TimesofIndia.com in Chennai: India may have already sealed the ODI series against Afghanistan, but the final match in Chennai is far from a dead rubber. For the team management, it’s another opportunity to tick the boxes on the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup, including Tests and, most importantly, ensuring that every player in the squad gets a chance to make the most of it.One of those players is the first strike Yashasvi Jaiswal.The left-hander faced disappointment in the previous ODI, but India’s assistant Ryan ten Doeschate said that one failure will not cost him his place. Jaiswal has been given another chance, a reflection of management’s commitment to giving players the best possible performance rather than judging them on a single innings basis.“We want another look at Yashasvi Jaiswal. He didn’t get runs in the last game, so he will get another chance,” said ten Didchate on the eve of the third ODI.The message from the Indian camp has been consistent. Success remains a priority, as does building depth. That success is reflected in potential changes to Friday’s game.Fast bowler Arshdeep Singhwho has impressed in the first two matches, should be rested as part of the process. The fighting system, too, will be changed, with the top three levels to remain the same. Between Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer one will miss all the spinners. Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy are expected to feature in the playing XI. “We will be making a few changes from the first two games. The brief coming into this series was that we wanted to try a few different combinations and give everyone a fair share of the game. Someone like Arshdeep has bowled very well in the first two games; maybe he can rest tomorrow, and the same goes for one of the batsmen. We will change them and come back to play a slightly different side,” he said. That versatility has been one of India’s biggest assets in white-ball cricket. Multiple batters can hold multiple positions, allowing managers to experiment without weakening the side. The same concept extends to all rounders, with Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube all being evaluated for different roles.According to Ten Dochate, Nitish is still an important investment for the long term.“Nitish has shown in the last 18 months how important he is to the team. His body is getting bigger, and we see him as Hardik’s environmentalist. “Yet the light remains strong on Jaiswal.Few players in Indian cricket have faced such fierce competition for the top spot. I am Shubman Gill, Rohit SharmaVirat Kohli, chances have been limited for the southpaw. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the challenges of managing a team overflowing with batting talent.“In a series like this against Afghanistan, you can say that we can take the foot off a bit, but yes, we want to look at guys like Jaiswal. “He is someone who is waiting in the wings because of the quality and depth that we have. But of course I feel that the most important thing is always to win the series and put your best team. “One of the briefs going into this series was making sure the team rotated and everyone played. So Jaiswal gets a few chances, and it’s very difficult because there’s a lot of character. But he’s one of those guys who, when he gets the odd chance, he has to chase it.”This perhaps embodies the chosen philosophy of India more than anything else. There is patience, but there is also great competition. Players will get opportunities, but they are also expected to seize them quickly. For Jaiswal, Chennai offers another survey. For India, it is another step in identifying the ingredients that will shape their campaign in the next 18 months.
