After a rain-affected seven-wicket victory in the first ODI at Dharamsala, India entered the second match of the three-game series with an opportunity to seal the rubber. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit any early movement on a pitch that had previously favoured bowlers.[reference:0]

India made one change to their lineup, handing a debut to fast bowler Prince Yadav.[reference:1] Afghanistan, meanwhile, had Rashid Khan back in the side — a significant boost given his five wickets in three previous ODIs against India.

The stage was set for a contest that would ultimately showcase India’s batting depth and intent.

India’s innings began with a minor hiccup. Yashasvi Jaiswal, promoted to open alongside Rohit Sharma to build bench strength ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, fell early for just 4 runs.[reference:2]

But Rohit Sharma, who had battled fitness concerns in the lead-up to this series, looked in sublime touch.[reference:3] He struck six fours and two sixes in his 39-ball 48, racing to 80 runs inside the Powerplay alongside Gill.[reference:4] Just as he appeared destined for a half-century, Rashid Khan produced a moment of brilliance — a leg-break that turned just enough to go through Rohit’s defence.[reference:5]

Rohit’s reaction said it all. He walked off visibly dejected, falling just two runs short of what would have been his 62nd ODI half-century.[reference:6] But his aggressive approach had already laid the perfect platform for the middle overs assault.

When Rohit Sharma fell in the 14th over, India were 96/2.[reference:7] The stage was set for captain Shubman Gill, who had walked in at No. 3 after Jaiswal’s early dismissal.

Gill had already announced his arrival with a majestic drive off his second delivery against AM Ghazanfar.[reference:8] He matched Rohit’s scoring tempo during the Powerplay, then took complete control after his senior partner’s departure.[reference:9]

He brought up his half-century with a six, and never looked back.[reference:10] The 26-year-old reached his ninth ODI century in just 77 balls — his first as India’s ODI captain.[reference:11] The knock was laced with 12 fours and two sixes, a blend of elegant drives, powerful pulls, and calculated aggression.[reference:12]

Gill continued to pile on the runs even as Afghanistan’s spinners tightened their lines. He allowed Kishan to assume the aggressor’s role when needed, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries. He eventually finished on 154 off 110 balls, an innings that will be remembered as the cornerstone of India’s mammoth total.[reference:13]

Recalled to the ODI side after an impressive T20 season that included the World Cup and IPL 2026, Ishan Kishan walked in at No. 4 with a point to prove.[reference:15]

He started cautiously, reaching his half-century in 51 deliveries.[reference:16] But then, he shifted gears spectacularly. From 51 off 53 balls, he needed only 22 more deliveries to complete his hundred, smashing nine boundaries and two sixes during that phase.[reference:17]

It was his second career ODI ton and first since that record double century in December 2022 against Bangladesh in Chattogram.[reference:18] The century was a statement — a reminder that the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter remains a serious contender for a permanent spot in India’s ODI setup. He finished with 125 off 105 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes.

Gill and Kishan added 224 runs for the third wicket, carrying India past the 300-run mark in just 35.5 overs.[reference:19] Their partnership was a study in contrast — Gill the anchor, Kishan the aggressor — yet they complemented each other perfectly.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, AM Ghazanfar, and Rashid Khan all came under attack as the duo dismantled Afghanistan’s bowling attack.[reference:20] The pair punished anything loose and rotated strike effortlessly, keeping the scoreboard moving at a relentless pace.[reference:21]

The partnership produced a unique record: it was the first time two Indian batters had scored ODI centuries in 80 balls or fewer in the same innings, and only the eighth such instance overall in ODI cricket.[reference:22]

Ishan Kishan’s century could not have come at a better time. With KL Rahul also in the squad and Rishabh Pant absent from this series, the wicketkeeper-batter position has been a subject of intense debate.[reference:30]

Kishan’s 125 off 105 balls — his first ODI hundred since December 2022 — is a powerful statement. He has been in impressive form across T20s, including the World Cup and IPL 2026.[reference:31] This innings will likely cement his place at No. 4 for the foreseeable future.

For India, having multiple wicketkeeping options in form is a luxury. But for Kishan, this knock was about more than just runs — it was about reminding the selectors that he belongs at the highest level.

With India posting a mammoth 357/3, Afghanistan face a daunting task in their chase. The visitors will need to produce something extraordinary to level the series. The third ODI is scheduled for June 20 in Chennai, where India will look to complete a clean sweep.

For Gill and Kishan, this partnership will be remembered as one of the defining moments of India’s 2026 ODI season. For Afghanistan, it’s a reminder of the gulf in batting depth between the two sides.