Nitish Kumar Reddy Returns as India Ring in 3 Changes… But Afghanistan’s Toss Call Steals Early Attention in Chennai ODI

Chennai: The third and final ODI between India national cricket team and Afghanistan national cricket team may already be a dead rubber in terms of result, but it still carried enough intrigue at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday morning.

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and opted to bat first on what he described as a “dry and hard” surface, setting up an interesting challenge for the Indian bowling unit in hot Chennai conditions.

India Rotate Again, Nitish Kumar Reddy Returns

Indian skipper Shubman Gill confirmed three changes to the playing XI, bringing back Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, and Prasidh Krishna into the side.

The move comes as India look to continue experimenting with squad depth after already sealing the series. The management has used the final ODI as an opportunity to test bench strength ahead of a packed international calendar.

Gill, speaking at the toss, acknowledged that while conditions look favourable for batting, India still want to improve one key area—chasing consistency under pressure.

“Looks like a very good wicket. We’ll be chasing in this match, and chasing big scores consistently and comfortably is one area where we haven’t quite ticked the box yet,” Gill said, highlighting a subtle concern despite India’s dominance in the series.

Afghanistan Make Bold Changes After Early Struggles

Afghanistan, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, also made four changes to their XI in an attempt to reset after back-to-back defeats.

The visitors brought back experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi and included Azmatullah Omarzai, along with Zia-ur-Rahman Sharifi and Fareed Ahmad Malik.

Shahidi admitted that Afghanistan have not been able to replicate their usual standards in the series so far, especially in building partnerships and maintaining pressure with the ball.

“We missed some areas in the last two games. Hopefully we recover today and build good partnerships,” he said after opting to bat.

India’s Playing XI: A Blend of Youth and Experience

India’s XI once again reflected their long-term planning approach, blending established names like Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and Ishan Kishan with emerging talents such as Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh Dubey.

The inclusion of Prasidh Krishna further strengthens India’s pace options, while young pacer Prince Yadav continues to be part of the developmental setup.

The full XI highlights India’s intent to build depth across formats rather than rely solely on a fixed core.

Afghanistan’s Challenge: Rebuild Confidence in Tough Conditions

For Afghanistan, the focus remains on salvaging pride after a tough tour. Despite flashes of promise from players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan, the team has struggled to maintain momentum across innings.

The Chennai surface, dry and slow under the sun, offers both opportunity and risk. A strong batting start could put India under pressure, but early wickets could quickly tilt the contest once again in the hosts’ favour.

More Than Just a Dead Rubber

While the series outcome is already decided, the final ODI still carries significant weight for India’s selection puzzle. With young players being rotated in and senior names being carefully managed, performances here could influence future squad decisions.

For Afghanistan, meanwhile, the match represents a chance to leave India with something tangible—confidence, clarity, and a reminder of their competitive potential in white-ball cricket.

As the sun beats down on Chennai, both sides step into a contest that may not change the series result—but could certainly shape narratives beyond it.

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