharamsala will sting given how well Gurbaz set the platform, only for the middle order to fail to capitalise. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi will be hoping for a more rounded batting performance this time, with senior campaigners Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran, and the experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi expected to share more of the run-scoring burden. Rashid Khan remains the side’s primary spin threat and was among the better performers with the ball in the first match, while Azmatullah Omarzai continues to offer control with the new ball and depth with the bat.
Afghanistan have also freshened up their squad with the inclusion of pacer Ziaur Rahman, who debuted in Dharamsala, and Mohammad Saleem, who was added to the group following a strong showing in a recent first-class fixture. With searing heat and a pitch that traditionally rewards disciplined bowling more than raw pace, Afghanistan’s variety of spin options, including the leg-spin of Rashid Khan and the off-spin of AM Ghazanfar, could play a decisive role in how they look to restrict India’s powerful batting line-up.
Head-to-Head and Key Storylines
Historically, Afghanistan have found India a tough nut to crack in ODI cricket, having faced them on five previous occasions without a win, their best result being a tie during the 2018 Asia Cup in Dubai. That lopsided record adds further motivation for Afghanistan to produce a complete performance and avoid falling 2-0 behind with one match to play. For India, the priority is to maintain the momentum from Dharamsala and wrap up the series early, allowing the team management room to experiment with combinations in the series finale.
Individual battles to watch include Gurbaz’s continued aggressive intent against the new ball, where India’s pace bowlers will look to strike early and avoid a repeat of his Dharamsala onslaught, and the contest between Rashid Khan’s variations and India’s middle order, which has generally handled spin well but will be tested on a pitch that could offer turn as the match progresses. The performance of debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey will also be closely watched, as both impressed in patches during the opener and will want to back that up with a longer 50-over outing this time.
What to Expect
With no rain in the forecast and a track that historically rewards sides batting second, the second ODI promises a more conventional, full-length contest compared to the rain-truncated opener. Whichever side wins the toss will likely opt to field first, banking on dew and cooler evening conditions to assist their chase. For India, a win here would not only secure the series with a match to spare but also continue building depth ahead of bigger assignments later in the year. For Afghanistan, anything short of a win effectively ends their hopes of squaring the series, making this an must-watch afternoon-into-evening contest at one of India’s most picturesque modern cricket venues.
Stay tuned for live score updates, ball-by-ball commentary, and the full scorecard from the Ekana Cricket Stadium as the action unfolds through the day.
