IND vs AFG 3rd ODI: 3 Strategic Changes India can Make Today

With the Indian cricket team holding an unassailable 2-0 lead after a massive 170-run victory in Lucknow, the third and final ODI against Afghanistan at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is officially a dead rubber.

However, in the context of international cricket and long-term tournament cycles, there is no such thing as a meaningless game.

For India, under Shubman Gill’s leadership, this match is a vital laboratory to test bench strength ahead of the 2027 World Cup build-up. For Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghanistan, it is about salvaging pride and figuring out how to counter a dominant Indian side in challenging subcontinent conditions.

With the famously spin-friendly Chepauk pitch waiting, both management camps have some serious tactical decisions to make. Here are three strategic changes both India and Afghanistan can make heading into the series finale.

3 Changes India Can Make for the 3rd ODI

India has functioned like a well-oiled machine so far, but with the series secured, the hosts have the luxury of rotating players without risking the trophy.

Draft Harshit Rana to Manage Pace Workloads

The biggest headline heading into Chennai is the return of Harshit Rana. After suffering a severe knee injury that ruled him out of the 2026 T20 World Cup and the IPL. Resting lead pacer Arshdeep Singh makes the most sense here, giving the left-armer a well-deserved break while allowing Rana to test his fitness with the new ball.

Rotate the Middle Order

India’s batting was destructive in the second ODI, highlighted by Ishan Kishan’s explosive 125-run blitz. However, the management’s goal right now is evaluating combinations. Giving Shreyas Iyer more time in the middle or rotating Kishan out to let another middle-order prospect face high-pressure spin ensures the entire squad gets crucial game time.

Introduce a Spin All-Rounder for Chepauk

The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium historically offers a dry, turning track that gets slower as the game progresses. Instead of playing a heavy pace attack like they did in Dharamshala, India could drop a fast bowler like Prince Yadav and introduce a spin-bowling all-rounder like Harsh Dubey.