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The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow witnessed another fascinating battle between India and Afghanistan during the second ODI of the series on Wednesday, June 17. After Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first, the visitors made an early breakthrough when Mohammad Saleem Safi dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal.
However, India quickly recovered through captain Rohit Sharma, who looked in sublime touch from the very beginning of his innings. The veteran opener played with authority against both pace and spin, finding boundaries regularly and helping India race to 80 runs inside the first ten overs. Just when a half-century appeared inevitable, Afghanistan’s premier spinner Rashid Khan delivered a moment of brilliance.
Rashid Khan’s trademark googly ends Rohit Sharma’s fluent knock
The decisive moment arrived on the very first ball of the 14th over. Rashid, who had been probing from one end, unleashed his trademark googly that completely deceived the Indian captain. Rashid delivered a short-of-length ball that spun sharply back into the right-hander. Rohit appeared to misread the variation and remained rooted on the back foot while attempting to bring his bat down at the last moment. The ball sneaked through the narrow gap between bat and pad, clipping the inside edge before crashing into the stumps.
The dismissal brought an end to an entertaining innings of 48 runs from 39 deliveries, which included six boundaries and two towering sixes. Having looked set for a significant score, Rohit was left disappointed as he fell just two runs short of his fifty. The Afghanistan players erupted in celebration as Rashid once again showcased why he remains one of the most dangerous spinners in world cricket. The wicket was particularly significant considering the manner in which Rohit had dominated the bowling attack throughout the powerplay and early middle overs.
Here’s the video:
🚨 ROHIT SHARMA IS OUT! 🚨
– Rashid Khan strikes pure magic from the Afghan wizard
– Sharma departs on 48 off 39 well bowled! pic.twitter.com/TNavNQNa3K
— Talha Nawaz (@TalhaDigital007) June 17, 2026
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India maintain control despite Rohit Sharma’s departure
Before Rashid’s breakthrough, Rohit had laid a strong foundation for the hosts with an aggressive yet controlled innings. The Indian skipper got going early with a boundary in the second over before launching consecutive sixes to put the Afghanistan bowlers under pressure.
His positive approach ensured India maintained a healthy scoring rate, and by the time he departed, the hosts had reached 96/2. The wicket brought Ishan Kishan to the crease alongside Shubman Gill, creating an unexpected middle-order partnership. The duo responded brilliantly to the challenge and ensured there was no loss of momentum. Gill continued to anchor the innings while Kishan played his natural attacking game, allowing India to keep the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace.
Their partnership crossed the 50-run mark in just 47 deliveries, frustrating Afghanistan’s bowlers despite the crucial scalp of Rohit. At the time of writing, India were comfortably placed at 146/2 after 21 overs, with Gill and Kishan firmly in control. While Rashid’s magical googly provided Afghanistan with a memorable highlight, India’s strong batting platform ensured they remained well-positioned to post a commanding total in the second ODI.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
