India to experiment with batting order ahead of Afghanistan ODI series
With Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya unavailable, the national team will test multiple combinations for the No. 3 position during the three-match series, serving as strategic preparation for the 2027 World Cup.
India assistant coach Morne Morkel has confirmed that the national cricket team will experiment with the No. 3 batting position during the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan. The vacancy in the middle order arises from the unavailability of key players Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya, creating an opportunity to reassess the team’s top-order structure.
The series, which begins with the first ODI scheduled for Saturday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, serves as a critical preparation window for India ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Morkel indicated that nothing is set in stone heading into the opening match, with the coaching staff keen to utilise the limited fixtures to test various middle-order combinations.
Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are identified as the primary candidates for the No. 3 role. However, Rahul is expected to retain his established position at No. 5, where he has demonstrated consistency with both batting and wicket-keeping duties. His ability to anchor innings while accelerating in the death overs makes him a reliable fixture at that spot in the order.
Among the remaining options, Ishan Kishan is considered the likeliest candidate to take the No. 3 slot for the first ODI, marking his return to the ODI format. The left-hander offers an attacking dimension to the top order, aiming to put pressure on opposition bowlers early in the innings.
Yashasvi Jaiswal remains a viable option but is viewed as more naturally suited to opening the batting. Consequently, he may be held back from the No. 3 position to allow for greater flexibility in the middle order. A predicted playing XI for the first ODI includes Rohit Sharma as captain, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain, and KL Rahul as wicket-keeper, alongside a bowling attack featuring Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna.
India has struggled to fill the No. 3 position consistently since Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket, making this series a strategic opportunity to settle key batting questions. The team’s approach reflects a broader effort to identify the most effective combinations for the upcoming World Cup cycle, with player availability and batting positions potentially shifting throughout the series.
