Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan produced a moment of brilliance to dismiss Rohit Sharma during the ongoing second ODI. The leg-spinner ended a dangerous partnership by bowling the India captain for 48 runs, denying him a well-deserved half-century and giving Afghanistan a much-needed breakthrough.
Hashmatullah Shahidi's Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, June 17. Team India made three changes to their winning combination, handing a debut to Prince Yadav, while Kuldeep Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal returned to the side.
Rashid Khan's Brilliant Googly Ends Rohit Sharma's Knock
Afghanistan finally broke through when Rashid Khan dismissed Rohit Sharma on the very first ball of the 14th over. The leg-spinner produced a superb googly that Rohit failed to pick. The former India captain brought his bat down late, only to get an inside edge that crashed into the middle and leg stumps.
The wicket came at a crucial stage for Afghanistan. India were in control at 96/2, but Rashid's breakthrough gave the visitors a chance to fight back as the innings moved into the middle overs, where spin was expected to play a bigger role. Earlier in his innings, Rohit completed 14,000 runs in List A cricket.
Rashid also continued his impressive record against Rohit in ODI cricket. The Indian opener has faced the Afghan spinner in two ODI innings, scoring 26 runs off 23 balls while being dismissed twice. Rohit averages 13 against Rashid in the format.
Before his dismissal, Rohit had put India in a strong position with an aggressive 48 off 39 balls, including six fours and two sixes. After Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early, Rohit and Shubman Gill steadied the innings with an excellent 87-run partnership for the second wicket, keeping the scoring rate high.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) June 17, 2026
Highest Partnerships for Any Wicket for India vs Afghanistan in ODIs
| Players | Partnership | Venue | Year | Wicket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishan Kishan & Rohit Sharma | 156 | Delhi | 2023 | 1st wicket |
| Shikhar Dhawan & Ajinkya Rahane | 121 | Mirpur | 2014 | 1st wicket |
| KL Rahul & Ambati Rayudu | 110 | Dubai (DICS) | 2018 | 1st wicket |
| Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill | 87* | Lucknow | 2026 | 2nd wicket |
| Ishan Kishan & Shubman Gill | 70 | Dharamsala | 2026 | 2nd wicket |
Shubman Gill Anchors India After Rohit Sharma's Dismissal
At the time of writing, India were 136/2 after 20 overs, with Shubman Gill unbeaten on 71 off 53 balls and Ishan Kishan batting on 11 off 19 deliveries. The pair will look to build a substantial partnership through the middle overs and lay the foundation for a strong finish.
It is worth noting that the Shubman Gill-led side already holds a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series after winning the opening match in Dharamsala. India chased down a target of 195 in a rain-shortened 25-over contest, securing victory with seven wickets in hand.
Gill played a match-winning knock in the first ODI, remaining unbeaten on 84 off 66 balls during the chase. A victory in the ongoing match would give India an unassailable 2-0 lead and seal the ODI series ahead of the final game.
