Shubman Gill joins Virat Kohli in Elite List as India thrash Afghanistan to win ODI Series

In a commanding display of batting firepower, India thrashed Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second ODI at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium on Wednesday, clinching the three-match series with a game to spare.

This victory marked skipper Shubman Gill’s first series win as India’s ODI captain, underscoring his growing leadership and batting prowess.

Opting to bat first after losing the toss, India posted a mammoth 402 all out in 49.5 overs. Gill led from the front with a gritty yet fluent 154 off 110 balls, his third century in just 20 days across formats. The knock, featuring elegant drives and precise placement, combined composure with aggression. He formed a record-breaking 274-run partnership for the second wicket with Ishan Kishan, who blasted a whirlwind 125 off 79 balls. Rohit Sharma provided a solid start with 48, setting the tone for a total that overwhelmed the visitors.

Afghanistan’s chase never gained momentum despite a fighting 79 from Rahmat Shah. The visitors folded for 232 in 44.3 overs. Debutant pacer Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar (3/60) starred with the ball, while Gill’s men maintained tight lines and sharp fielding, including a stunning diving catch.

Shubman Gill joins Virat Kohli

Gill’s form has been exceptional. Coming off a century in the preceding Test and strong IPL performances, the Punjab opener continues to cement his place as one of India’s premier white-ball batters. The India captain’s excellent century earned him the player of the match award, and with that, Gill has his POTM tally to 9 in ODIs since January 2022, the joint most in this period of time along with Virat Kohli. Along with that, Gill also won the first bilateral series as India’s ODI captain in his third attempt.