
Match: IND vs AFG · 2nd ODI
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Venue: Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Start Time(IST): 1:30 PM IST
Toss: 1:00 PM IST (30 min before)
Series: Afghanistan Tour of India 2026
India and Afghanistan are back on the field for the second ODI of their three-match series. After a thrilling first game in Dharamsala, both teams now travel to Lucknow for this important clash at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. India lead the series 1-0 and want to seal it here. Afghanistan, on the other hand, need a much stronger team effort to stay alive in the contest.
This match is big for both sides. For India, it is a chance to wrap up the series and test their bench strength with the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind. For Afghanistan, it is a must-win game – one more defeat and the series is gone.
| Team | Series Score | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | Lead 1 – 0 | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | Trail 0 – 1 | 🇮🇳 India |
India won the first ODI by seven wickets in Dharamsala. Captain Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 84 to lead the successful run-chase of 195. Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a stunning century off just 51 balls – but got almost no support from the rest of the batting lineup. India’s spinner Harsh Dubey was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets. India were brilliant in all three departments and now head to Lucknow as clear favourites.
India are not expected to change their playing XI for this game. The team that won in Dharamsala worked well, and the management is unlikely to fix what is not broken – though Yashasvi Jaiswal could come in later in the series. Afghanistan will look to bring in better batting options and fix their middle-order collapse from the first ODI.
| # | 🇮🇳 India (Probable XI) | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan (Probable XI) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill (C) | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK) |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | Ibrahim Zadran |
| 3 | Ishan Kishan (WK) | Sediqullah Atal |
| 4 | Shreyas Iyer (VC) | Rahmat Shah |
| 5 | KL Rahul | Hashmatullah Shahidi (C) |
| 6 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | Mohammad Nabi |
| 7 | Washington Sundar | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| 8 | Harsh Dubey | Rashid Khan |
| 9 | Arshdeep Singh | Nangeyalia Kharoti |
| 10 | Prasidh Krishna | Bilal Sami |
| 11 | Gurnoor Brar | Allah Ghazanfar |
| 🇮🇳 India Squad | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan Squad |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (C) | Hashmatullah Shahidi (C) |
| Rohit Sharma | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK) |
| Ishan Kishan (WK) | Ibrahim Zadran |
| Shreyas Iyer (VC) | Sediqullah Atal |
| KL Rahul | Rahmat Shah |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Mohammad Nabi |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Washington Sundar | Rashid Khan |
| Harsh Dubey | Allah Ghazanfar |
| Arshdeep Singh | Nangeyalia Kharoti |
| Prasidh Krishna | Bilal Sami |
| Gurnoor Brar | Fazalhaq Farooqi |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Naveen ul Haq |
| Prince Yadav | Mujeeb-ur-Rahman |
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is a large venue with a capacity of around 50,000 fans. It is the home ground of the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. The pitch here is different from many other Indian grounds – it is not a flat run-fest.
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced – helps spinners as game progresses |
| Avg 1st Innings Score (ODI) | ~213 runs |
| Toss Advantage | Chasing team wins more often (5 out of 9 ODIs) |
| Spin Factor | High – surface turns and slows down later |
| Pace Factor | Moderate early movement with the new ball |
| Expected Good Score | 210–230 if batting first |
The surface generally slows down as the match goes on. Batters need to spend time at the crease before going after the bowling. Spinners often enjoy good conditions in the second half of both innings. A team scoring 220+ here has a solid chance of defending it.
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Expected Temperature | 40–41°C (afternoon) |
| Sky Condition | Sunny and hot |
| Rain Chance | Very low – no rain forecast |
| Humidity | Moderate |
| Match Result | Full 50-over match expected |
Lucknow in June is extremely hot. The afternoon heat at 40+ degrees will put a lot of pressure on fielding sides. Both teams’ fitness and hydration levels will be tested. There is no rain in the forecast, so fans can expect a full game without interruptions.
Toss Note: At the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, teams batting second have won 5 out of 9 ODIs. Both captains are likely to prefer chasing in the afternoon heat. The team that wins the toss is expected to bowl first.
🇮🇳 India
The India captain scored an unbeaten 84 in the first ODI while chasing. He is in top form and is the top run scorer of the series so far.
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
Smashed a stunning century off 51 balls in the first ODI. He is Afghanistan’s biggest weapon with the bat and can change the game in any session.
🇮🇳 India
The spinner took 3 wickets in the first ODI and is the top wicket-taker in the series. Lucknow’s spin-friendly surface is perfect for him.
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s most dangerous bowler. His leg spin can turn the match on any surface. He will be Afghanistan’s go-to bowler in the middle overs.
🇮🇳 India
Currently the best batter in the Indian lineup in terms of current form. Plays at No. 5 but his innings can change the shape of any game.
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
A young mystery spinner who can be hard to read. On a Lucknow surface that supports spin, he can pick up crucial wickets in the middle overs.
| Factor | 🇮🇳 India | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan |
|---|---|---|
| Recent Form | Won 1st ODI by 7 wickets | Lost 1st ODI |
| Home Advantage | ✅ Strong | ❌ Away side |
| Batting Depth | Very deep (7 batters) | Dependent on top 3 |
| Bowling Attack | Pace + Spin balanced | Rashid Khan key |
| Spin on Pitch | Dubey, Washington, Kuldeep | Rashid, Nabi, Ghazanfar |
| Toss Advantage | Slight edge | — |
| Top Scorer (Series) | Gill – 84 runs | Gurbaz – 102 runs |
| Top Wicket-Taker | Dubey – 3 wickets | Rashid – 1 wicket |
| Winning Chance | 🟢 ~75% | 🟡 ~25% |
India are the stronger side on paper and at home. They have a balanced attack, a deep batting lineup, and the pitch suits their spinners well. Afghanistan rely heavily on Gurbaz at the top, and if India keep him quiet, the contest is unlikely to go deep. Shubman Gill is also in brilliant form and looks like a 50+ score is on the cards again. Cricbites predict India will win this match by 6+ wickets or 30+ runs depending on who bats first.
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network / Hotstar (OTT) |
| UK | Sky Sports Cricket |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV |
| Afghanistan | Ariana TV / Lemar TV |