India’s depth takes centrestage as Afghanistan fight to avoid whitewash in series finale
Big Picture: India Dominance and Emerging Talent
In what has been a compelling test of India’s bench strength, the absence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya has only served to highlight the incredible depth within the squad. With the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan already secured with a game to spare, India has demonstrated a seamless transition and impressive performance from its younger talents. The final match in Chennai on June 20 now presents an opportunity for a clean sweep.
The series has seen several players seize their opportunities with both hands. Ishan Kishan, for instance, has effortlessly reintegrated into the ODI setup, delivering a spectacular 125 runs off just 79 balls in the challenging heat of Lucknow. This explosive knock underscored his value to the team. The tall fast bowler Gurnoor Brar, selected for his raw potential over more seasoned domestic performers, has justified his inclusion spectacularly. He has topped the wicket-taking charts with an impressive six wickets across the two matches, showcasing his ability to translate potential into concrete performance.
Left-arm fingerspinner Harsh Dubey made a commendable debut in the rain-affected 25-over match in Dharamsala, playing a crucial role. Prince Yadav, despite an early setback of a front-foot no-ball denying him Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s wicket in Lucknow, recovered admirably to contribute significantly to India’s series-clinching victory. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has continued his prolific form with the bat, following an unbeaten 84 off 66 balls as an opener in the first ODI with a magnificent 154 off 110 balls from the number three position in the second game. These are ominous signs for Afghanistan, especially considering India’s captain has expressed a desire to bat deeper and accumulate even more runs. The hosts are clearly poised to complete a dominant 3-0 whitewash, unless a special performance from someone like Gurbaz or Rashid Khan can turn the tide.
Afghanistan’s Batting Woes Deepen
Afghanistan’s already brittle batting line-up appeared even more fragile in the second ODI due to the absence of Mohammad Nabi, who was sidelined with a viral infection. This has been a recurring issue for the visitors. Since the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan holds the unenviable record of having the second-worst run rate, trailing only Bangladesh, among the top-ten teams in the ICC’s current rankings. Furthermore, they possess the third-worst batting average among these elite cricketing nations, highlighting a significant area of concern that they desperately need to address.
Form Guide
India: WWLLW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Afghanistan: LLWWW
Team News: Potential Changes and Experimentation
India’s Strategic Rotations
Following a sore thigh that kept him out of the Lucknow ODI, seam-bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was seen bowling without any apparent discomfort at the Chepauk nets on Friday. His return for the third ODI on Saturday is highly probable. Yashasvi Jaiswal could also be given another opportunity to prove his credentials in the ODI format after falling cheaply in the previous game. With the series already in India’s favour, Ryan ten Doeschate, India’s assistant coach, indicated that the team would lean towards experimenting with its combination, providing chances to players on the fringes.
Harshit Rana has been added to the squad for the third ODI, having successfully recovered from knee surgery. However, India is unlikely to rush him back into top-flight international cricket, especially considering his last international appearance was in February of this year. The team might also face a selection dilemma between the left-arm fingerspin of Harsh Dubey and the left-arm wristspin of Kuldeep Yadav, depending on the pitch conditions and strategic requirements.
India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill (capt), 4 Ishan Kishan (wk), 5 Shreyas Iyer/KL Rahul, 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Kuldeep Yadav/Harsh Dubey, 9 Gurnoor Brar, 10 & 11 Two among Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana
Afghanistan’s Hopes for Key Returns
For Afghanistan, the potential return of Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai from illness and injury, respectively, would be a significant boost. John Mooney, Afghanistan’s fielding coach, confirmed that both players are being closely monitored and are not far from returning to action. The visiting team did not hold a training session at Chepauk on the eve of the game, perhaps indicating a cautious approach with their key players.
Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Mohammad Nabi/Darwish Rasooli, 7 Azmatullah Omarzai/Bilal Sami, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Nangeyala Kharoti, 10 AM Ghazanfar, 11 Mohammad Saleem
In the Spotlight: Jaiswal’s Opportunity and Rashid’s Burden
Yashasvi Jaiswal would undoubtedly be a guaranteed pick for the top order in most other white-ball international teams across the globe. However, India is not ‘most other teams.’ The sheer depth of top-order batting options within the Indian squad meant that Jaiswal was previously sidelined, even after hitting an impressive unbeaten 116 against a strong South Africa attack featuring Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, and Keshav Maharaj in Vizag last December. The upcoming match in Chennai presents yet another crucial opportunity for him to cement his place in the selection frame as the team looks ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
In a recent IPL season that proved to be particularly challenging for spinners, Rashid Khan was a standout performer for the Gujarat Titans. He emerged as the sole spinner among the top ten wicket-takers in the 2026 season, a testament to his exceptional skill and adaptability. Even on the flat track in Lucknow, where India amassed a formidable total of 402, Rashid managed to hold his own. However, Afghanistan desperately needs more than just containment from their spin maestro, especially with rookie spinner AM Ghazanfar yet to find his rhythm and impact in this series. The pressure is on Rashid to deliver a match-winning performance.
Pitch and Conditions
Friday’s fixture is scheduled to be played on pitch no. 4 at Chepauk, a red-soil surface that typically offers substantial bounce, which could assist the fast bowlers. Chennai experienced some showers two days prior to the game, but the weather cleared up on the eve of the match, promising a dry playing surface. However, another hot and humid afternoon is anticipated, potentially necessitating multiple drinks breaks, similar to the conditions endured in Lucknow, and will undoubtedly test the players’ physical fitness on match day.
Stats and Trivia
- Gurnoor Brar has etched his name in history as only the second Indian bowler, after Piyush Chawla, to claim three or more wickets in his first two men’s ODIs. Chawla notably achieved this feat in each of his first three ODIs.
- Ishan Kishan’s ODI strike rate of 107.69 after 29 games is remarkably the third-highest for India, surpassed only by Yusuf Pathan (113.60) and Hardik Pandya (110.89).
- Afghanistan has faced India six times in ODI cricket, with their best result being a thrilling tie achieved in Dubai during the 2018 Asia Cup.
Quotes
Reflecting on his journey to the national side, Gurnoor Brar stated:
