Opting to bat first, India recovered from the early departure of Yashasvi Jaiswal and took control with a pivotal 224-run partnership between Gill and Kishan for the third wicket. The duo scored rapidly, applying pressure on the visitors throughout the middle overs.
Gill was the star of the show, displaying graceful strokeplay alongside incredible stamina under tough conditions. He faced visible fatigue, cramps, and back pain but still led India’s charge, achieving his ninth ODI century before eventually being dismissed for 154.
Kishan offered excellent support and then accelerated fiercely after reaching his half-century. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 125, marking his second ODI hundred and his first since his double century against Bangladesh in 2022, demonstrating a mix of powerful hitting and creativity. Rohit Sharma also looked sharp during his innings of 48 before getting out to a Rashid Khan googly.
India’s innings lost some momentum towards the end, with Afghanistan making a comeback thanks to left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who took 4-76, while Rashid Khan snatched three wickets. The hosts lost seven wickets in the last 10 overs but still managed to surpass the 400-run mark.
In response, Afghanistan never posed a serious challenge, despite Rahmat Shah’s determined 79. Several batsmen got starts but couldn’t convert them into significant scores, as the required run rate continued to rise.
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran failed to provide the explosive beginning needed for the chase, while Darwish Rasooli had to retire hurt after worsening a hamstring issue from earlier in the match. India’s bowlers maintained dominance throughout the innings. Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar each took three wickets, and debutant Prince Yadav also marked his ODI debut with wickets, rounding off a memorable performance.
With strong performances with both bat and ball, India decisively outperformed Afghanistan to clinch the series with a match remaining.
