Two Tons: Ishan Kishan Races in World Cup 2027 Snap, Gill Dominant As Ever

The FIFA World Cup is being held in America, but in Lucknow at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill saw a cricket ball as big as a soccer ball. The India captain and wicketkeeper-batsman hit a century each, battling the extreme heat in the city to break the Afghan bowling attack in the second of the three-match home ODI series. While Gill picked up where he left off with a 77-ball hundred in Dharamsala, Ishan Kishan switched gears to smash a 71-ball hundred of his own – his first three-figure score in ODIs in almost four years, the first since that double hundred in 2022. | 2. ODI Scorecard |

It was a song of ice and fire. While Shubman Gill oozed class, smashing 18 boundaries and two sixes, Ishan struggled with sixes, especially after racing from fifty to hundred in just 19 deliveries. Gill and Ishan, good friends off the field, they put on a partnership of 224 runs India raced past 300 in the 36th over and threatened to put up a mammoth total. The stand would end on just that number, Ishan falling for 125 off 79 balls and trying to dispatch Nangeyalia Kharoti in the same manner for a third consecutive six, with Gill reaching 154 off 110 balls in the 43rd over of India’s innings.

Shubman Gill – 154 in 109 balls. 22 boundaries, 2 sixes.

Ishan Kishan – 125 in 79 balls – 14 boundaries, 7 sixes.

ISHAN’S HUNGER SHOWS THROUGH

While Shubman Gill has been in the form of his life in the One Day International format, Ishan Kishan has made the most of the opportunities that have come his way in the recent past. After being out of the team and stripped of his BCCI central contract a few years ago, Ishan returned to the reckoning and caught the attention of selectors with a strong domestic season in 2025-26, notably leading Jharkhand to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy glory. The hunger was there when he got a chance to lead in the T20 World Cup and duly cemented his place in the team that eventually became a title winning team.

After a productive IPL, Ishan Kishan made his way into the ODI squad and was brought in as the back-up wicketkeeper ahead of the in-form Sanju Samson, even as Rishabh Pant lost his place in the team altogether. And he made every opportunity count. After smashing a quickfire 22-ball 34 in the rain-hit first ODI in Dharamsala, Ishan continued his scoring ways in Lucknow. Going into bat at No.4 after Rohit Sharma, who was looking good in the middle, was dismissed for 48 in the 14th over, the left-handed batsman was happy to play second fiddle to Gill, who was in great touch.

Gill set the tone on Wednesday after Afghanistan won the toss and opted to field, surprising given the heat in Lucknow during the afternoon. Afghanistan introduced the spin early but that did not deter Gill. He showed his range and ability to read the opposition bowlers, going forward to control the pacers and staying back to play the spinners as late as possible. With Allah Ghazanfar troubling Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Indian skipper dealt with ease.

From the moment Gill started playing those nimble late cuts against the Afghan spinners, he probably looked a hundred. With the help of ice towels and frequent drinking breaks, Gill was able to beat the heat and score his ninth ODI hundred.

DARK HORSE WORLD CUP 2027?

While the captain proved his class, Ishan Kishan proved the point.

The way Ishan shifted to fifty was commendable. He was strict against both spin and pace. Good balls were falling. Bad balls flew into the stands. Spinners were the worst affected. Part-time skipper and Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi had no chance: his over, the 30th, was when Ishan shifted gears and went for 15 runs. He didn’t even spare Rashid Khan. Nangeyalia Kharoti, a left-handed corkscrew, didn’t stand a chance.

Ishan looked comfortable against pace as well. The occasional bouncer was also sent to the stands.

It was a masterclass in medium acceleration, exactly the kind of skill most one-day international teams crave. The selectors and team management will be watching closely, realizing that Ishan’s comfort against both spin and pace will be crucial when the action shifts to seam-friendly conditions in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Yes, Afghanistan are not the most prolific bowling attack in ODI cricket, but the ease with which Ishan has scored will surely give the team management options as they consider zeroing in on the likely list for next year’s ODI World Cup.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

17 Jun 2026 16:48 IST