Team India has already won the Afghanistan ODI series, and now it is only thee question of winning the third one, to complete the whitewash. This has been one of those series, where all the players have gotten their chances. So, will the team go with the same playing XI? As per coach Ryan ten Doeschate, the team might ring in a few changes for the June 20 match in Chennai.
Few changes possible in IND vs AFG 3rd ODI
The coach clarified that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is again available for selection, after missing the Lucknow ODI due to soreness in thigh. He also hinted that pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has five wickets in the series, could be rested, so that someone else could come in.
“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 on the eve of the third match. “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.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal in tough position
The conversation is obviously around opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who doesn’t get as many opportunities in white-ball formats, and tbh, hasn’t made the most of the matches that have come his way. In the series he has only scored 28 runs so far. That means, if he doesn’t perform, he might just slip out of consideration for the World Cup 2027, since Ishan Kishan is also doing so well now.
“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. “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.
India had posted a 7-wicket win in the 1st ODI, while they won the 2nd by 171 runs, after scoring 402. Now, after the third match, they have the Ireland and the England series’ coming up in the UK.
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