3 changes India could make in 3rd IND vs AFG ODI in Chennai
(Courtesy : BCCI)
India will lock horns with Afghanistan on June 20 in 3rd ODI in Chennai.
Afghanistan are touring India for a three-match ODI series which started on June 13. Prior to this, they played a one-off Test which India won comfortably. The Men in Blue have already sealed the series after being victorious in the two ODIs that were played in Dharamshala and Lucknow.
Shubman Gill is the highest scorer of the series, with 238 runs to his name in the two matches, meanwhile, debutant Gurnoor Brar has picked the most wicket (6) so far.
Shubman Gill and Co. will take the field on June 20 in Chennai for the third and the final ODI of the series. They will aim to make it a clean sweep and continue their winning momentum.
India have experimented with their bowling and batting combinations in this series, gearing up for ICC Cricket World Cup 2027. They have introduced left-handed batting options in their right-handed heavy line-up, have given caps to newer prospects and have also tried preparing backups for the squad.
India will be playing ODIs against England, West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka this year and they aim to have a strong squad against these teams. For the same reason, they can look to try more combinations in the third game against Afghanistan, now that the series is sealed.
In the pre-match presser, the batting coach Ryan ten Doeschate spoke to the media and said:
“We will be making a few changes from the first two games.” He added “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.”
Major changes India could make for the 3rd ODI against Afghanistan
Nitish Reddy for Gurnoor Brar
Nitish Reddy, who missed second ODI due to injury, has shown incredible signs of all-round improvement since the IPL 2026 and could be included in the team for the 3rd ODI replacing Gurnoor Brar. Brar did phenomenally well in the first two matches, and could be rested for the third one.
In the pre-match press conference Ryan said, “Over the last 18 months, he has shown glimpses of how important he can be to this team… I feel his body is getting stronger and stronger. He is the natural successor or back-up to Hardik [Pandya].”
Harsh Dubey for Kuldeep Yadav
Harsh Dubey debuted in Dharamshala in the first ODI, and he shone with a 3-wicket haul on his debut. However, he was replaced by Kuldeep Yadav in the 2nd ODI.
Although Yadav was economical in that match, giving only 42 runs off his 10 overs, he went wicketless. In the one-off Test also, Kuldeep went wicketless in the first innings, before picking a 3-wicket haul in the second.
Harsh Dubey is a bright prospect with his domestic experience as well as the batting depth he provides. At Chennai, India could bring in Dubey in place of Kuldeep.
Harshit Rana for Arshdeep Singh
Harshit Rana has joined the ODI squad in Chennai ahead of the third IND vs AFG ODI. He was out of action since January due to his injury, also missing the T20 World Cup 2026 and IPL 2026. Coming back from the injury layoff, he has been declared fit by the BCCI Centre of Excellence and has also been added to the T20I squads for Ireland and England.
Arshdeep Singh has been phenomenal with 5 wickets in the two matches, but he can be rested for the third one, so as to give some game time to Rana. Ryan said:
“Someone like Arshdeep has bowled very well in the first two games; he can probably take a rest tomorrow.”
Following this ODI series, will be a white-ball tour to the UK comprising of 2 T20Is against Ireland, 5 against England and then 3 ODIs against England. India’s squad for England ODIs is set to be announced soon.
When is the 3rd IND vs AFG ODI?
India play Afghanistan on June 20 for the 3rd ODI in Chennai.
Who was the Player of the Match in the 2nd IND vs AFG ODI?
Shubman Gill was the Player of the Match in the 2nd IND vs AFG ODI.
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.