India sealed a comprehensive 170-run victory over Afghanistan in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series - their first ODI series triumph against Afghanistan. The win was built on a breathtaking batting performance that produced 402 runs, followed by disciplined bowling that reduced Afghanistan to 232 all out in 44.3 overs.
Gill and Kishan Put on a Batting Masterclass
Shubman Gill was the centrepiece of India's innings, hammering a record-breaking 154 off 110 balls - his ninth ODI hundred and his first against Afghanistan - laced with 22 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 140. The captain led by example at the top of the order, setting the platform with calculated aggression before the innings accelerated into something truly exceptional. Ishan Kishan then took that template and pushed it to another dimension entirely, blazing 125 off just 79 balls - his second ODI century and first against Afghanistan - featuring 14 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 158.22. It is worth noting that fans who typically follow winter sports and bet on biathlon online would have found themselves glued to the cricket feed as these two batters turned the contest into a one-sided spectacle from the very first session. Rohit Sharma provided a brisk start at the top, contributing 48 off 39 balls - including 6 fours and 2 sixes - before falling agonisingly two runs short of a half-century. Shreyas Iyer added 26 off 24 balls and Washington Sundar chipped in with a composed 19 off 19 deliveries as India posted 402 all out in 49.5 overs.
Afghanistan's Bowlers Struggle Against an Unstoppable Tide
Nangeyalia Kharote was the most successful Afghanistan bowler with 4 wickets for 76 runs in his full allocation of 10 overs, showing skill and persistence against a batting lineup in full flow. Rashid Khan - one of the most dangerous limited-overs bowlers in world cricket - picked up 3 wickets for 48 runs in 8 overs, but even he could not stem the tide on this occasion. AM Ghazanfar and Mohammad Saleem each took a wicket, but Afghanistan's collective bowling effort was always battling against the odds after Gill and Kishan had dismantled the attack in the middle overs.
India's Bowlers Seal the Win Without Drama
Chasing 403 was always going to be an enormous ask, and Afghanistan never genuinely threatened the target. Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave the chase brief early momentum with 41 off 33 balls, striking at 124.24 with 7 fours and a six, but the wickets column told the real story. Rahmat Shah top-scored with a patient 79 off 89 balls - 8 fours - providing some resistance in the middle order, and Sediqullah Atal contributed 42 off 50 balls. Ibrahim Zadran managed 21 off 31 balls before Afghanistan were bowled out for 232 in 44.3 overs. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of India's attack, claiming 3 wickets for 45 runs in 9 disciplined overs, while Gurnoor Brar - still building his international credentials - also took three wickets, reinforcing his growing importance to India's bowling plans. Prince Yadav took two wickets and Washington Sundar contributed one to wrap up the innings comprehensively.
Milestone Win and What It Means for India
Gill was named Player of the Match for his commanding captain's innings - a knock that combined technical precision with explosive intent across 110 deliveries. The series result carries historical weight: India had never won an ODI series against Afghanistan before this campaign. The scale of both victories underlines the gap that currently exists between the two nations in 50-over cricket, even if Afghanistan's batting briefly flattered their total in the second innings. For India's management, the performances of Kishan - who answered questions about his form emphatically - and the emerging Gurnoor Brar will be particularly encouraging as the team continues to shape its ODI squad. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will take some heart from Rahmat Shah's combative innings, but the series offered a sobering measure of where they stand against the game's top sides in this format.
