India kept rolling right after Afghanistan, winning the second ODI by a huge 170 runs, kind of a walloping one. This victory took India up 2-0 in the three match series, so basically it became unassailable with one game still left on the calendar. After putting up a massive 402, India then restricted Afghanistan to 232 and finished off yet another very solid, controlled kind of display.

India Take an Unassailable Lead

The result did not come out of nowhere, it followed on from India’s big one-off Test win, which ended as an innings victory inside three days. India carried that momentum into the ODI series and stayed in control for most parts, especially in the second match.

The hosts were sharp in both innings, batting and bowling. Their top-order bats set the base for a big score, and then the bowlers basically stopped Afghanistan from forming any real serious chase plan.  

Gill and Ishan Lead the Batting Charge

India’s innings mostly turned around two standout centuries, captain Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, yes both of them.

Gill Sets the Tempo

Gill went in aggressively, scoring 154 off 110 balls. He hit 22 fours and two sixes. He got to his 50 in 38 balls, then later completed the century in 77 deliveries.  

That innings had this mix of command and attacking intent, he kept moving the scoreboard along, and made sure Afghanistan’s bowlers felt pressure from the middle overs onward.

Ishan Accelerates the Innings

• Ishan Kishan backed him up with a strong 125 off 79 balls. His knock had 14 fours and seven sixes.
• Once he reached fifty in 52 balls, he really sped things up. He needed just 19 more balls to bring up the hundred. His intent was pretty upfront, and it helped India cross 300 runs by the 36th over.
• The pair stitched 224 runs for the third wicket and put the match beyond Afghanistan, like very quickly,  for them it was basically too late.

How India Reached 402

• India didn’t really get the smooth, ideal start as Yashasvi Jaiswal went for four. Then again, Rohit Sharma and Gill kind of got things back on track quickly, like almost immediately.
• Rohit, he made 48 off 39 balls, and from the start he batted in a positive mode. He struck six fours, plus two sixes, during an opening partnership that produced 87 runs with Gill.
• Once Rohit was out, it felt like Gill and Ishan took over the proceedings. For a while, India looked like they might even march toward 450. At one stage India were 320 for three, and after that Ishan was dismissed.
• But, late on, the pace of the innings eased a bit. Afghanistan fought back, mainly through Rashid Khan and Kharote. After Gill’s dismissal, India slumped—seven wickets fell for 42 runs, and that basically stopped them from pushing even higher.
• Kharote ended with four wickets, while Rashid took three.

Afghanistan Struggle in the Chase

Afghanistan did begin well, however they couldn’t stay at the required tempo for long. Rahmanullah Gurbaz made 41, and Sediqullah Atal replied with 42.

Rahmat Shah was the standout for their innings. He scored 79 from 89 balls and struck eight boundaries. That effort kept Afghanistan around the contest for a stretch, but wickets kept coming, so no strong partnership really took shape, not for long, anyway.

In the end, Afghanistan were bowled out for 232 in 44.3 overs. Rasooli retired hurt on six, and the chase wrapped up with nine wickets down, officially.

Indian Bowlers Complete the Job

• India’s bowlers, they shared the workload nicely and kept pressure running through the whole chase.
• Arshdeep Singh took three wickets for 45, and he also removed some crucial batters. Gurnoor Brar meanwhile grabbed three wickets too, finishing with 3 for 60.
• Prince Yadav, in his first international match, looked impressive with two wickets. Washington Sundar added one more wicket, and he also held things together during the middle overs.
• The bowling unit  worked together pretty well and, somehow it just kept Afghanistan from ever really threatening India’s overall total.

Debutants and emerging performers

India kept offering chances to newer faces through the series. Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey both made their international debuts in the first ODI, and it showed.

Then in the second match, Prince Yadav got his first international cap and still managed to make a positive impact—two wickets, nothing flashy but effective. Those showings added yet another reassuring layer to India’s win.

What the win is likely to mean for the series

This result makes the gap feel clear. India’s been the stronger side for the whole tour. They have pretty much dominated both formats and, in every department batting, bowling, and fielding, they have kept outperforming Afghanistan.

Gill’s captaincy with big support from Ishan, Rohit, and the bowling group, has helped India stay fully in charge from start to finish.

The third, and final ODI will be held in Chennai on Saturday. Even if the series is already settled, India will still want to wrap it up with a clean sweep and send the campaign off on a strong note.