India and Afghanistan will face each other in the third and final ODI of the Afghanistan Tour of India 2026 on June 20 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India have already secured the series and will target a clean sweep, while Afghanistan will look to avoid a 3-0 defeat and finish the tour on a positive note.
Match Details
Venue: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Date: June 20, 2026
Time: 1:30 PM IST, 1:00 PM PST, 8:00 AM GMT
Team Overviews
India have continued their excellent white-ball form throughout the series and have dominated Afghanistan in both completed matches. The hosts chased comfortably in the rain-affected opener before producing one of their highest ODI totals in the second match at Lucknow. Their batting lineup has looked formidable, while the bowling unit has consistently delivered under pressure. With the series already in the bag, India will aim to maintain their momentum and complete a comprehensive whitewash.
Afghanistan have shown flashes of brilliance but have struggled to put together a complete team performance. Rahmanullah Gurbaz impressed with a century in the first ODI, while Nangeyal Kharote’s four-wicket haul in Lucknow highlighted the quality within the squad. However, Afghanistan have lacked consistent support from the rest of the lineup, which has prevented them from challenging India over the course of the series. The visitors will hope for a stronger collective effort in Chennai.
Key Players
Rohit Sharma could play a defining role for India in the final ODI. The experienced opener has shown promising signs in both matches but has failed to convert his starts into a substantial score. Chennai presents another opportunity for the Indian veteran to finish the series strongly and provide a solid platform at the top of the order.
For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan remains the biggest threat with the ball. The leg-spinner enjoys bowling on spin-friendly surfaces and possesses extensive experience in Indian conditions. The Chennai pitch is expected to assist spinners, making Rashid a key figure in Afghanistan’s hopes of restricting India’s powerful batting lineup.
Head-to-Head Record
India and Afghanistan have faced each other six times in One-Day Internationals.
Matches Played: 6
India Won: 5
Afghanistan Won: 0
Tied/No Result: 1
First-ever Fixture: March 5, 2014 (India won)
Most Recent Fixture: June 17, 2026 (India won)
India have dominated the rivalry and remain unbeaten against Afghanistan in ODI cricket.
Pitch Report
The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium is expected to provide a balanced surface for the third ODI. A fresh pitch could offer assistance to both batters and bowlers, although spin is likely to play a major role as the match progresses.
Rain fell in Chennai a few days before the game, which may leave some moisture in the surface during the early stages. Seam bowlers could receive limited assistance initially before the spinners come into play. Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first, considering the conditions and the historical trend at the venue.
Probable Playing XIs
India (Captain: Shubman Gill): Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Harshit Rana, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.
Afghanistan (Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediq Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmat Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem.
Live Streaming and Broadcast
India: JioStar Network channels on television and JioHotstar app and website for live streaming.
Pakistan: Official broadcast details have not been provided in the available match information.
United Kingdom: Official broadcast details have not been provided in the available match information.
Australia: Official broadcast details have not been provided in the available match information.
Global Viewers: JioHotstar app and website are listed as the official streaming platforms in the provided match information, subject to regional availability.
Probable Match Scenarios
If India chase, they are expected to be strong favourites given the depth of their batting lineup and recent form. A powerplay score between 55 and 75 could set the platform for a successful chase of a target in the 270-290 range.
Afghanistan will need a solid start from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran if they bat first. The visitors are projected to score between 65 and 85 runs in the powerplay and could target a total in the 310-330 range if their top order performs well.
The battle between India’s batters and Afghanistan’s spin attack, led by Rashid Khan, could ultimately determine the outcome of the contest.
Match Prediction
India enter the match with momentum, confidence, and a clear advantage in overall squad depth. Their batting lineup has consistently outperformed Afghanistan’s attack throughout the series, while the bowlers have delivered disciplined performances when required.
Afghanistan possess talented individuals capable of influencing the game, particularly with spin-friendly conditions expected in Chennai. However, they need a complete team performance to challenge a dominant Indian side.
Considering current form, head-to-head record, and home conditions, India remain favourites to win the third ODI and complete a 3-0 series sweep. If Afghanistan can capitalize on the assistance for spin and produce a stronger batting display, they could make the contest competitive, but India hold the upper hand heading into the match.
