Lucknow’s weather conditions are likely to alter the pitch conditions. With Afghanistan aiming for a powerful comeback and Shubman Gill’s captaincy eying his maiden ODI series triumph as Team India’s captain, the contest spices up.

Let’s take a look at the head-to-head records of IND vs AFG in ODIs and find out the key players to be included in the main XI to predict the winning chances of both teams.

India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI 2026 Match Details

• Men’s ODI Match Number: 4980
• ODI Match Date and Day: June 17, 2026 (Wednesday)
• Venue: Ekana Stadium
• City: Lucknow
• Seating Capacity: Upto 50,000 spectators
• Match Timings (IST):
  • Toss: 01 pm
  • 1st Innings: 01:30 pm to 05:10 pm
  • Innings Break: 05:10 pm to 05:50 pm
  • 2nd Innings: 05:50 pm to 09:20 pm 

Head-to-Head Records of India vs Afghanistan in ODI Cricket

5 Key Players to Watch During IND vs AFG 2nd ODI

• INDIA:
  
  
  • Rohit Sharma: BATSMAN
  • Shubman Gill: BATSMAN
  • Ishan Kishan: WICKETKEEPER and BATSMAN
  • Harsh Dubey: SPIN BOWLING ALL-ROUNDER
  • Gurnoor Brar: FAST BOWLER
    
    
• AFGHANISTAN:
  
  
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz: WICKETKEEPER and BATSMAN
  • Hashmatullah Shahidi: BATSMAN
  • Azmatullah Omarzai: FAST BOWLING ALL-ROUNDER
  • Rashid Khan: SPIN BOWLING ALL-ROUNDER
  • Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi: FAST BOWLER

Ekana Stadium: Weather, Pitch, and Toss For IND vs AFG 2nd ODI

• Weather: Unlike the previous game in Dharamshala, there are higher chances for a complete 50-over contest to take place in the 2nd ODI match between India and Afghanistan in Lucknow.
  
  
  • Temperature: 30°C to 40°C
  • Wind  Speed: 13 km/hr to 18 km/hr
  • Humidity: 28% to 36%
  • Cloud Cover: 2% to 4%
  • Dew Point: 16° to 18°
  • Rainfall Chances: 1% (Very Low)
    
    
• Pitch: The slow and spin-friendly pitch at the Ekana Stadium makes it tougher for batters to score runs instantly. During the powerplay overs, the batting side should prefer a cautious start by not attempting aggressive strokeplay frequently.
  
  As the match progresses, the surface becomes dusty and dry, allowing spinners to play a main role with multiple variations. At the same time, the well-settled batters can find it easy to play highly skilled strokes. But there is no guarantee that the batting team would have an explosive start in the first 10 overs of power play.

Either a 250+ or 300+ total can make the game highly competitive between India and Afghanistan at this venue.

• Toss: Making use of the slow-paced pitch at the Ekana Stadium, the toss-winning captain should decide to bat first. Although there is a considerable level of dew factor predicted, it would play a crucial role only during late evenings or nights at this venue.

India vs Afghanistan Predicted XI For 2nd ODI 2026

Probably, India and Afghanistan could bolster their spin bowling unit to form the strongest playing XI combination in the following ways:

India’s Predicted Main XI For 2nd ODI vs Afghanistan:

Afghanistan’s Predicted Main XI For 2nd ODI vs India:

2nd ODI 2026 Winner Prediction: India or Afghanistan?

India’s 3-0 domination in the head-to-head stats and Afghanistan’s winless record against the same opponent can turn the match into a one-sided contest.

As both teams boast a strong spin bowling attack, a proper balance in the batting and bowling unit is essential to secure a convincing victory in the forthcoming ODI match at the Ekana Stadium.

The post India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Match 2026 Preview & Winner Prediction appeared first on Crickex.

Recently, the Super Over loss to the hosts further eroded the Indians’ chances of qualifying for the final. However, India A is not yet eliminated from the Tri-Nation A series despite losing three games on a trot.

As Sri Lanka already secured a berth in the final, Afghanistan A and India A are now under must win situation. However, the Afghans have stronger chances of facing off against the Lankans in the grand finale.

Out of six matches in the league stages, each team gets an opportunity to play four matches before securing a spot in the final.

Let’s break down the qualification scenario of Afghanistan A and India A for the tri-series 2026 final.

India A is in a must-win situation vs Afghanistan A

The only hope left for India A is to secure a win in their last fixture against Afghanistan A on June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) to tally upto 4 points. However, a victory at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium won’t guarantee a straightforward qualification for the Indians.

Additionally, Tilak Varma and his team should wait for Afghanistan to lose their next game against Sri Lanka on June 19, 2026 (Friday). This would ensure that the Afghans would conclude the tri-series points table with just 2 points.

Why Afghanistan A Holds Stronger Chances Than India A?

While India A is left with a solo game, Afghanistan A has a golden opportunity to secure consecutive wins in their forthcoming two matches.

In other words, Afghans should secure a win against India and Sri Lanka to deserve a straightforward qualification into the final.

Notably, Afghanistan would remain as the favorite to conclude second in the points table ahead of the final by defeating India on Wednesday (June 17).

Complicated Scenario: What if India A Loses to Afghanistan A?

India A should ensure not to lose by a huge margin to Afghanistan in its last league stage match. Additionally, the Indians should hope for the Afghans to suffer a massive loss to the Sri Lankans.

This is the only scenario left for India to progress into the final if they face defeat to Afghanistan, adding complications to their qualification chances as both teams would conclude with 2 points.

Moreover, the net-run-rate (NRR) would play a crucial role in determining both teamsâ€?fate, as India’s superior NRR of +0.330 compared to Afghanistan’s -1.392 NRR could enhance their qualification chances.

Tri-Nation A Series 2026 Points Table

Here is how the points table has been updated as of June 16, 2026, following Sri Lanka’s recent super over victory against India in the Tri Series A 2026:

3 Areas India Must Work to Avoid Tri Series A Elimination

As the forthcoming match against Afghanistan holds great significance for India, here are the three weaknesses that the team should overcome to avoid elimination:

1. Bowling Attack

Indian bowlers should focus on delivering accurate yorkers to restrict their opponent team from accumulating enough runs on the board. Most importantly, they lacked the wicket-taking abilities that proved costly in suffering three consecutive defeats in the ongoing season.

2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Form

On bowling-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s struggle to score huge runs has clearly been evident. Perhaps the flat pitches in India turned out to be favorable for the young opener to dominate against the world-class bowlers.

Particularly in a 50-over format game, Sooryavanshi should adopt a cautious start in the powerplay rather than attempting too many aggressive strokes at the early phases of an inning.

Mainly, the southpaw should ensure his long stay at the crease to gain exposure against the toughest opponents on an international pitch.

3. Making Use of Batting Depth

There is no doubt about the immense level of batting depth that India A boasts in this tri-series. However, the lower order has fired up and accumulated maximum runs compared to the top and middle order.

So, it becomes important for the opening batters, Prabhsimran Singh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, to build a consistent opening partnership to either compile mammoth totals on the board or chase challenging totals conveniently.

The post India A faces an elimination threat from the Tri-Series A 2026 after losing to Sri Lanka! appeared first on Crickex.

Despite cricket being a beloved sport, when it comes to the biggest sports festival, this bat-and-ball game is nowhere near the world’s most famous sport, like Football.

Fans are shocked to know that the prize money of the FIFA World Cup 2026 champions would be 19 times higher than the T20 World Cup 2026, which concluded in March this year.

A Glance At FIFA World Cup 2026 Prize Money

Compared to the previous edition, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has witnessed a 50% increase in prize money. As per the reports, the overall funds available for this tournament are $727 million, out of which $655 million prize money will be allocated across the 48 participating teams.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the ongoing 23rd edition of the FIFA WC prize money tabulated below in USD and INR currency (approximate value converted and mentioned as of 15th June 2026):

Additional Benefits For FIFA World Cup 2026 Participating Teams

Each qualifying team will receive a jaw-dropping amount of $1.5 million (approximately INR 14.20 crore) to cover the preparation expenses. So, even the knocked-out teams in the first round, ranked between 33rd and 48th position, are certain to receive $10.5 million, which is approximately INR 99 crore.

Notably, the runner-up of the FIFA WC 2026 earns $33 million, which is approximately 12.5 times greater than the T20 World Cup 2026 champions’ prize money ($2.63 million).

Revisiting ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Prize Money

The overall prize pool for the men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was around $13.5 million, and here is how the prize money was allocated to each participating team in the tournament:

Cricket Champions vs Football Champions: The Highest Prize Money Winner?

The prize money in cricket World Cup events is much lower and cannot be easily matched like that of football. This is because the FIFA WC champions’ rewards are nearly 16.67 times greater than the prize money of the T20 WC 2026 champions.

Notably, the overall prize pool for FIFA is reported to be around $727 million, while T20WC 2026 comes in at a mere $13.5 million.

In simpler terms, the qualifying teams in the FIFA World Cup 2026 first round ($9 million for ranking between 33rd and 48th) earn 3 times as much as the winners of the T20 World Cup 2026 ($3 million).

FICA WC 2026 vs T20 WC 2026: Reasons for the Massive Difference in Prize Money

Here are the core reasons why the FIFA World Cup 2026 prize money creates a bigger gap compared to cricket’s core events:

1. Popularity

There is no doubt that Football is the world’s most popular sport, garnering billions of viewers across the globe. A massive revenue is generated through ticket sales, media rights, sponsors, and partnerships.

Contrarily, cricket is popular only in Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, etc. Also, this sport is familiar in SENA nations like South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. But, when it comes to global reach, cricket is not as popular as football.

Other sports events, including cricket’s financial power, eventually become diminutive in front of FIFA’s popularity.

2. Broadcasting and Media Rights

A massive global reach can help FIFA secure multi-billion-dollar broadcasting deals across the globe, enhancing a larger financial pool.

3. Top-Tier Sponsorships

Major companies invest heavily in FIFA World Cup sponsorships as there is a complete guarantee of gaining global exposure. This significantly enhances the commercial revenue distributed to all participating teams in the tournament.

The post FIFA World Cup 2026 vs T20 World Cup 2026: Shocking Gap in Prize Money REVEALED! appeared first on Crickex.

The Men-in-Yellow suffered a 2-1 loss in Pakistan and a 2-0 loss in the ongoing 3-match ODI series in Bangladesh. However, the common point to be noted is that the Aussies’ struggles have been clearly evident on overseas soil.

Josh Inglis, the stand-in captain, led Australia in Pat Cummins�absence. However, the team delivered a dismal performance in the Pakistan tour despite bouncing back in the second ODI match.

Inglis and his men had a disappointing start to the Bangladesh tour by losing two games on the trot.

Let’s discuss the three key reasons behind Australia’s subpar performance in their recent ODI matches.

1. Weakness on Spin-Friendly Pitches

Australia’s fragile batting line-up was exposed to the strongest spin bowling attack, particularly in the ODI series against Pakistan.

In the opening ODI in Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s orthodox spinner Arafat Minhas dismissed half of the Australian batting line-up with his five-wicket haul (5/32 in 10 overs). He was honored with the Player of the Match award for steering his team to a 5-wicket win by restricting the opponent to a modest 200 total.

Aussies were able to secure a 41-run victory against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. But in the third ODI, their inability to tackle spinners was clearly evident. The 2-fers from Shadab Khan (2/28 in 9 overs) and Abrar Ahmed (2/19 in 10 overs) were yet another key reason for Australia’s shocking ODI series loss to Pakistan.

2. No Regular Skipper in ODI Series

Cricket Australia (CA) was highly cautious in managing the workload of its key players, and this was the main reason why regular skipper Pat Cummins was not part of the ODI series in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Cummins had a busy campaign with his team, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, till May in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

The 2023 World Cup-winning captain’s absence left a huge void in Australia’s leadership role as well as in the pace bowling attack. Also, he is excluded from the 3-match T20I series against Bangladesh as well.

Moreover, Mitchell Marsh also missed out on the recent ODI matches due to injury and was named as the captain of the T20I squad.

Aussies missed out on the strong leadership combination of Cummins and Marsh. With Inglis’s inexperience in the leadership role, his captaincy turned out to be disastrous.

In other words, the lack of a regular captain was yet another core reason for Australia to suffer two consecutive ODI series defeats.

3. Dearth of Key Players

Ever since Glenn Maxwell retired from ODI cricket, Australia haven’t been able to find a destructive middle-order batsman of his caliber.

Moreover, several key players of the Australian line-up were rested for the ODI series against Pakistan and Bangladesh. Due to the busy schedule in the T20 World Cup 2026 and IPL 2026,  the noteworthy players were cautious of their workload management.

Also, players like Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh were excluded from Australia’s squad in the ODI series against Pakistan and Bangladesh. While Marsh suffered an injury and is in the recovery stages, Head cited personal reasons to opt out of the series.

Especially, the bowling line-up didn’t feature any of the core pacers like Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins. So, it becomes clear that Aussies lacked depth both in the batting and bowling departments. As key players missed out on the series as part of their workload management, this was yet another main reason for their ODI series defeats in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Glimpse At Australia’s World Cup Record After World Cup 2023

Following the World Cup 2023 triumph, Australia’s record in the 50-over format hasn’t been impressive, having lost four of eight ODI series. Out of which, three losses have come on the overseas soil.

Also, the Aussies failed to clinch the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai after losing to India by 4 wickets in the semi-final.

The post 3 Main Reasons Why Australia’s ODI Struggles With Poor Performances in Recent Matches appeared first on Crickex.

Having won his maiden Player of the Match award in international cricket, the 23-year-old, in his debut test innings, recorded the second-best bowling figures by any Indian bowler. He trails behind the former Indian legendary spinner Narendra Hirwani’s 8/61 against the West Indies in his debut test back in 1988.

Former England spin bowler Graeme Swann predicted that Suthar could be a perfect replacement for Ravindra Jadeja in the test cricket format. Likewise, former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar was impressed with the youngster’s orthodox spin bowling techniques.

Alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar were the three core spin bowling all-rounders for Team India in red-ball cricket.

Let’s find out if Suthar can be a long-term replacement for Jadeja in the longest format.

Graeme Swann’s Opinion: An Eligible Candidate to Replace Jadeja?

During the media interaction with Star Sports, Graeme Swann explained how Manav Suthar can prove to be an ideal choice to replace Ravindra Jadeja:

“Yeah! He bowled very well in his debut match. Although he may not be as good a batsman as Ravindra Jadeja, his century in first-class cricket should be considered. It would be interesting to see whether the Indian selectors consider him the best replacement in the near future.

Manav will walk into the team if Jadeja decides it’s time for him to opt for retirement. Seeing his performance against Afghanistan, it didn’t seem as if he was playing his debut match. You should trust my instincts.

He (Manav Suthar) is the one born to play test cricket and became the 319th player to represent Team India in the longest format. Kuldeep Yadav handed the left-arm young spinner his maiden cap, which was a delightful moment to watch. The Gujarat Titans’ star spin bowler impressed with his performance at the grand stage,â€?Swann said.

‘A Very Good Debut� Gavaskar About Suthar’s Performance

Unlike Graeme Swann, Sunil Gavaskar didn’t make any comparison of the youngster’s talent with Ravindra Jadeja. Rather, he chose to focus on the all-rounder’s abilities while speaking on Star Sports:

“Certainly! Very impressed with his attitude. We are not aware of his batting abilities, but his dedication to show a great level of commitment towards the team was evident. However, he could have batted well like a newbie who compiles enough runs on the board like other batters; unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

Considering his bowling performance, he offered some turns and variations on Day 02. His mix of spin and faster deliveries showed his intent to make use of the playing conditions. There is no doubt that he was accurate with his delivery lengths, which prevented batters from playing aggressive shots and restricted their foot movement while attempting to take calculated risks to score runs.

His fearless approach helped to grab six wickets in his first innings, which was indeed a very good debut to remember,�the former legendary Indian opener said.

Reasons Why Suthar Cannot Be a Perfect Replacement for Jadeja

Although Graeme Swann gave a confident statement, there are reasons why Suthar cannot be an apt choice to replace Jadeja in test cricket. Let’s delve deeper to explore the unknown reasons in detail:

1. Only 6-Fer Against Underranked Team

Manav Suthar registered his career-best bowling figures of 6/33 in 22 overs during his maiden test match. However, it is to be noted that his best performance came at home pitch, that too against an under-ranked team like Afghanistan.

A player of Jadeja’s caliber should be able to deliver competitive performances against stronger teams in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27. His real skills would be tested only if he could be a part of India’s playing XI in the forthcoming test series in Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

2. Premature Stage Comparison

Having played just a solo test match against a non-competitive team, it would be unfair to label Manav Suthar as the next Ravindra Jadeja, who featured in 89 matches over his 14-year test cricket career.

3. Ineffective Batting Performance

As a tailender, Manav Suthar managed to score only 28 runs off 41 balls (including 2 fours and 2 sixes) in his debut test against Afghanistan, when batted at the No.9 position.

Spin all-rounders like Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel have shown a high level of consistency in terms of batting and bowling in the longest format.

In Gautam Gambhir’s era, only those all-rounders have managed to secure a spot in the playing XI who contributed effectively with the bat and ball.

With Suthar’s exceptional bowling skills and lackluster batting performance, it is unlikely that the selectors could include him in India’s squad only because of his abilities as a destructive orthodox spinner.

Overall Opinion

It is understood that Manav Suthar, despite his outstanding spin bowling techniques, needs to sharpen his batting skills. He needs to come up with better performance as a batsman and bowler in the forthcoming matches.

Exhibiting a better performance consistently than Axar Patel or Washington Sundar could help him to replace Ravindra Jadeja in the test cricket squad in the near future.

The post Manav Suthar: A Possible Successor to Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian Test Team in the Future? appeared first on Crickex.

Pakistani batsman Sahibzada Farhan has been officially named as the captain of the fresh-looking squad, featuring a mix of experienced stars and emerging youngsters.

After concluding fourth in the previous Asian Games edition in 2022, Pakistan will be keen to enhance its performance and keep its hopes alive of winning a gold medal.

There aren’t many star cricketers in the Asian Games setup when compared to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Notable exclusions include the regular captain, Salman Ali Agha, along with veteran stars like Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and Shadab Khan.

Let’s take a look at the squad to understand how the forthcoming tournament serves as the best opportunity for the experienced candidates and newcomers to secure their spot as regular players in Pakistan’s T20 squad.

Notable Inclusions in Pakistan’s Squad For Asian Games 2026

PCB selection committee has focused on building depth in the batting and bowling line-up, where young talents get exposure in international matches under the guidance of established stars. 

Captain’s Appointment: Biggest Announcement

Sahibzada Farhan enters a new role by leading the national team for the first time in a grand tournament like the Asian Games. The 30-year-old, having played 45 T20I matches in his career, amassed 1,305 runs, which includes 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries at an average of 30.35. 

Samad To Serve As Farhan’s Deputy

Pakistani middle-order batsman Abdul Samad, as vice-captain, adds immense experience to the young squad.

The right-handed batsman, who earlier featured in Pakistan’s ODI squad, can integrate his leadership skills alongside Sahibzada Farhan. 

In 5 T20Is, the 28-year-old scored 66 runs, averaging 16.5 and a strike rate of 113.80, including his highest score of 44 in an inning.

Batting Specialist Makes the Squad Formidable

Along with Sahibzada Farhan and Abdul Samad, the other two names in the list of specialist batters include Haider Ali and Hasan Nawaz. This makes the batting line-up formidable to create an impact in Japan.

Four Young Players Set to Make Their T20I Debut

PCB selectors have included four players who are yet to make their debut in T20 Internationals (T20Is). Here are those newbies who are likely to set a benchmark in the 20-over format during the Asian Games 2026:

• Akif Javed: Left-Arm Pacer
  
  
• Ali Raza: Right-Arm Pacer
  
  
• Maaz Sadaqat: Spin Bowling All-Rounder (Left-Handed Batsman and Left-Arm Spinner)
  
  
• Saad Masood: Spin Bowling All-Rounder (Right-Handed Batsman and Right-Arm Spinner)

Although inexperienced in the shortest format, the selectors’ decision to back these youngsters reflects their aim to test their skills on a grand stage.

Exciting Performers in Franchise Cricket

Saim Ayub and Arafat Minhas are the two impressive performers in the franchise T20 cricket for the past few editions.

Ayub represented three different teams in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), respectively. He played the solo edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2023 for Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Here are the brief stats of Saim Ayub’s franchise cricket career as a spin bowling all-rounder:

Minhas, on the other hand, has dedicated his franchise cricket career solely to PSL, having represented Karachi Kings (in 2023 and 2025) and Multan Sultans (in 2026).

Primary Wicketkeeper

Usman Khan is the only wicketkeeper in Pakistan’s 15-member squad who has amassed 474 runs in 32 innings of his T20I career.

Spin Bowling Department

Leg-spinner specialist Abrar Ahmed will spearhead Pakistan’s spin bowling attack, featuring Sufyan Moqim alongside the young all-rounders Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, and Saim Ayub. Also, Arafat Minhas can serve as a backup spinner for Ahmed.

Pace Bowling Department

Pacers like Ahmed Daniyal and Mohammad Salman Mirza can bolster the fast bowling attack with their raw pace and bounce. While newbies like Akif Javed and Ali Raza have higher chances to mark a debut and secure a place in the squad as specialist fast bowlers.

Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team 15-Member Squad For Asian Games 2026

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