The FIFA World Cup is happening in the Americas, but in Lucknow, at the Ekana cricket stadium, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill were seeing the cricket ball as big as a football. The India captain and the wicketkeeper-batter hit a century each, battling extreme heat in the city to dismantle Afghanistan’s bowling attack in the second of a three-match home ODI series. While Gill continued from where he left off in Dharamsala with a 77-ball hundred, Ishan Kishan switched gears to smash a 71-ball hundred of his own – his first three-figure score in ODIs in nearly four years, first since that double hundred in 2022. | 2nd ODI Scorecard |
It was a song of ice and fire. While Shubman Gill oozed class, hitting 18 boundaries and two sixes, Ishan dealt in sixes, especially after racing from fifty to hundred in just 19 deliveries. Gill and Ishan, good friends off the field, stitched a 224-run partnership as India raced past 300 in the 36th over, threatening to post a mammoth total. The stand would end on that very number, Ishan falling for 125 off 79 balls trying to send Nangeyalia Kharoti the same way for a third successive six, with Gill, getting to 154 off 110 balls in the 43rd over of the Indian innings.
Shubman Gill – 154 in 109 balls. 22 boundaries, 2 sixes.
Ishan Kishan – 125 in 79 balls – 14 boundaries, 7 sixes.
ISHAN’S HUNGER SHINES THROUGH
While Shubman Gill has been in the form of his life in the one-day international format, Ishan Kishan has made the most of the opportunities that have come his way in the recent past. Having been out of the team and having had his BCCI central contract stripped a couple of years ago, Ishan stormed back into reckoning and caught the selectors’ eye with a strong 2025-26 domestic season, especially leading Jharkhand to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy glory. The hunger was there when he was given a chance in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, and he duly sealed a berth in what eventually became a title-winning squad.
After a productive IPL, Ishan Kishan forced his way into the ODI team, getting the nod as backup wicketkeeper ahead of an in-form Sanju Samson, even as Rishabh Pant lost his place in the squad altogether. And he has made every op14portunity count. After smashing a quickfire 22-ball 34 in the rain-affected first ODI in Dharamsala, Ishan continued his run-scoring ways in Lucknow. Walking into bat at No. 4 after Rohit Sharma, who looked good in the middle, was dismissed for 48 in the 14th over, the left-handed batter was happy playing second fiddle to Gill, who was in sublime touch.
Gill set the tone on Wednesday after Afghanistan won the toss and opted to field, a surprising call given the heat in Lucknow through the afternoon. Afghanistan introduced spin early, but that did not deter Gill. He showed his range and his ability to read the opposition bowlers, going forward to dominate the pacers and staying back to play the spinners as late as possible. Allah Ghazanfar, who troubled Yashasvi Jaiswal, was dealt with ease by the Indian captain.
From the time Gill began playing those deft late cuts against the Afghanistan spinners, a hundred looked probable. With the help of iced towels and frequent drinks breaks, Gill was able to overcome the heat and score his ninth ODI hundred.
2027 WORLD CUP DARK HORSE?
While the captain proved his class, Ishan Kishan proved a point.
The manner in which Ishan switched gears after getting to his fifty was commendable. He was severe against both spin and pace. Good balls were scored off. Bad balls were sent flying into the stands. Spinners were the worst affected. Part-time spinner and Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had no chance: his over, the 30th, was when Ishan switched gears, going for 15 runs. He did not spare Rashid Khan either. Nangeyalia Kharoti, the left-arm spinner, had no chance.
Ishan looked comfortable against pace too. The occasional bouncer was sent flying into the stands as well.
It was a masterclass in middle-overs acceleration, the very skill most one-day international teams are craving. The selectors and the team management will be keeping a close eye, aware that Ishan’s comfort against both spin and pace will be essential when the action shifts to the seam-friendly conditions of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Yes, Afghanistan are not the most established bowling attack going around in ODI cricket, but the ease with which Ishan scored his runs will certainly give the team management options as they consider zeroing in on a list of probables for next year’s ODI World Cup.
– Ends
