Fresh off a comprehensive 7-wicket victory in a rain-curtailed opening match at Dharamshala, a confident Indian side moves to Lucknow to face Afghanistan in the 2nd ODI of the three-match series. Shubman Gill’s young squad will look to seal their first-ever bilateral ODI series against Afghanistan, while Hashmatullah Shahidi’s men are desperate to fix their top-order fragility and draw level.
Match Details
- Match: India (IND) vs Afghanistan (AFG), 2nd ODI
- Series: Afghanistan tour of India 2026
- Date: Tomorrow (Wednesday, June 17, 2026)
- Time: 1:30 PM LOCAL | 8:00 AM GMT
- Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Live Streaming & TV: JioHotstar & Star Sports Network
Match Preview
India Team Analysis
Led by Shubman Gill, who anchored the previous match perfectly with an unbeaten 84, India looks exceptionally balanced. Despite missing the veteran presence of Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya due to injuries, the top-order firing squad featuring Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan gives depth. Uncapped debutants like Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey stepped up beautifully in Dharamshala, claiming 3 wickets apiece. With local spin maestro Kuldeep Yadav likely to slot into the playing XI on a spin-friendly Lucknow surface, India’s bowling arsenal looks formidable.
Afghanistan Team Analysis
Afghanistan’s primary silver lining from the opening match was opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who blasted a sensational 102 off just 51 deliveries. However, a massive middle-order collapse meant the team failed to cross a competitive line. To challenge India at the Ekana Stadium, experienced stalwarts like Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi must anchor the innings. On the bowling front, premier wrist-spinner Rashid Khan alongside young sensation AM Ghazanfar will hold the keys on this track.
Pitch & Weather Report
Pitch Assessment (Ekana Stadium, Lucknow)
The pitch at the Ekana Cricket Stadium is historically known for its multi-layered character. While recent renovations have added bounce, it remains a traditional black-soil track that offers massive assistance to slow bowlers and spinners as the match wears on.
- Toss Factor: Captain winning the toss would likely look to bat first, put up a decent total above 260, and let the spinners strangle the opposition under lights.
Weather Update
The forecast for Lucknow is sunny and hot, with temperatures hovering around mid-day high zones typical of mid-June. There is a 0% chance of rain precipitation, giving fans a guaranteed full 50-over contest.
Probable Playing XIs
India
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar / Harsh Dubey.
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem Safi.
IND vs AFG Dream11 Fantasy Picks
- Top Captaincy Picks:
- Shubman Gill (IND): Currently in red-hot form (scored 126 in the one-off Test and 84* in the 1st ODI). He anchors long innings exceptionally well.
- Rashid Khan (AFG): On a turning Lucknow pitch, Rashid is a lethal weapon capable of picking multi-wicket hauls while chipping in lower-order runs.
- Top Vice-Captaincy Picks:
- Kuldeep Yadav (IND): Playing on his home turf in Lucknow, his left-arm chinaman variations are going to be tough for Afghan batters to decode.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG): High-risk, high-reward option. Coming fresh off a blistering century, his explosive intent can grab massive powerplay points.
Suggested Dream11 Team (Head-to-Head / Small Leagues)
- Wicketkeepers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, KL Rahul
- Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Ibrahim Zadran
- All-rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai, Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Bowlers: Rashid Khan (VC), Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, AM Ghazanfar
Match Prediction
With Google’s live win probability standing heavily at 87.2% for India, the hosts enter as overwhelming favorites. Afghanistan’s heavy reliance on Gurbaz and their struggles against multi-dimensional Indian variations give India a clear edge to win tomorrow’s clash and secure the series 2-0.
