India eye clean sweep against Afghanistan in final ODI

India will look to complete a 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan when the two sides meet in the third and final match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. While the hosts have already sealed the series, the game offers a crucial opportunity for a few players to strengthen their claims ahead of a busy international season.

Among those under the spotlight is Yashasvi Jaiswal. The left-hander returned to India’s ODI setup in this series after an absence of more than eight months but has had limited opportunities to make an impact. After scoring an unbeaten century against South Africa in his previous ODI appearance, Jaiswal managed only four runs in the second ODI against Afghanistan in Lucknow.

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With competition for places intensifying, another strong innings could be vital for the youngster.
The return of Ishan Kishan has further crowded India’s top order, while Virat Kohli’s expected comeback from a hamstring injury is likely to restore him to the No. 3 position.

In the second ODI, captain Shubman Gill moved down to No. 3 to accommodate Jaiswal at the top. However, once Kohli returns, Gill is expected to resume his opening role alongside Rohit Sharma. With Kishan and Shreyas Iyer occupying the middle-order slots, opportunities for Jaiswal could become increasingly limited.

The upcoming ODI tour of England also adds significance to Jaiswal’s outing in Chennai. India’s squad for that series is expected to be announced shortly, making every innings important for players trying to cement their places.

KL Rahul will also have his own objectives heading into the match. The experienced batter has long enjoyed success in the No. 5 position, where he has accumulated the bulk of his ODI runs. However, the return of Shreyas Iyer has altered India’s middle-order dynamics, pushing Rahul further down the order.

Batting at No. 6 often leaves Rahul with fewer deliveries to face, requiring him to adapt his approach and provide quick runs in the latter stages of the innings. While his performances in the role have been solid, a substantial contribution would further underline his value to the side.

Harshit Rana set for return

India have added all-rounder Harshit Rana to the squad after he completed his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The 24-year-old has linked up with the team in Chennai and could be in line for his first competitive appearance since suffering a knee injury earlier this year.

Rana may replace Arshdeep Singh, who has featured in both matches of the series so far. His inclusion would not only bolster India’s pace attack but also add depth to the lower order with his batting ability.

The match could also serve as an important assessment of Rana’s fitness and match readiness ahead of India’s upcoming tour of the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, pacer Gurnoor Brar, who has played both ODIs against Afghanistan, is expected to retain the confidence of the team management as they continue to evaluate their pace-bowling options.

For Afghanistan, Saturday’s contest presents a final opportunity to salvage some pride. The visitors have been comprehensively outplayed throughout the series and have struggled to match India in both batting and bowling departments.

Having built a reputation as a dangerous white-ball side in recent years, Afghanistan will be eager to produce a much-improved performance and avoid ending the tour without a fight. While a victory would be a significant achievement, their immediate focus will be on delivering a more competitive display against a dominant Indian side.

Squads:

India: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Harshit Rana.

Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharotai, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami.