India vs Afghanistan Prediction & Match Preview – 2nd ODI, Lucknow
Match summary
India can seal the series in Lucknow while Afghanistan need a win to stay alive. Our 2nd ODI preview covers form, likely XIs, pitch and weather.
Match details
| Match | India vs Afghanistan, 2nd ODI |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 Jun 2026 |
| Start time | 8:00 am GMT / 1:30 pm IST |
| Venue | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | India |
| Toss pick | India |
Match preview
India are aiming to close out the series in front of their home crowd. In the rain-affected opener, reduced to 25 overs per side, they kept Afghanistan to 194 and chased it with seven wickets in hand and 13 balls remaining. The bowling group is relatively inexperienced, but debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey both made a good impression.
For Afghanistan, this match is about levelling the series and staying alive before the third and final ODI on 20 June. They need a much better batting effort after struggling in the opener. Their main strength is spin, and they will rely heavily on the quality and experience of Rashid Khan and AM Ghazanfar to put India under pressure.
The Lucknow surface should suit that plan, as it slows down and rewards patient batting with good strike rotation over aggressive hitting. Given the heat and the pitch, the middle overs are likely to decide the contest, and India’s depth and home conditions make them our choice.
The Ekana Stadium in Lucknow is known for a slow, two-paced surface where consistent scoring is hard. Seamers may get a little early movement, but the pitch slows quickly and brings spinners into play. Large boundaries limit easy sixes, so batters rely on timing and strike rotation. Dew can occasionally help chasing sides at night, though it is not guaranteed.
A hot, dry, partly cloudy afternoon is expected, with temperatures of about 35–38°C and moderate humidity. Rain is very unlikely and winds should be light to moderate, so conditions will test fitness and endurance more than swing or seam.
India
India won the rain-shortened opener with seven wickets and 13 balls to spare and have home advantage, while Afghanistan’s batting struggled.
Toss pick: India
FAQ
What happened in the first ODI between India and Afghanistan?
The match was cut to 25 overs a side. India restricted Afghanistan to 194 and won by seven wickets with 13 balls left.
Which India debutants impressed in the opener?
Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey both made a positive impression with the ball.
When is the third ODI?
The third and final ODI is scheduled for 20 June.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
India
- Shubman Gillc
- Rohit Sharma
- Ishan Kishanwk
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul
- Washington Sundar
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Harsh Dubey
- Gurnoor Brar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna
Afghanistan
- Rahmanullah Gurbazwk
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Sediq Atal
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidic
- Azmat Omarzai
- Mohammad Nabi
- Rashid Khan
- AM Ghazanfar
- Ziaur Rahman
- Mohammad Saleem
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of India and Afghanistan that we covered.