India, led by Shubman Gill took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series after a convincing seven-wicket win in the rain-shortened opener against Afghanistan in Dharamsala on Saturday, June 13. A victory in Lucknow will help the hosts clinch the series, while Afghanistan must win to stay alive in the contest.
India dominated the first ODI with strong performances from both their bowlers and batters. They will look to maintain their momentum and secure the series under the challenging heat in Lucknow. Meanwhile, Afghanistan need a better all-round batting display in the second ODI to support their key players.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Match Details
The second ODI match of the bilateral series between India and Afghanistan will take place on Wednesday, June 17. The upcoming encounter will be hosted at the spectacular Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The match will begin at a 1:30 PM start under hot conditions.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Pitch & Weather Report
The pitch at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. The surface has generally helped bowlers, especially spinners, with the average first-innings score at 213.
The weather forecast is clear, with no rain expected during the match. Temperatures could reach 40-41°C in the afternoon before dropping to 37-39°C in the evening. The hot conditions are likely to test both teams throughout the game.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Head-to-Head Record
India remain unbeaten against Afghanistan in ODI cricket. The two teams have met five times in the format, with India winning four matches and one match ending in a tie during the 2018 Asia Cup in Dubai.
India strengthened their record with a seven-wicket victory in the first ODI of the ongoing series in Dharamshala and will look to continue their dominance in Lucknow.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Playing XI [Predicted]
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Bilal Sami, Allah Ghazanfar
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Toss Prediction
Teams have enjoyed slightly better success while chasing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Of the nine ODIs played at the venue, teams batting second have won five matches. The captain winning the toss is likely to choose to bowl first.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Score Prediction
If Afghanistan bat first, a total between 210 and 230 could keep them in the contest on a surface that generally helps bowlers. If India bat first, they will aim for a score of around 260 or more, which could prove challenging to chase at this venue.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Key Players to Watch
India
Shubman Gill – The Indian captain is in excellent form and scored an unbeaten 84 in the first ODI.
KL Rahul – Rahul provides stability in the middle order and can accelerate the scoring rate when needed.
Gurnoor Brar – The young pacer impressed on debut with three wickets and could trouble Afghanistan again with his bounce and pace.
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz – The wicketkeeper-batter smashed a brilliant century in the series opener and remains Afghanistan’s biggest batting threat.
Ibrahim Zadran – The top-order batter has been one of Afghanistan’s most consistent ODI performers in recent matches.
Rashid Khan – Afghanistan’s star spinner can change the game with his wicket-taking ability and control in the middle overs.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Best Batsman Prediction
India
Shubman Gill is the favorite to finish as India’s highest run-scorer in the second ODI. The captain has been in excellent form and scored an unbeaten 84 in the first match. His ability to handle spin makes him a key batter on the Lucknow surface.
Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran is expected to be Afghanistan’s top scorer. He has been one of their most consistent batters in ODI cricket, scoring 430 runs at an average of 61.43 in his last seven matches.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Best Bowler Prediction
India
Harsh Dubey is the leading contender to finish as India’s best bowler. The left-arm spinner could benefit from the slow surface and will look to trouble Afghanistan’s batters with his variations.
Afghanistan
Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s biggest bowling threat. The leg-spinner can extract turn and bounce from the pitch and will play a crucial role in the middle overs.
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Winning Probability
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India: 80%
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Afghanistan: 20%
India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Match Prediction: Expert Verdict
India are favorites to win the second ODI and seal the series in Lucknow. The hosts have looked stronger in both batting and bowling, while Afghanistan need a much better all-round display to level the series.