India Eye a Reshuffled Lineup for the Series Decider
India are preparing to field a noticeably different playing eleven in the third and final ODI against Afghanistan, with the team management eager to rotate personnel and try out fresh combinations. India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate laid out the likely shape of the team at a pre-match press conference, indicating that several spots in the eleven could change hands from the previous game.
Yashasvi Jaiswal Backed to Open Again Despite Poor Previous Outing
Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that Yashasvi Jaiswal will retain his opening slot alongside Rohit Sharma for the third ODI, even after a forgettable second match where he failed to score. The coaching staff has chosen to stick with him and give him one more opportunity to prove himself. Meanwhile, KL Rahul will continue in his designated role further down the batting order, with the management ruling out any promotion for the wicketkeeper-batter.
"The variety in the batting order is brilliant. There is no plan to move KL Rahul up the order. We also need to see Yashasvi. He could not score in the last match, but he will get one more chance. Five batters along with Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar. Nitish is also a batter, so there will be no change in the top three from the previous match." - Ryan ten Doeschate
Harshit Rana Set to Step in for a Rested Arshdeep Singh
The most talked-about change heading into the third ODI is the potential return of Harshit Rana, who has completed his recovery from a knee surgery. Harshit Rana is widely expected to come into the eleven in place of Arshdeep Singh, who may be handed a rest day. Ryan ten Doeschate noted that the team wants to use this match to experiment with different player combinations and ensure everyone gets game time in the series. Nitish Kumar Reddy is also in line for a recall to the playing eleven for this match.
Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan Both Available After Lucknow Heat Test
Fitness concerns briefly surfaced around Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan after the second ODI in Lucknow, where both players batted for extended periods under severe heat. Shubman Gill felt the effects of the conditions and stayed away from a practice session, while Ishan Kishan was managing a shoulder complaint. Ryan ten Doeschate cleared both of them ahead of the third match, confirming that Shubman Gill is fully fit and that Ishan Kishan's shoulder issue has also been resolved.
