Thunderstorms frustrated everyone during the series opener in Dharamshala. Relentless rain slashed the contest down to a frantic 25 overs per side. Eventually, India chased down a tricky target of 195 with two full overs to spare. Shubman Gill absolutely dominated the Afghan bowling attack. Brutal. He smashed an unbeaten 84 off 66 balls. Consequently, the elegant opener sprinted past a massive statistical marker to secure his 3,000th ODI run in just 62 innings. Predictably, that staggering speed puts him second on the all-time global list behind the legendary Hashim Amla.
Shreyas Iyer chases history in Lucknow showdown
Conversely, Shreyas Iyer managed only 12 runs before throwing his wicket away. Frustrating. Therefore, the spotlight shifts intensely to the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow for the second ODI. India comfortably leads the three-match series 1-0. Fans expect perfectly clear skies on June 17.
Frankly, the Indian top order looks utterly ruthless right now. Afghanistan desperately needs early wickets. Otherwise, they face another heavy defeat. Spinners might dictate terms on this typically sluggish Lucknow surface, yet the hosts possess far too much firepower down the batting order. Naturally, everyone anticipates another aggressive batting display from the home side.
Shreyas Iyer nears a rare batting milestone
The 28-year-old stands on the absolute brink of his own unique slice of history. Close. He needs a mere 11 runs on Wednesday to reach the elusive 3,000 ODI run mark. Hitting that specific target in his 72nd innings means he will match the formidable Shikhar Dhawan. Crucially, the pair would share the title of the joint second-fastest Indian to achieve this impressive feat.
The Mumbai batter will comfortably eclipse Virat Kohli. Traditionally, Kohli sets the standard, but he needed 75 innings to hit the same number. Currently, the veteran superstar misses this entire series altogether because he nurses a rather frustrating hamstring injury. Internationally, joining the 72-innings club places the vice-captain in seriously elite company.
Legends like Gordon Greenidge, Gary Kirsten, Joe Root, and Jonny Bairstow all required exactly 72 knocks to amass 3,000 runs in this format. Elite. Pundits who analyse his game can't ignore his remarkable consistency at the crucial number four position.
This elegant right-hander dictates the middle overs beautifully. Spin bowlers rarely trouble him because he uses his feet so efficiently. Obviously, Shreyas Iyer desperately wants a big score since he missed out in Dharamshala. 11 runs sound incredibly trivial. The pressure builds regardless. Now, he just has to walk out there, find the gaps, and keep the scoreboard ticking over.
