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Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan put together the second-fastest 200-plus partnership by an Indian pair in ODI cricket as their 224-run stand helped India post 402 all out against Afghanistan in the second ODI in Lucknow on Wednesday.
The duo added 224 runs for the third wicket in just 140 balls at a run rate of 9.6 after Afghanistan opted to bowl first. Only the 208-run partnership between Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul against the Netherlands during the 2023 ODI World Cup came faster among Indian pairs. That stand had come in 127 balls at a run rate of 9.82.
The partnership was built around Gill's 154 and Kishan's 125, with both batters scoring centuries. It was also the first time two Indian batters scored ODI hundreds in 80 balls or fewer in the same innings. Overall, it was only the eighth such instance by any team in ODI cricket. Kishan reached his century in 71 balls, while Gill got there in 77 deliveries.
India had shuffled their batting order as part of preparations for next year's World Cup, with Yashasvi Jaiswal opening alongside Rohit Sharma and Gill moving down to No. 3.
The move did not work for Jaiswal, who was dismissed for 4 in the second over. Rohit looked set for a big score and struck 48 before Rashid Khan dismissed him with a googly that took an inside edge onto the stumps.
Gill then took control of the innings and found support in Kishan. The pair attacked the Afghanistan bowlers and quickly rebuilt the innings after India were reduced to 96 for 2.
Gill mixed caution with aggression on his way to his ninth ODI century. The hundred was also his first since taking over as India's full-time ODI captain.
Kishan, meanwhile, ended a wait of more than three years for an ODI hundred. It was his second century in the format and his first since the double hundred against Bangladesh in December 2022. After reaching his fifty, the left-hander accelerated sharply, scoring his next 50 runs in just 19 balls.
The heat in Lucknow began to affect Gill as the innings progressed. He needed treatment after the 34th over and appeared troubled by cramps, but continued batting and carried India deep into the innings.
The 224-run stand finally ended when Nangeyalia Kharote dismissed Kishan for 125 off 79 balls. His innings included 14 fours and seven sixes.
Gill went on to score 154 from 110 balls before falling while attempting a reverse sweep. His knock contained 22 fours and two sixes.
After Gill's dismissal, India lost momentum. Kharote led Afghanistan's fightback with figures of 4 for 76, while Rashid Khan claimed three wickets.
KL Rahul was dismissed for a first-ball duck, while Shreyas Iyer made 26 before departing. India eventually lost seven wickets in the final 10 overs but still finished with 402 all out in 49.5 overs.
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