Now or never: Yashasvi Jaiswal faces crucial test as India’s eye test series moves
India have already sealed the ODI series against Afghanistan with wins in Dharamsala and Lucknow. The final match on Saturday, June 20 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is technically a dead rubber, but still something to watch out for. One of the key talking points is Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is fighting to cement his place in the Indian team.
In Lucknow, Jaiswal returned to the 50-over format after an absence of about six months. With Rohit Sharma rested, the left-hander at the top of the order got an opportunity. Shubman Gill, one of India’s regular openers, has dropped to No.3, while Ishan Kishan has moved to No.4 to accommodate Jaiswal’s inclusion.
However, Jaiswal didn’t come through, scoring just four runs before being dismissed by Mohammad Saleem. The dismissal was a setback for the 24-year-old, who is looking to make his mark across formats and stake a stronger claim on India’s ODI plans.
With just one game left in the series, opportunities are running out. A strong performance in Chennai could help Jaiswal retain the selectors’ interest and strengthen his case for future assignments. However, another setback would make his journey back to the ODI side much more difficult, especially as the competition for places in India’s top order remains intense.
JAISWAL BOJ COMPETITION
Let’s be honest, if Virat Kohli was part of the Indian team, Yashasvi Jaiswal might have to wait even longer for an opportunity in the ODI setup. With Kohli expected to return in the near future and Shubman Gill likely to move back to his preferred spot alongside Rohit Sharma, the third ODI against Afghanistan assumes significance for the young left-hander.
Jaiswal’s challenge is not a lack of talent but the sheer depth of India’s batting resources. Opportunities have been limited and each outing has added meaning for players trying to break into the established top rankings.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged this before the match and said Jaiswal had to remain patient because of the quality and competition in the team. He emphasized that while team success remains a priority, players on the fringes must make the most of the chances they get.
“He’s someone waiting in the wings because of the quality and depth we have in that position. But I certainly feel like the first priority is always to win the series and field our best team,” Ten Doeschate said in a pre-match press conference.
“Jaiswal will get a few chances and it’s incredibly difficult because there’s so much quality. But he’s one of those guys where he gets the right chances like this, he’s going to have to score. That’s just the nature of Indian cricket,” he added.
These remarks underscore the reality Jaiswal faces. With the competition for places fiercer than ever and established stars set to return, the Chennai ODI offers him a valuable opportunity to remind the selectors of his credentials and make his case for a more regular role in India’s plans after 50 years.
WILL NITISH REDDY RETURN?
As for the final ODI, there is considerable interest in the selection of the Indian team, with the series already in the bag. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that changes will be made to the playing eleven all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to make a comeback after missing the Lucknow ODI due to thigh soreness.
The bigger question, however, is who will make the trip. Ten Doeschate revealed that left-arm paceman Arshdeep Singh is likely to be rested as part of workload management, while the team management is also considering giving one of the batsmen a break.
“No, we’re going to make a few changes from the first two games. Part of the short coming into the series was that we wanted to try a few different combinations and give everyone a fair share of games,” Ten Doeschate said in a pregame press conference.
“Someone like Arshdeep has played very well in the first two games; he can probably rest tomorrow and the same goes for one of the batsmen. We will change them and go back to playing a slightly different side.”
Comments suggest that India would be keen to use the dead rubber to test the depth of their squad while managing the workload ahead of a busy international calendar.
Ten Doeschate also provided an update on Nitish confirming that the all-rounder has recovered well and is available for selection.
“Nitish, probably could have played the last match as well. But it will be good if he goes for tomorrow’s match,” he said.
Nitish’s return could add further balance to the side, while the expected rotation offers another opportunity for fringe players to make an impact for India as they look to complete a clean sheet.
CAN AFGHANISTAN FIGHT BACK?
For Afghanistan, one of the biggest concerns is their batting and repeated collapses. After a disappointing performance in Dharamsala, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi highlighted this batsmen need to take more responsibility and keep the Indian bowlers under pressure.
However, instead of responding strongly, Afghanistan were bowled out for 232 chasing a massive target of 403. With the series already lost, the batsmen will now have an opportunity to play with a looser mindset.
Afghanistan fielding coach John Mooney also acknowledged the problem and said the team needed more disciplined batting. He emphasized that the batsmen cannot afford to lose wickets in bunches and will look to reset and show more application in the next match.
“I believe we have shown enough at times to compete with this Indian team. We need to put together a full 50 overs with the bat.”
“The players have to figure it out while they sit a little bit longer, how they structure their innings as batsmen,” Mooney said at a pre-match press conference here.
“I feel like we’ve given away soft wickets and lost wickets in pairs. That’s an area we’ve been talking about making sure we reset and rebuild,” he added.
Afghanistan have never beaten India in any form of international cricket. They showed flashes of promise during the tour of India, but inconsistency continued to hold them back.
India will start as heavy favorites with a 3-0 lead, but with nothing left to lose, this could be Afghanistan’s chance to turn the tables and finally challenge their dominance.
CHENNAI PITCH AND TERMS
Chennai has traditionally been a good place for batting with an average first innings score of around 260 in 28 matches. The pitch generally favors teams batting first, with 15 matches won by sides who set the target.
However, the surface can slow down during play, bringing spinners into play. As a result, teams that win the toss may prefer to line up first.
There is also a risk of rain during the match. Cloudy with the possibility of thunderstorms is expected, so one or two game interruptions cannot be ruled out. Temperatures are likely to hover around 32°C with humidity in the 70% range.
IND vs AFG PREDICTED XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Darwish Rasooli, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Bilal Sami
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
20 Jun 2026 07:15 IST