India and Afghanistan meet each other in the second ODI of the three-match series being played between the two teams, at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, on Wednesday, June 17. The home team currently lead the series 1-0 after a thumping victory over their opponents by seven wickets in the first match in Dharamsala. While the first ODI was rain-affected and had to be reduced to 25 overs, one hopes that the match in Lucknow will not share a similar fate. This is especially so for Afghanistan, who know that a rain-induced result here - or a defeat - may end with them losing the series altogether. That is surely not what captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and the other senior players in the dressing room would have hoped for. As for senior players, the likes of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan will have to step up to deliver for the visiting side.
In Dharamsala, wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the only player who stood out for the Afghans, scoring a brisk century. India, who have bolstered their batting unit by selecting the likes of Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, need to pay some attention to their bowling, too. While debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey put up a good account for themselves in Dharamsala, the others have to step up too. Now is also a good time for all-rounders Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy to account for themselves and deliver the goods for India. In the batting order, Sharma, Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan and captain Shubman Gill are the ones to watch out for. They will aim to score big runs consistently to bat Afghanistan out of this match, and as a result, out of this series.
Predicted Teams
IND: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.
AFG: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad.
Key Players
Arshdeep Singh (IND): Arshdeep Singh is one of the most important cogs of the Indian bowling unit. The seamer is best known for his accurate yorkers at the death, but he can be quite effective with the new ball too. Singh is a white-ball specialist for India, and he has won the trust of captain Gill. He will be given the new ball in Lucknow, with the hope that he can provide early breakthroughs. During the death overs, his vast range of variations make him hard to pick and get under by opposition batters.
Ibrahim Zadran (AFG): Alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran is one of the most important batters in this Afghan unit. Zadran was not a part of the Test side earlier this month and has been selected solely for the ODIs. He is a technically sound batter who can pick lines and lengths of deliveries quickly. Zadran is also good with his feet, which is why spinners find it quite challenging to stick to their lines against him. He needs to bat through the innings to allow the others in the side to play more fearless strokes.
Match Prediction
India are the favourites to win this match. They are already 1-0 up in the series and are high on confidence. Whatever doubts captain Gill had about his new bowlers, Brar and Dubey, were assuaged in the first match. Now, India's sole aim is to be consistent with their lines and lengths and force the Afghan batters to play false strokes. For the visitors, it is high time that the likes of Shahidi, Nabi, Zadran and Rahmat Shah take up some responsibility.