India Aim for ODI Series Sweep as Afghanistan Opt to Bat in Chennai Decider

India entered the third and final One-Day International against Afghanistan in Chennai on Saturday with the series already secured, but the hosts remained focused on completing a dominant 3-0 sweep. The match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium marked Afghanistan’s last opportunity to salvage pride after suffering defeats in the opening two games of the series.

After winning the toss, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi elected to bat first on a Chennai surface expected to assist spinners as the match progressed. Conditions were hot and humid, with temperatures hovering around 32 degrees Celsius and only a minimal threat of rain, setting the stage for a full contest.

India made several changes to their playing XI, opting to rotate members of the squad ahead of future international assignments. Captain Shubman Gill rested key players and handed opportunities to others waiting on the sidelines. Among the notable absentees was senior batter KL Rahul, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and fast bowler Prasidh Krishna returned to the side as India looked to test its bench strength without compromising competitiveness.

The hosts entered the contest as overwhelming favourites following comprehensive victories in the first two ODIs. India’s batting unit had been in excellent form throughout the series, with skipper Gill leading from the front and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan making significant contributions. Their performances helped India dominate Afghanistan with both bat and ball, leaving the visitors searching for answers ahead of the final encounter.

For Afghanistan, the decider represented a chance to showcase resilience against one of the world’s strongest ODI sides. The visitors hoped that experienced players such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah and captain Shahidi could deliver a strong batting display after inconsistent performances earlier in the series.