IND vs AFG 3rd ODI, India aim for clean sweep:Rain threat in Chennai; Nitish Reddy to get chance, Arshdeep rested

With the series already in their bag, the Indian team will want to experiment further in the upcoming third ODI against Afghanistan on 20 June. The Men in Blue took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, thanks to Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan’s historic tons, which helped India win by 170 runs in Lucknow. With the series finale being a dead rubber, the entire focus will be on experimentation and giving a chance to the youngsters. Yashasvi Jaiswal was included in the playing XI for the second ODI and failed to leave a mark, but he deserves another game. Similarly, KL Rahul was dismissed for a duck while those around him flourished. Rohit Sharma will also hope to get a big total under his belt after missing out on a well-deserved half-century, having been bowled by Rashid Khan on 48. In the latest development, Harshit Rana has been added to the Men in Blue squad for the third game. During the pre-match press conference, Team India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said that Nitish Reddy will come in the Playing XI for the 3rd ODI while Arshdeep is expected to be rested. For Afghanistan, the third ODI will be all about salvaging some pride and giving India a tough fight on a Chennai pitch which will be best suited to their spin-heavy bowling attack. India vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI match details Match: India vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium Date: 20 June, 2026 Time: 01:30 PM IST, toss at 01:00 Where to watch: Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (Streaming) How to follow: Bhaskar English app Shubman Gill and Gurnoor Brar India’s top shots in ODI series so far In the two ODIs that Team India has played against Afghanistan, Shubman Gill has impressed the most with the willow. Ishan Kishan might have stolen the limelight in the second match, but Gill not only stayed 84 not out in the first ODI, but scored 154 in 2nd match, showcasing his patience and resilience. Meanwhile, pacer Gurnoor Brar has impressed the most as a pacer by consistently clocking about 140 kmph and delivering hard length balls. Afghanistan rely on Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nangeyalia Kharote to preserve pride In the two games that Afghanistan have played against India in the one-day series, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been most consistent with the bat. He slammed a ton in the first match but got out early in 2nd ODI. Meanwhile, with the ball, the visitors had different performers in each game. In the first match, it was Rashid Khan, while in the second ODI, Nangeyalia Kharote impressed with his 4-wicket spell. Can Rohit Sharma overcome Rashid Khan nightmare? Rashid Khan has bowled just 23 balls to Rohit Sharma in the ODI format. However, in these short spells, the Afghan spinner has managed to dismiss him both times. Even in terms of economy, Rashid’s economy against Rohit is below 7, so that explains why India opener has not been able to score at an explosive rate. Can Arshdeep Singh get the prized wicket of AFG’s best batter in this series? Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been the best batter for Afghanistan in this one-day series, but despite great performance with the ball, Arshdeep Singh has not been able to dismiss him even once. Arshdeep is economical, conceding just 27 runs in 24 balls, but he has yet to dismiss Gurbaz in one-day matches. India vs Afghanistan head-to-head record Men in Blue have been unbeatable in ODIs so far against Afghanistan. The Afghans have managed to tie one game, but the visitors are yet to secure a win while playing the 50-over match vs India. MA Chidambaram pitch report The pitches used during the IPL 2026 in the MA Chidambaram Stadium offered assistance to both batters and ballers. In four of the seven games, the teams were restricted to a score below 200, while in three matches, franchises managed to breach the 200-run mark in one innings. So for the Saturday contest, the pitch might be a bit tacky, offering more help to bowlers. Chennai weather report It is expected to be a hot and humid day in Chennai with temperatures between 36 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius. However, there is a high chance of precipitation as well with the possibility of rain as high upto 55% during the day and 20% during the nighttime. Meanwhile, the contest is expected to be played under overcast conditions.