India captain Shubman Gill prolonged his impressive form by scoring one other half-century within the second ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan on the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, June 17. Gill reached the milestone in style on the opening delivery of the seventeenth over when Nangeyalia Kharote delivered a short-of-length ball outside off stump at 90 kph.
With the ball arriving slowly and staying low, the right-hander confidently pulled it from around knee height, sending it sailing over wide long-on for a six to finish his fifty in only 38 balls. Watch the video here:
#ShubmanGill brings up his fifty in style, hammering it over mid-wicket for a six! 🔥
He’s leading from the front and appears unstoppable today 💪#INDvAFG | 2nd ODI | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/YiwP9pOAPC pic.twitter.com/uHweYXleDu
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 17, 2026
Featuring in his 63rd ODI, Shubman Gill registered the nineteenth half-century of his profession. He also has eight centuries to his name, with a highest ODI rating of 208.
Gill Leads the Charge as India Construct Towards Big Rating
After being asked to bat first, India suffered an early setback when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for just 4 runs within the second over. Nevertheless, Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill responded positively, batting aggressively to guide the hosts to 80/1 by the top of the powerplay.
The duo stitched together an 87-run partnership from just 67 deliveries for the second wicket before Rohit narrowly missed out on a half-century. The veteran opener departed for 48 off 39 balls, having struck six fours and two sixes, with Rashid Khan claiming his wicket within the 14th over.
Ishan Kishan then joined Gill on the crease and helped maintain the scoring rate. Gill brought up his fifty within the seventeenth over, and India reached 136/2 after 20 overs. On the time of writing, India were well placed at 170/2 after 24 overs, with Gill unbeaten on 79 from 59 balls and Ishan batting on 37 off 37 deliveries.
A victory in the continued contest would give the Men in Blue an unbeatable 2-0 lead within the three-match series, following their seven-wicket win within the opening ODI at Dharamsala on June 13, where they chased down 195 in only 25 overs.
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