India will head into the third ODI against West Indies in New Chandigarh on Saturday looking to complete a 3-0 series sweep. The hosts have dominated the first two matches, winning the opener by eight wickets after centuries from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. In the second ODI, India pulled off a record chase of 405, with Gill smashing an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls while Rohit Sharma brought up his 35th ODI century and became only the second Indian to cross 12,000 runs in the format.
Both teams, however, have injury concerns ahead of the series finale. India will be without Prasidh Krishna, who has been ruled out, with Anshul Kamboj brought into the squad as his replacement. West Indies will also miss Justin Greaves, who was unavailable for the second ODI and remains out for the final match in New Chandigarh.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: Date, Time And Venue
- Match: India vs West Indies, 3rd ODI
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM IST
- Venue: PCA New Cricket Stadium, Tira, Punjab
PCA New Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh generally offers a balanced surface, although batters tend to enjoy the conditions once they settle in. The pitch is usually good for stroke-making, with decent pace and bounce, while fast bowlers can find some movement during the early overs. As the game progresses, the surface can slow down slightly and bring spinners into play. In evening matches, dew can also become a factor, making it harder for bowlers to grip the ball and potentially helping the chasing side.
The venue has generally produced competitive totals across formats. T20 matches have seen first-innings scores average around 165-176, while second-innings totals have typically been in the 146-154 range, with 196 being the highest T20 total recorded at the ground. In ODIs, the average first-innings score stands at around 286, compared to approximately 236 when batting second, suggesting that teams capable of building a strong total early can have an advantage.
Predicted XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar
West Indies: John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Roston Chase, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales
Captain And Vice-Captain Choices
Captain Choice: Shubman Gill
Gill is a strong captaincy pick after his sensational performance in the second ODI, where he smashed an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls to register the fastest double-century in ODI cricket. With Mullanpur’s surface generally offering reliable bounce and good batting conditions, the Indian opener’s timing and strokeplay could once again make him a major fantasy points scorer.
Vice-Captain Choice: Amir Jangoo
Jangoo has been one of West Indies’ standout performers in the series, scoring 172 runs across the first two ODIs. His impressive 114 off 77 balls in the second game highlighted his ability to take on both pace and spin, making him a player to watch again in the series finale.
India vs West Indies 2nd ODI: Toss Prediction
Toss Winner: West Indies
Decision: Bowl First
Reason: Opting to bowl first could be a tempting call at Mullanpur, particularly because dew is expected to become a factor as the evening progresses. With the second innings likely to be played under lights, moisture could make the ball harder to grip and restrict bowlers from getting the same control they have earlier in the game. The surface is also expected to offer good pace and consistent bounce, which could make stroke-making easier as conditions become more favourable for the chasing side.
India’s successful 405-run chase in the second ODI could also influence the decision at the toss. West Indies posted a huge total despite three centuries, but India chased it down with 39 balls remaining, powered by Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 223. With both teams aware of how difficult it can be to defend a big score on a good batting surface, bowling first could allow the captain to assess the conditions before setting a target.
Who Will Win Today’s 3rd ODI Match Between India And West Indies?
India head into the third ODI with strong momentum as they look to seal a 3-0 series win over West Indies. Their batting has been the biggest difference between the two sides, with India chasing down a mammoth 405 in the previous game with 39 balls to spare. Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 223 and Rohit Sharma’s century underlined the depth and form of the Indian top order. Their bowling attack has also delivered at key moments, with Kuldeep Yadav leading the wicket-taking charts, while Anshul Kamboj’s inclusion adds another pace option.
West Indies showed plenty of batting quality in the second ODI, crossing 400 after centuries from Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo. However, their bowlers struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting lineup. With Mullanpur expected to offer favourable batting conditions and dew potentially making the ball harder to grip later in the day, West Indies will need a much-improved bowling display if they are to prevent India from completing the series sweep.
