On a sweltering Wednesday in Lucknow, India, centuries from star batters Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan delivered a commanding 170-run victory over Afghanistan in the second One-Day International, securing an unassailable lead in the three-match bilateral series. Afghanistan won the pre-match coin toss and made the decision to send India in to bat first, a choice that would quickly backfire against the hosts’ in-form top order. India made three changes to its starting lineup from the rain-shortened opening ODI in Dharamsala, which India had already won by seven wickets, and opened the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma. Jaiswal failed to capitalize on his starting opportunity, departing after scoring just four runs, but Sharma anchored the early innings, notching 48 runs off 39 deliveries and building an 87-run second-wicket partnership with Gill. When star Afghan spinner Rashid Khan clean-bowled Sharma in the 14th over, Gill and Kishan joined forces at the crease and turned a solid start into a historic batting onslaught. The pair compiled a staggering 224 runs for the third wicket from only 140 deliveries, with each batter reaching the triple-figure mark. Gill notched his ninth career ODI century, while Kishan claimed his second ODI hundred — his first on home soil, and his first since December 2022. The pair traded aggressive phases throughout their partnership: Gill raced to his half-century from 38 balls, while Kishan reached the same milestone from 52 deliveries, before Kishan accelerated dramatically, hitting his second 50 from only 19 balls to Gill’s 39. Kishan finished with 125 runs off 79 balls, hammering 14 fours and seven sixes before he was caught at midwicket while attacking left-arm spinner Nangyal Kharoti in the 37th over. Kharoti would also remove Gill, but not before the right-hander had crossed the 150-run mark. Gill eventually holed out in the 43rd over, struggling with cramps and dehydration from Lucknow’s extreme heat, having scored 154 runs off 110 deliveries with 22 fours and two sixes. India’s middle order stumbled late in the innings: Lokesh Rahul fell for a golden duck, caught at long on attempting to clear the boundary against Kharoti, and the side lost its final five wickets for just 42 runs. Even with the late collapse, India still posted a mammoth total of 402 runs from 49.5 overs. In pursuit of the daunting target, Afghanistan got off to a quick start, with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hitting 41 runs off 33 balls, including seven fours and one six, and sharing a 52-run opening stand with Ibrahim Zadran. Debutant Indian seamer Gurnoor Brar claimed Gurbaz, caught behind the stumps, before fellow debutant Prince Yadav took a spectacular diving catch at fine leg to help left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh dismiss Zadran for 21. Sediqullah Atal scored 42 runs before being out leg before wicket to Washington Sundar, while Afghan batter Darwish Rasooli, also making his ODI debut, retired hurt after sustaining a hamstring injury during fielding earlier in the match, even after he had returned to the crease to bat. Rahmat Shah stepped in to anchor the Afghan innings, scoring a steady 79 runs and notching his 33rd ODI half-century to delay the inevitable result. The visitors were bowled out for 232 runs in the 45th over, with Arshdeep finishing with figures of 3 for 45 and Brar taking 3 for 60 to wrap up the victory for India. The third and final match of the series is scheduled to take place this Saturday in Chennai.