India, led by Shubman Gill, will take on Afghanistan in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, June 17.
The Men in Blue have taken a comfortable 1-0 lead after registering a comprehensive seven-wicket win in the rain-interrupted opening match in Dharamshala. For Afghanistan, it is important to win the upcoming game to keep the series alive.
India’s bowling attack stopped the visitors from chasing the target with ease. Afghanistan, however, will take confidence from Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s brilliant century. The visitors will need a strong collective batting effort to challenge a disciplined Indian team in the second ODI.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Match Details
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match: India vs Afghanistan, 2nd ODI
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series: India tour of Afghanistan 2026
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date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
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Time: 1:30 PM IST
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venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Team News
Captain Shubman Gill continued his excellent form and scored unbeaten 84 runs.While Rohit Sharma is expected to remain at the top order. KL Rahul will play an important role in the middle order and will try to improve the innings.
There is no major injury concern in the Indian camp. Virat Kohli is unavailable as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, while Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the series. It is expected that the rest of the team will be available for selection.
Afghanistan need a much stronger team performance after the middle-order collapse in Dharamsala. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s brilliant century was a big positive, but the visitors failed to build a partnership around him.
Ibrahim Zadran remains a key player at the top of the order, having scored 430 runs at an average of 61.43 in his last seven ODIs. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi needs to perform well in the middle order.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Playing XI [Predicted]
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Umarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Allah Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Pitch Report
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is known for producing balanced pitches that often help the bowlers, especially as the match progresses. Batsmen generally need time to settle down, as the surface can be slow and provide some grip for spinners.
Teams that bowl a disciplined line and use variations effectively have had success at this venue. Spinners and slow bowlers are likely to play a key role, especially during the middle overs. A score around 260-280 could prove to be a competitive score at the venue.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI weather report
The weather forecast for Lucknow suggests hot and dry conditions throughout the match. Temperatures are expected to range between 38°C and 41°C during playing hours, with clear skies and plenty of sunshine.
There is no significant chance of rain and the full 50 overs match is expected. Players will have to deal with the scorching heat during the afternoon and evening.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Head-to-Head Record
India have dominated Afghanistan in ODI cricket and are unbeaten against them in this format. Both the teams have clashed five times, out of which India has won four matches and one match has been tied.
The match ended in a thrilling tie during the 2018 Asia Cup in Dubai. India strengthened their record with a seven-wicket win in the first ODI of the ongoing series and will look to clinch another series win in Lucknow.
Key battles to watch in India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI
Shubman Gill vs Azmatullah Omarzai
Shubman Gill, who reached Lucknow after scoring unbeaten 84 runs in the first ODI, remains the biggest batting threat for India. Azmatullah Umarzai can swing the new ball and will try to dismiss the Indian captain early.
Rehmanullah Gurbaz vs Arshdeep Singh
Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a brilliant century in the series opener and will look to give Afghanistan another great start. Arshdeep Singh’s ability to swing the new ball makes him a big threat in the powerplay.
KL Rahul vs Rashid Khan
KL Rahul has been one of India’s most reliable middle-order batsmen in ODI cricket. Meanwhile, Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s most dangerous bowler and has the best chance of breaking the partnership.
Players to watch in India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI
India
Shubman Gill
The Indian captain is in great form and is continuously scoring runs in ODI cricket. Gill will once again be India’s leading batsman after his match-winning innings in Dharamsala.
KL Rahul
Rahul remains the backbone of India’s middle order. His ability to build innings and accelerate when needed makes him one of the most important players in the lineup.
Gurnoor Brar
The young fast bowler made a brilliant ODI debut by taking three wickets in the first match. His extra bounce and pace could trouble Afghanistan’s batsmen again in Lucknow.
afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
The wicketkeeper-batsman gave an excellent performance for Afghanistan with a brilliant century in the first ODI. His aggressive attitude can put any bowling attack under pressure.
ibrahim zadran
Ibrahim provides stability at the top of the order and has been one of Afghanistan’s most consistent ODI batsmen. The audience will need a bigger contribution from him.
Rashid Khan
Rashid remains Afghanistan’s biggest match winner. His ability to take wickets and control the run rate makes him an important player, especially on a surface that is expected to favor spin.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Free Live Streaming and Broadcast Details
Fans can watch the live telecast of the 2nd ODI on Star Sports Network channels in India. Fans can watch the match live online on JioHotstar app and website with an active subscription.
The live telecast will start before the toss, which is scheduled at 1:00 PM IST, while the match will start at 1:30 PM IST in Lucknow.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Match Prediction
After a spectacular win in the series opener, India will go into the second ODI as clear favourites. The Shubman Gill-led hosts have a strong batting lineup and a quality bowling attack.
Afghanistan have several match-winners including Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan, but they need better all-round performances to challenge India. Given the current form and domestic conditions, India have the upper hand.