Shubman Gill continued his remarkable run in ODI cricket with a captain’s knock of 154 as India crushed Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second ODI in Lucknow on Wednesday. The comprehensive victory handed India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and marked Gill’s first ODI series win as captain since succeeding Rohit Sharma last year.
Leading from the front, Gill anchored India’s batting effort with a sublime 154 off 110 deliveries, helping the hosts post a daunting total of 402 in 49.5 overs after being asked to bat first. His innings combined elegance with authority and once again showcased why he is regarded as one of the brightest stars in world cricket.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes Gill’s outstanding form with the bat is also having a positive impact on his leadership.
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“When you’re not getting runs, you’re not confident about making those marginal moves that come from your gut feel, like holding back a bowler who has bowled well, giving him an extra over, or moving a fielder from a certain position. That gut feel is a lot stronger when you’re personally performing,” Sunil Gavaskar said on JioStar’s Cricket Live show.
India found themselves in a tricky position at 96/2 after the dismissal of Rohit Sharma, who scored a brisk 48. However, Gill and Ishan Kishan completely shifted the momentum with a breathtaking 224-run partnership that dismantled Afghanistan’s bowling attack.
While Kishan played an explosive innings of 125 from just 79 balls, Gill remained the anchor and aggressor in equal measure. The partnership effectively took the game away from Afghanistan and laid the foundation for India’s massive total.
The match also brought another major milestone for Gill. The 26-year-old became the fastest Indian batter to reach 3,000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in only 62 innings. He comfortably surpassed the previous Indian record of 72 innings, jointly held by Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer.
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Afghanistan never recovered during the chase as India’s bowlers maintained complete control. Emerging pacer Gurnoor Brar continued his impressive start to international cricket with three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh also claimed three scalps. Their efforts helped bundle Afghanistan out for 232 and seal a dominant victory.
India will now look to complete a clean sweep when they face Afghanistan in the third and final ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on June 20.
