India have already sealed the ODI series against Afghanistan with wins in Dharamsala and Lucknow. The final match on Saturday, June 20, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is technically a dead rubber, but there is still plenty to watch out for. One of the key talking points is Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been fighting to cement his place in the Indian team.
In Lucknow, Jaiswal returned to the 50-over format after an absence of around six months. With Rohit Sharma rested, the left-hander was given an opportunity at the top of the order. Shubman Gill, one of India’s regular openers, dropped down to No. 3, while Ishan Kishan moved up to No. 4 to accommodate Jaiswal’s inclusion.
However, Jaiswal failed to make an impact, scoring just four runs before being dismissed by Mohammad Saleem. The dismissal was a setback for the 24-year-old, who is looking to establish himself across formats and stake a stronger claim in India’s ODI plans.
With only one match left in the series, opportunities are running short. A strong performance in Chennai could help Jaiswal keep the selectors interested and strengthen his case for future assignments. Another failure, however, would make his path back into the ODI side considerably more challenging, especially with competition for places in India’s top order remaining intense.
JAISWAL FIGHTING WITH COMPETITION
Let’s be honest, had Virat Kohli been part of the Indian squad, Yashasvi Jaiswal might have had to wait even longer for an opportunity in the ODI setup. With Kohli expected to return in the near future and Shubman Gill likely to move back to his preferred opening slot alongside Rohit Sharma, the third ODI against Afghanistan assumes added importance for the young left-hander.
Jaiswal’s challenge is not a lack of talent but the sheer depth of India’s batting resources. Opportunities have been limited, and every outing carries added significance for a player trying to break into a settled top order.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged as much ahead of the match, saying Jaiswal has had to remain patient because of the quality and competition within the squad. He stressed that while team success remains the priority, players on the fringes must make the most of the chances they receive.
“He is someone who is waiting in the wings because of the quality and the depth we have in that position. But I certainly get the feeling that the first priority is always to win the series and to put your best team out,” Ten Doeschate said in the pre-match press conference.
“Jaiswal does get a few chances and it is incredibly tough because there is so much quality. But he is one of those guys where he does get the right chances like this, he is going to have to score runs. That is just the nature of Indian cricket,” he added.
Those remarks underline the reality facing Jaiswal. With competition for places fiercer than ever and established stars set to return, the Chennai ODI offers him a valuable opportunity to remind the selectors of his credentials and push his case for a more regular role in India’s 50-over plans.
WILL NITISH REDDY RETURN?
Going into the final ODI, there is considerable interest around India’s team selection, with the series already in the bag. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has confirmed that changes will be made to the playing XI, with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy set to return after missing the Lucknow ODI due to thigh soreness.
The bigger question, however, is who makes way. Ten Doeschate revealed that left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is likely to be rested as part of workload management, while the team management is also considering giving one of the batters a break.
“No, we will be making a few changes from the first two games. Part of the brief coming into the series was that we wanted to try a few different combinations and give everyone a fair share of games,” Ten Doeschate said in the pre-match press conference.
“Someone like Arshdeep has bowled very well in the first two games; he can probably take a rest tomorrow, and the same goes for one of the batters. We’ll swap them out and go back to playing a slightly different side.”
The comments suggest India are keen to use the dead rubber to test their squad depth while managing workloads ahead of a busy international calendar.
Ten Doeschate also provided an update on Nitish, confirming that the all-rounder has recovered well and is available for selection.
“Nitish, he probably could have played the last game as well. But he will be good to go for tomorrow’s game,” he said.
Nitish’s return could add further balance to the side, while the expected rotation offers another opportunity for fringe players to impress as India look to complete a clean sweep of the series.
CAN AFGHANISTAN BOUNCE BACK?
For Afghanistan, one of the biggest concerns has been their batting and repeated collapses. After a disappointing performance in Dharamsala, skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi stressed that the batters need to take greater responsibility and keep the Indian bowlers under pressure.
However, instead of responding strongly, Afghanistan were bowled out for 232 while chasing a massive target of 403. With the series already lost, the batters will now have an opportunity to play with a freer mindset.
Afghanistan fielding coach John Mooney also acknowledged the issue, saying the team needs a more disciplined batting effort. He emphasized that the batters cannot afford to lose wickets in clusters and will be aiming to reset and show more application in the next match.
“I believe we’ve shown at times enough to compete with this Indian team. We just need to put together a full 50 overs effort with the bat.
“The players need to figure that out, while they sit back for a little bit longer, how they structure their innings as batsmen,” said Mooney in the pre-match press conference here.
“I feel we’ve given away soft wickets and we’ve lost wickets in pairs. That’s an area that we’ve spoken about to make sure that we reset and rebuild,” he added.
Afghanistan have never beaten India in any form of international cricket. They have shown flashes of promise during the tour of India, but inconsistency has continued to hold them back.
India will start as strong favourites to make it 3-0, but with nothing left to lose, this could be Afghanistan’s opportunity to turn the tables and finally challenge their dominance.
CHENNAI PITCH AND CONDITIONS
Chennai has traditionally been a good venue for batters, with the average first-innings score around 260 across 28 matches. The pitch has generally favoured teams batting first, with 15 matches won by sides setting a target.
However, the surface can slow down as the game progresses, bringing spinners into play. As a result, teams winning the toss may prefer to field first.
There is also a rain threat during the match. Conditions are expected to be cloudy with the possibility of thunderstorms, so one or two interruptions in play cannot be ruled out. Temperatures are likely to hover around 32°C with humidity in the 70% range.
IND vs AFG PREDICTED XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Darwish Rasooli, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Bilal Sami
– Ends
