
The third and final ODI between India (IND) and Afghanistan (AFG) will be played at the prestigious MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, June 20, 2026. India have already made sure that the series is theirs – they have won the series 2-0 with two impressive wins. But this game still matters. India want a clean sweep, and Afghanistan desperately need their first ODI win against the Men in Blue. Can Afghanistan create a historic upset in Chennai? Let’s break it all down here at Cricbites.
| Match | India vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI |
|---|---|
| Series | Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 |
| Date | Saturday, June 20, 2026 |
| Time | 1:30 PM IST |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (OTT) / Star Sports (TV) |
The MA Chidambaram Stadium – fondly known as Chepauk – is hosting its first ODI after renovation. Historically, this venue favoured the team batting first. However, the last five games here have all been won by teams chasing, which shows the surface is now more balanced. Spinners will still get plenty of help, especially as the match goes on, but batters should get a good surface early. A first-innings total of around 270-300 could be difficult to chase under the Chennai sun.
Chennai will be hot and humid in June. There is a 57% chance of rain in this match, which means the toss could play a big role. If the rain comes early, both captains will want to bowl first and take advantage of any movement in the air. If the sky is clear, batting first to set the target would be a smart decision – as fielding in the Chennai heat in the afternoon is very difficult for any team.
| Matches Played | India Won | Afghanistan Won | Tied | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
India’s head-to-head record is absolutely dominant. In 7 ODIs, India has won 5, including one tie (Asia Cup 2018) and one no result. Afghanistan is still waiting for its first ODI win against India. In this current series, India won the first ODI by 7 wickets and the second ODI by 170 runs, scoring 402 runs in the second game – 154 from Shubman Gill and 125 from Ishan Kishan.
Also Read: India A vs Afghanistan A Highlights: Massive Win Sends India A Into Final
| India XI | Afghanistan XI |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (C) | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK) |
| Rohit Sharma | Ibrahim Zadran |
| Ishan Kishan (WK) | Sediqullah Atal |
| Shreyas Iyer | Rahmat Shah |
| KL Rahul | Hashmatullah Shahidi (C) |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Washington Sundar | Mohammad Nabi |
| Harsh Dubey | Rashid Khan |
| Harshit Rana | AM Ghazanfar |
| Gurnoor Brar | Ziaur Rahman |
| Arshdeep Singh | Mohammad Saleem |
India could make one or two changes for this strong player, which will give more time to youngsters like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana. Reddy impressed in the first ODI with figures of 2/31 and deserves more playing time with the bat. Afghanistan is also expected to field a similar team for their maiden win against India.
Given the rain threat and Chennai’s spin-friendly conditions late in the game, the team winning the toss is likely to bat first – set a target around 270-300 and let the spinners do the damage in the second innings. If rain is expected early, the captain may opt to field and make use of overcast conditions.
Captain and in-form batter. Hit 154 in the last game. A nightmare for any bowling attack right now.
Picked up 3/45 in the last match. His swing with the new ball is a major weapon in this series.
The leg-spin ace. Got 3 wickets in the 2nd ODI. If Chennai offers turn, he can be dangerous.
Explosive opener and wicket-keeper. His starts matter a lot for Afghanistan’s batting momentum.
Here is the Cricbites expert breakdown for the IND vs AFG 3rd ODI. All factors – pitch, weather, form, head-to-head, and team balance – are taken into account.
| Factor | India (IND) | Afghanistan (AFG) | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recent Form | Won last 2 ODIs by 7 wickets & 170 runs | Lost both matches heavily | India |
| Head to Head | 5 wins from 7 ODIs | 0 wins from 7 ODIs | India |
| Batting Depth | Gill, Rohit, Kishan, Iyer — world-class | Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim lead | India |
| Bowling Attack | Arshdeep, Gurnoor + spinners | Rashid + Ghazanfar (spin threat) | Even |
| Pitch Suitability | Spin from Kuldeep/Washington works well | Rashid thrives on turning tracks | Even |
| Home Advantage | Playing at home in Chennai | Away side, unfamiliar conditions | India |
| Team Momentum | Clinical performances in both games | Searching for confidence | India |
| Weather Impact | Rain may reduce overs, India adapt well | Prefer bowler-friendly conditions | Neutral |
| Win Probability | ~80% | ~20% | India Favoured |
Win Probability: India 80% · Afghanistan 20% · India predicted to complete the clean sweep
India are the clear favourites in this third ODI. Their batting is strong across the board, their bowling is varied and experienced, and they play on their home turf of Chennai. Afghanistan have some match-winners in the form of Rashid Khan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, but they need a complete game to stop India. Based on current form, head-to-head dominance and home advantage, Cricbites predicts that India will win the third ODI and sweep the series 3-0.