India vs West Indies: 3rd ODI Preview, Pitch Report & Probable XI

India vs West Indies in the third and final ODI of the 2026 series will be played on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at the PCA International Cricket Stadium, Ground A, New Chandigarh. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM IST. India enter the series finale with an unassailable 2-0 lead after winning both previous matches by eight wickets.

The match also carries significance beyond the series result. It is the first men’s ODI scheduled at the New Chandigarh venue, while India are using the home series to continue building their ODI combination ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle. West Indies, meanwhile, will be looking to finish the series with a strong performance after producing 295/7 in the first ODI and a record 405/7 in the second.

Important date correction: although some listings may show 2 October, the official BCCI schedule confirms that the third ODI is on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at 2:00 PM. The official Playing XIs are expected to be confirmed at the toss.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Match Details
• Date & Time
• When & Where to Watch
• What to Expect
• Venue
• Pitch Report
• Team News
• Probable Playing XI
• Squads
• Key Players to Watch
• Key Battles
• Head-to-Head
• Recent Form
• Match Prediction
• Did You Know?
• Fantasy / Selection Insight
• Final Match Outlook
• FAQs
• Sources / Research References

India vs West Indies: Introduction

India have already secured the three-match ODI series 2-0, but the final match remains important for both teams. India will have an opportunity to assess players and combinations before the next phase of their ODI preparations, while West Indies need to turn their impressive batting displays into a complete performance.

The first two matches have followed a striking pattern. West Indies have shown that they can score heavily, but India have repeatedly chased their targets with considerable room to spare. In Thiruvananthapuram, West Indies made 295/7 before India reached 300/2 in 41.4 overs. In Guwahati, West Indies raised the standard dramatically with 405/7, only for India to chase 406/2 in 43.3 overs.

That makes the final ODI particularly interesting from a tactical perspective: can West Indies finally put pressure on India’s top order, and can the Indian attack find a way to contain a batting unit that produced three individual centuries in the second match?

Match Details

Date & Time

The third ODI will take place on Saturday, 3 October 2026. The scheduled start is 2:00 PM IST, equivalent to 8:30 AM UTC. The venue operates on UTC+5:30.

This date is important because some third-party listings can display the fixture differently. The official BCCI schedule and match centre both identify 3 October as the match date.

When & Where to Watch

For viewers in India, the ODI series is being televised on the Star Sports Network, with streaming available through JioHotstar. International broadcast arrangements vary by territory, so viewers outside India should check their local rights holder before the match.

Fans can also follow the official match centre and live score services for ball-by-ball updates, scorecards and match statistics.

What to Expect

The first two ODIs have produced strong evidence that both batting units are capable of exploiting good batting conditions. India have been particularly effective at the top, while West Indies demonstrated in Guwahati that their top order can produce a very large total against India’s bowling attack.

India’s major tactical question concerns how much rotation they make after taking a 2-0 lead. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel are among the squad members who could be considered for opportunities, although no official Playing XI had been announced at the time of publication.

For West Indies, the challenge is more straightforward: their top order needs to reproduce the quality shown in Guwahati while the bowling attack must find a way to prevent India’s opening combination from establishing another large partnership.

Venue: PCA International Cricket Stadium, Ground A

The match will be played at the PCA International Cricket Stadium, Ground A, in New Chandigarh, also known as the Maharaja Yadvindra Singh PCA Stadium A. The venue opened in 2021 and has a listed capacity of approximately 38,000.

The available venue record contains limited men’s ODI evidence. The listed ODI statistics include two women’s ODIs, while the ground has also hosted Test and T20 cricket. Therefore, historical venue statistics should not automatically be treated as a precise guide to the conditions for this men’s ODI.

The third ODI is nevertheless notable because it represents the scheduled first men’s ODI at the New Chandigarh venue. That makes direct historical comparison particularly limited.

India vs West Indies 3rd ODI Pitch Report

An exact pitch assessment should wait for the surface inspection because the match has not yet begun. Historical venue information suggests that the ground has produced substantial scores in limited-overs cricket, but the small sample means it would be misleading to assign a fixed par score or guarantee a batting-friendly surface.

The recent series evidence does point toward the importance of batting depth. West Indies scored 295/7 in the first ODI and then 405/7 in Guwahati, while India chased both targets comfortably. The second ODI also showed that a high-scoring surface can make even a total above 400 vulnerable.

Spin could still become an important factor if the surface offers grip, particularly through the middle overs. Kuldeep Yadav has already shown his ability to create wickets through variation. Pace bowlers will need accuracy and changes of pace if the surface again favours aggressive strokeplay.

There is no reliable basis before the match for declaring a specific dew advantage at this venue. The actual toss and surface inspection will provide better evidence for assessing first-innings and chasing conditions.

Team News

India Team News

India have made one confirmed squad change before the third ODI. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out after sustaining a left hamstring injury during the second ODI. Anshul Kamboj has been added to the squad as his replacement.

India’s series victory gives the team scope to rotate personnel, but any changes remain subject to the final selection. Reports have suggested that Rohit Sharma could be rested and that Yashasvi Jaiswal could receive an opportunity, but this remains a probable selection rather than confirmed team news.

West Indies Team News

West Indies’ confirmed ODI squad is led by wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope. John Campbell returned to the squad for the India series, while Jewel Andrew was included after Ackeem Auguste was ruled out during his rehabilitation from surgery.

Justin Greaves is unavailable for the third ODI after a calf injury, according to the current match preview information. Any further changes will be confirmed at the toss.

Probable Playing XI

Official Playing XIs had not been announced at the time of publication. The following are probable combinations based only on verified squad members, recent selections and currently reported availability. The official Playing XI will be confirmed at the toss.

India Probable XI

1. Shubman Gill — Captain, batter
2. Rohit Sharma / Yashasvi Jaiswal — Opener
3. Virat Kohli — Batter
4. Ruturaj Gaikwad / Dhruv Jurel — Batter / wicketkeeper-batter
5. KL Rahul — Vice-captain, wicketkeeper-batter
6. Naman Dhir — All-rounder
7. Ravindra Jadeja — Bowling all-rounder
8. Anshul Kamboj — Bowling all-rounder
9. Gurnoor Brar — Fast bowler
10. Kuldeep Yadav — Spinner
11. Mohammed Siraj — Fast bowler

West Indies Probable XI

1. John Campbell — Opener
2. Keacy Carty — Batter
3. Shai Hope — Captain, wicketkeeper-batter
4. Amir Jangoo — Wicketkeeper-batter
5. Sherfane Rutherford — Batting all-rounder
6. Roston Chase — Bowling all-rounder
7. Keemo Paul / Matthew Forde — Bowling all-rounder
8. Alzarri Joseph — Fast bowler
9. Shamar Joseph — Fast bowler
10. Jayden Seales — Fast bowler
11. Gudakesh Motie — Spinner

Squads

India Squad

Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Anshul Kamboj.

Prasidh Krishna is withdrawn from the third-ODI squad because of his hamstring injury. Anshul Kamboj is his replacement.

West Indies Squad

Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Jayden Seales.

Justin Greaves is unavailable for the third ODI because of injury. Ackeem Auguste is unavailable for the tour following surgery rehabilitation, while Jewel Andrew was added as his replacement.

Key Players to Watch

Shubman Gill

Gill enters the final ODI after an extraordinary 223 not out from 133 balls in Guwahati. His ability to convert starts into very large scores has been central to India’s successful chases.

Virat Kohli

Kohli made 139 not out in the first ODI and crossed 15,000 ODI runs during that innings. His experience against West Indies’ pace and spin options remains a major feature of India’s batting setup.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep has already made a substantial impact in the series, including 4/40 in the first ODI. His variations provide India with a method of breaking partnerships even when batting conditions are favourable.

Shai Hope

The West Indies captain has combined control with the ability to build substantial ODI innings. His 104 in Guwahati was part of a historic West Indies total and demonstrated his importance to the middle order.

Amir Jangoo

Jangoo scored 114 in the second ODI and was one of three West Indies batters to make a century in the same innings. His ability to handle spin and rotate the strike makes him an important middle-order player.

Key Battles

• India’s top order vs Alzarri Joseph: West Indies need their premier fast bowler to find early breakthroughs against India’s strongest batting unit.
• Kuldeep Yadav vs Shai Hope: Hope’s ability to manage spin could be important if Kuldeep operates through the middle overs.
• Gill vs West Indies’ new-ball attack: Gill’s recent form makes his early wicket a significant tactical target.
• Ravindra Jadeja vs West Indies’ middle order: Jadeja’s control can restrict scoring and create pressure during the middle phase.

Head-to-Head

India and West Indies have a long ODI history, but the most relevant context for this match is the current bilateral series. India won the first ODI by eight wickets and the second ODI by eight wickets, taking a 2-0 lead.

The last two meetings therefore show India holding the current series advantage, while West Indies’ batting performance has improved considerably from the first match to the second.

Recent Form

India

India have won both ODIs in the series. In the first match they chased 296 with 300/2 in 41.4 overs. In the second, they produced one of the largest successful ODI chases on record, reaching 406/2 in 43.3 overs.

Gill’s unbeaten 223 and Rohit Sharma’s 101 dominated the second-ODI chase, while Kohli’s 139 not out in the opener showed the strength of India’s top order.

West Indies

West Indies have lost both matches, but their batting has shown significant improvement. Their 295/7 in the first ODI became 405/7 in Guwahati, where John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo all scored centuries.

The bowling attack remains the major area requiring improvement after India chased both totals without losing more than two wickets.

Match Prediction

Based on the available information, India enter the third ODI with the stronger recent record in this series: they have already won twice and their top order has consistently controlled the chases. Their batting depth and current form give them considerable resources.

However, West Indies have demonstrated that they can score at a very high rate. The second ODI showed that a total of 405 is not automatically sufficient if the pitch is good for batting and India’s top order gets through the opening phase.

The match could therefore hinge on the first 15 overs of each innings. West Indies need early wickets with the new ball, while India will want another stable opening partnership before accelerating. Conditions at New Chandigarh will also be important because the men’s ODI sample at the venue is extremely limited.

Did You Know?

• The PCA International Cricket Stadium, Ground A, opened in 2021 and has a listed capacity of about 38,000.
• The third ODI is scheduled to be the first men’s ODI at the New Chandigarh venue.
• West Indies scored 405/7 in Guwahati, their first 400-plus ODI total.
• Three West Indies batters — John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo — scored centuries in the second ODI.
• India chased 406/2 in 43.3 overs in the second ODI, with Shubman Gill scoring 223 not out.

Fantasy / Selection Insight

For fantasy selections, the most relevant factors are confirmed roles and batting position rather than reputation alone. Gill, Kohli, Hope and Jangoo have already demonstrated significant involvement in this series, while Kuldeep offers wicket-taking potential through the middle overs.

Because the final Playing XIs had not been announced, fantasy selections should be checked again after the toss. Players listed only as probable should not be treated as confirmed starters.

Final Match Outlook

The third ODI is a series finale with India already 2-0 ahead, but there are still several meaningful questions. India can use the match to assess squad depth, while West Indies have an opportunity to turn their impressive batting numbers into a complete ODI performance.

The venue adds another layer of uncertainty because there is limited directly relevant men’s ODI history. The key tactical themes are likely to be India’s top-order batting, West Indies’ ability to take early wickets, and whether either bowling attack can create sustained pressure on what could again be a good batting surface.

With the official XIs still pending, the toss will be the final confirmation point for player selection, combinations and any last-minute changes.

FAQs

When is India vs West Indies 3rd ODI?

The third ODI is scheduled for Saturday, 3 October 2026.

What time does India vs West Indies 3rd ODI start?

The match is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM IST, or 8:30 AM UTC.

Where is India vs West Indies 3rd ODI being played?

The match will be played at the PCA International Cricket Stadium, Ground A, in New Chandigarh, India.

Is the official Playing XI confirmed?

No. At the time of publication, the official Playing XIs had not been announced. They are expected to be confirmed at the toss.

What is India’s series position?

India lead the three-match ODI series 2-0 after winning both of the first two matches by eight wickets.

Who replaced Prasidh Krishna?

Anshul Kamboj was named as Prasidh Krishna’s replacement after Krishna was ruled out of the third ODI with a left hamstring injury.

Where can fans watch the match in India?

The ODI series is scheduled to be televised on the Star Sports Network, with live streaming available through JioHotstar.

Sources / Research References

• BCCI: Official India squad announcement and West Indies tour schedule.
• BCCI Match Centre: Official third-ODI match details for 3 October 2026.
• BCCI: Official update confirming Prasidh Krishna’s injury and Anshul Kamboj’s replacement.
• Cricket West Indies: Official ODI squad announcement for the India tour.
• Cricket West Indies: Official series results and fixtures.
• Cricbuzz: Match scorecards, squad information and venue statistics.
• Reuters: Reporting on India’s second-ODI chase and Shubman Gill’s 223 not out.
• Wisden: Broadcast and streaming information for the India-West Indies ODI series.