India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said the team is likely to make a few changes to their playing XI for the third and final ODI against Afghanistan on June 20. The host nation has already secured the series with a margin of 2-0, and the team will be looking to clean sweep the rivals on Friday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Ten Doeschate confirmed Nitish Kumar Reddy’s availability after the all-rounder missed the second ODI due to soreness in his left thigh. He also indicated that pacer Arshdeep Singh could be rested for the upcoming contest, while there is a possibility of a change in the batting unit.

“We will make a few changes from the first two ODIs. We wanted to try different combinations and give everyone a chance to test the bench strength in this series.

“Arshdeep Singh was spot on as a bowler in the first two games, and he will be rested tomorrow, and the same goes for one of the batters.

We will go for changes and play a different side,” Ten Doeschate said in the pre-match press conference.

“Nitish could have played the last game as well, but he is now completely fit to take the field in tomorrow’s match,” he added.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is under pressure, having failed in the previous game. He was added to the side as an injury replacement for Virat Kohli, but the southpaw has failed to justify his place so far. He managed just 4 runs before  Mohammad Saleem got rid of him in Lucknow.

Despite amassing an unbeaten 116 against South Africa in the third ODI last year, Jaiswal is still a back-up option.

Ishan Kishan’s century in the Lucknow ODI has confirmed his place in the team. At the same time, Kohli will take back his No.3 slot when he returns after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Gujarat Titans on May 31.

When Kohli makes a comeback, Shubman Gill will open the innings with Rohit Sharma, with Kishan and Shreyas Iyer playing in the middle order. Jaiswal has limited opportunities to win the confidence of the national selectors.

“Jaiswal will have to wait because of the quality and options we have in the team.

The priority will be to win the match and finish the series on a high note,”  Ten Doeschate mentioned.

“Jaiswal gets few chances because of the quality in the squad. He is a player who can score big if he gets things right. He is a good batter, but there is a lot of competition for places in Indian cricket,” he explained.

India won the first ODI by 7 wickets in Dharamsala before thumping Afghanistan by 170 runs in Lucknow to take a 2-0 lead in the series. The hosts will now try to win the remaining game before leaving for the UK for the T20I matches against Ireland and England.

Shreyas Iyer’s team will play three T20Is against Ireland and five T20Is against England.