India and West Indies meet in the third and final ODI of their series at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on October 3, 2026 — a dead rubber in series terms, but a fixture with plenty riding on it for both sides.

India have already wrapped up the series, chasing down 405/7 in Guwahati after a similar heist in Thiruvananthapuram, where West Indies had earlier posted 295/7. Both games followed a strikingly similar script: the tourists batted superbly in the afternoon heat, India's bowlers toiled, and the hosts' top order then hunted the target down at a canter without ever needing their middle order.

Eight Centuries, One Standout Bowler

Eight centuries have been scored across the two matches, four by each side. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have both cracked tons, while a red-hot Shubman Gill has scored heavily alongside them and has a realistic chance of breaking his own aggregate record for a three-match bilateral series.

The one consistent differentiator has been Kuldeep Yadav, the leading wicket-taker of the series so far. The wrist-spinner used the surface to his advantage in the first ODI and brought a semblance of control in the second, even as the rest of his fellow bowlers found little to work with.

West Indies, meanwhile, will feel they have learned plenty from 20 overs of watching Kuldeep. Their Powerplay batting and the emergence of Amir Jangoo have been distinct positives. Shai Hope continues his excellent ODI form, and in Jangoo the side has a reliable, versatile middle-order batter who handles spin well.

When asked about Gudakesh Motie and Vitel Lawes ahead of the first ODI, Hope corrected a journalist for forgetting to mention Roston Chase. The off-spinner has had a largely forgettable series despite arriving with more India experience than the rest of the spin attack. Finger-spinners on both sides have struggled, which prompted West Indies to hand a debut to teenage wrist-spin prodigy Lawes — even if it made little difference in the end.

Heat, Travel and a Brand-New Venue

The sapping conditions are unlikely to change. Trivandrum and Guwahati were both hot, with fielders rotating in and out and batters cramping, and temperatures in Mullanpur are forecast to sit in the mid-30s for the 2pm start. The heat has been compounded by roughly 4,000 km of travel across the series, so personnel changes from both camps appear likely.

There is also an element of uncertainty: this is New Chandigarh's first-ever men's ODI, with the last List A game at the venue played in December 2021. The side batting second has won four of the five List A matches staged there.

Punjab's Naman Dhir, speaking ahead of the game, said he had not yet assessed the pitch but understood 290-300 would be a good total. Dhir also addressed his bowling role, saying: "I have been bowling since the beginning. I haven't been seen bowling in the IPL at all, because of the Impact Player rule, so I haven't been required to. But I have been bowling for my state. I have also bowled for our (Sher-e-Punjab) league. And since my entry in the IPL, I have been working on my bowling a lot, especially in the Mumbai Indians camp. So that's helped me a lot."

India's Team News: Krishna Out, Kamboj Called Up

Prasidh Krishna is out of the third ODI with a left hamstring injury, and Anshul Kamboj has been called up. Given India's stated intention to experiment, Kamboj could slot in immediately, with Mohammed Siraj also an option to come into the attack. Nitish Reddy could return to contention, potentially moving away from the new-ball role he filled in the first game.

Further up the order, it remains to be seen whether one of the openers makes way for Yashasvi Jaiswal to finally get some game time. KL Rahul has not had a chance to bat, so if backup wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel gets a look-in it could come at the expense of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Naman Dhir left the field during the second ODI with visuals showing he twisted his ankle, but the team management confirmed it was only cramps.

For the third time in a row, India opted against training the day before the game. Such sessions often offer clues on combinations, but India have already spelled out that they will be changing things around for this dead rubber, with the World Cup firmly in mind.

Probable India XI: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad/Dhruv Jurel, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Naman Dhir, Nitish Reddy/Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj/Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar

West Indies' Bowling Conundrum

Justin Greaves is out of the third ODI with the calf injury he sustained earlier. West Indies adjusted reasonably well by handing Keacy Carty a top-order spot, even though he did not immediately make it count. The batting could stay untouched unless the visitors want to give Jewel Andrew another opportunity.

The bowling poses a far bigger question. Alzarri Joseph, the pace leader, has endured two torrid nights. Jayden Seales was taken for runs by Gill in the second game, while Keemo Paul did very little to justify being picked ahead of Matthew Forde. Shamar Joseph, brought in for the second match, was more cold than hot.

It remains to be seen whether West Indies put Lawes in the firing line again or switch back to Gudakesh Motie, with Chase likely to keep his place as the only right-arm spin option.

Probable West Indies XI: John Campbell, Keacy Carty/Jewel Andrew, Shai Hope (c & wk), Amir Jangoo, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul/Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, Vitel Lawes/Gudakesh Motie

Sammy: A Good Gauge of Where We Are

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy framed the series as an important learning exercise ahead of the World Cup cycle. "I thought it has been a good gauge as to where we are in the context of ODI cricket, what we have to do in order to compete to win against a top side," Sammy said. "The pitches have been very good for our batters, but it has been really harsh on the bowlers, but it is a good gauge."

For India, the priority is different. With the series already secured and a World Cup on the horizon, expect experimentation rather than a settled XI — even as Gill chases a slice of personal history.