IND vs AFG: India's strongest playing XI vs Afghanistan for 2nd ODI - Predicted

India will play their 2nd ODI against Afghanistan on June 17.

IND vs AFG three-match ODI series is underway. The first match was at Dharamshala, where India won comfortably by 7 wickets. Shubman Gill was the Player of the Match in that match.

Debutants Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey shone with 3-wicket hauls each. Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer looked a bit scratchy at Dharamshala. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan and Rahul were scoring runs at will.

Afghanistan‘s Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a blazing century against the hosts, and India seemed to have no answers for him. When India came to chase, spin troubled them yet again, with India being cautious against Allah Ghazanfar and Rashid Khan.

The Men in Blue gear up for their second clash against the visitors in Lucknow on June 17. On that note, let’s have a look at India’s strongest playing XI for the second ODI.

India’s predicted playing XI for 2nd ODI against Afghanistan

Rohit Sharma

The former Indian skipper started a bit rough in the game at Dharamshala. Rohit Sharma also sustained an injury to his wrist, making it even more difficult for him to bat effectively. He was run out due to a lack of coordination with Shubman Gill while running between the wickets.

Amidst persistent criticism and injuries, Sharma will aim to silence the rumours by posting a big score in the second match and continue cementing his place in the team.

Shubman Gill (C)

The Captain of the Indian ODI team, Shubman Gill was the Player of the Match in the previous fixture, where he scored 84 off 66, including 11 fours and 2 sixes. He has been in sublime form since the IPL, and continues to assert his dominance.

Gill’s ODI form was questioned on social media following two poor series, and he responded with his bat. He looked out of sorts in the beginning of the innings, but was very comfortable once he got in his rhythm. He has been one of the finest players of spin for India over the past year, and he will look to maintain the same in Lucknow as well.

Ishan Kishan (WK)

In Virat Kohli’s absence, Ishan Kishan has been given the No. 3 spot, and he looked very comfortable in the previous match. He scored 34 off 22, with four boundaries. His explosive batting in the powerplay and the dynamism he brings with his left-handed batting in a right-handed heavy batting line-up adds to it.

Ishan’s wicket-keeping was also being discussed on social media, where his game awareness and agility came into play.

Shreyas Iyer (VC)

Shreyas Iyer, the Vice-captain of the side, scored 12 off 15 in the 1st ODI. He was attacked with short ball deliveries as soon as he came on strike. That has been the game plan against Iyer for the past few years.

Iyer will aim to play a big innings in the second ODI, as India seek a stable and reliable player at the No. 4 as part of preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul has embraced every role assigned to him with great success. He has cemented his place at No. 5 and is comfortably finishing matches for India.

If India need anchoring and stability, Rahul steps up. If they need him to finish games, he scores 39 off 19, including 34 runs off boundaries. Rahul has played a lot of cricket in Lucknow, and knows the pitch well. He will continue to display his versatility.

Washington Sundar

After a magnificent IPL 2026, Washington Sundar has returned to the 50-over setup; in that tournament, he scored 377 runs while batting at No. 4 for the Gujarat Titans.

He, too, is adapting well to various roles—such as anchoring, finishing games, and providing flexibility. His overs at Lucknow will be crucial for the team.

Nitish Kumar Reddy

Although Nitish Kumar Reddy is a batting all-rounder, he has demonstrated just how hard he has worked on his bowling over the past year. Reddy clocks above 135kmph and is picking crucial wickets for the team. He picked two wickets in the previous clash, giving minimal runs, and will continue this form at Lucknow.

Moreover, he scored more than 300 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026, showcasing his improved batting.

Harsh Dubey

The Vijay Hazare Trophy-winning captain debuted against Afghanistan at Dharamshala on Saturday and shone with a three-wicket haul on a relatively flat deck.

Initially, he conceded quite a few runs, but soon made the necessary adjustments and claimed three crucial wickets. The pitch at Lucknow will favour his bowling.

Gurnoor Brar

Another debutant who stole the show at Dharamshala was Gurnoor Brar with his impeccable wicket-taking ability. He picked his maiden international wicket in his first over of the game, giving India their first breakthrough.

Barar will play a key role in India’s pace attack in the second ODI as well. He also provides batting depth at No. 9.

Arshdeep Singh

The left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has cemented his spot in the team, with his wicket-taking ability in the powerplay. Delivering a magnificent performance in Dharamshala, he took 2 wickets and conceded just 27 runs in his 5 overs. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj, Arshdeep is leading the pace unit.

Prince Yadav

India might make one change for the second match, including Prince Yadav. Prince has played for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026 and taken 16 wickets in 14 matches. His familiarity with the pitch will stand him in good stead.

Moreover, Prasidh Krishna conceded a lot of runs in the last match and failed to take any wickets. India could look to rest him.

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