India Aim for Clean Sweep as They Face Afghanistan in Series-Deciding Third ODI]
India hold a commanding 2-0 lead in the three-match series and will look to secure a whitewash when they meet Afghanistan in the third and final ODI in Chennai. The host nation has relentlessly outperformed the visitors so far, claiming a comfortable seven-wicket victory in Dharamshala followed by a imposing 170-run success in Lucknow.
Captain Shubman Gill, in sensational form, will be the cornerstone of India’s ambitions—his magnificent 154 in the second ODI earning rave reviews. While India’s management may opt to test their bench strength, fast bowler Harshit Rana has been included after a successful rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and could earn his maiden appearance. For Afghanistan, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s side faces an uphill battle, desperately seeking to arrest their batting collapses and mount a formidable challenge against India’s formidable lineup.
Match Details
- Date and Time: June 20, 1:30 PM IST / 8:00 AM GMT
- Venue: Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Head-to-Head Record in ODIs
Matches Played: 6 | India Won: 5 | Afghanistan Won: 0 | Tied: 1
Pitch Report
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai traditionally offers a dry, abrasive surface that favors slower bowlers and spinners as the match progresses. While the new ball may seamer straight during the powerplay, the pitch is expected to deteriorate significantly, making run-scoring challenging during the middle overs due to variable bounce and turn. Given Chennai’s hot and humid conditions, the surface can become increasingly sluggish. Captains winning the toss typically choose to bat first to post a competitive total and avoid chasing on a deteriorating, spin-friendly surface in the second innings.
Teams
India: Shubman Gill (c), Shreyas Iyer (vc), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem
Prediction
Scenario Analysis:
- If India wins the toss and elects to bowl: Afghanistan’s powerplay score likely 40-50; total around 250-270
- If Afghanistan wins the toss and bowls first: India’s powerplay score expected 50-60; total between 300-340
Result Outlook: The team batting second holds the advantage in such conditions.
