Led by Shubman Gill’s 154 and Ishan Kishan’s 125, Team India posted a formidable 402 against Afghanistan, equalling the record for the most 400+ scores in ODIs. However, a late batting collapse left fans feeling that a much larger total, potentially 450-500, was a missed opportunity.
Team India’s batting line-up, led by Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, completely dismantled Afghanistan’s bowling attack in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, June 17.
After being put to bat first by Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Team India was bundled out for 402 in 49.5 overs. Gill played a captain’s knock of 154 off 110 balls, including 22 fours and 2 sixes, at a strike rate of 140.00. He also formed a crucial 224–run stand for the third wicket with Ishan Kishan, who scored 125 off 79 balls, including 14 fours and 7 sixes, at an impressive strike rate of 158.23.
Their partnership laid the foundation for a massive total on the board, while middle and lower order witnessed a collapse, as India could add only 42 runs in 7.2 overs after back-to-back wickets of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, as the Afghan bowlers clawed their way back into the game to keep the hosts under 410.
Also Read: Shubman Gill slams 154 vs Afghanistan, crosses 7000-run milestone
How Many Times Has Team India Crossed the 400-Run Mark?
Team India has been one of the most formidable teams in ODI cricket, and their dominance in the format is reflected in their ability to post mammoth totals. With a score of 402 against Afghanistan, Team India has now crossed the 400-run mark in ODIs eight times, equalling South Africa’s record for the most instances of any team breaching this elite milestone in the 50-over format.
The first time the Men in Blue crossed 400 runs was in the 2007 ODI World Cup against Bermuda, where they posted a total of 413/5, with Virender Sehwag leading the charge with a blistering 114 off 87 balls, while Sourav Ganguly (89), Yuvraj Singh (83), and Sachin Tendulkar (57*) contributed with half-centuries.
Since then, Team India has registered 400+ scores on seven occasions, with the highest being 418/5 against the West Indies in Indore in 2011. Out of these eight instances, six have been achieved on home soil, while the other two were registered at Port of Spain and Chattogram.
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Before the 402 against Afghanistan, Team India had won all seven matches while scoring 400 or more runs, maintaining a perfect record when reaching this elite total. If the Men in Blue successfully defend a 402-run total, will they not only extend their winning streak in such high-scoring encounters but also showcase their unwavering dominance in defending mammoth totals.
Missed Opportunity? Fans Left Frustrated as India ‘Limp’ to 402
Though Team India posted a commanding total of 402 on the board, fans and cricket enthusiasts on social media, especially X (formerly Twitter) were left feeling that it was a missed opportunity to push for an even more staggering total.
Taking to their X handles, fans and cricket enthusiasts expressed disappointment over the late-innings collapse, with many saying India were on course for 450–500, but “lost momentum after the Gill–Kishan stand ended” and eventually “limped to 402 despite a dominant start.”
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Meanwhile, Team India has already taken a 1-0 series lead following a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in a rain-truncated contest at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Saturday, June 13.
While the total of 402 is certainly daunting, the collective sentiment from fans remains that the team’s ability to capitalize on their starts will be crucial as they continue their preparations for the upcoming ODI series in the build-up to the 2027 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Also Read: Ishan Kishan becomes 4th fastest Indian to 1,000 ODI runs with a ton