Afghanistan Opt To Bat Against India In Final ODI

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi elected to bat first after calling correctly at the toss in the third and final ODI against India in Chennai on Saturday.

The visitors reshuffled their side with four inclusions, bringing Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, and Fareed Ahmad Malik into the playing XI.

Explaining the decision, Shahidi said the pitch appeared firm and dry, conditions that should favour the batters. He added that Afghanistan had fallen short in key moments during the first two matches and hoped the team would deliver a more complete performance this time.

The hosts handed opportunities to Prasidh Krishna, Harsh Dubey, and Nitish Kumar Reddy as they sought to complete a whitewash in the three-match series.

Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and KL Rahul made way for the returning trio.

Nitish rejoined the side after sitting out the previous fixture in Lucknow because of discomfort in his left thigh.

In Rahul’s absence, Ishan Kishan assumed wicketkeeping duties.

India captain Shubman Gill admitted he would have preferred to bat first as well, describing the Chennai wicket as an excellent surface for stroke play. He emphasised the need for sustained consistency in execution and pointed out that chasing a target remained an area India wanted to test further before the series concluded.

Pitch experts Michael Clarke and Deep Dasgupta observed that the red-soil wicket should generate lively bounce throughout the contest. They also noted that bowlers who vary their pace intelligently could extract additional assistance from the surface.

Having already sealed the series with victories in the opening two encounters, India will be aiming to complete a 3-0 sweep.

At the same time, Afghanistan will look to salvage pride with a win in the final ODI.

Also Read: Harshit Rana Returns To India ODI Squad For Final Afghanistan Match