IND vs WI 3rd ODI Match Preview: India and West Indies prepare to collide in the 3rd and final ODI of the series at the modern Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. With crucial series momentum hanging in the balance, both teams will leave no stone unturned in this blockbuster weekend fixture.
IND vs WI Match Details
- Match: India (IND) vs West Indies (WI), 3rd ODI
- Series: West Indies tour of India, 2026
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM IST | 8:30 AM GMT | 2:00 PM LOCAL
- Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium (PCA Stadium), Mullanpur, New Chandigarh
- Live Streaming & Broadcast (India): JioHotstar (Streaming), Star Sports Network (TV)
Match Preview
India
Led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian side features a rich blend of legendary experience and dynamic young talent. The top-order is packed with world-class quality in Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli. Middle-order stability is anchored by KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, while promising youngsters like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, and Auqib Nabi add impressive all-round depth. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna will spearhead the pace department alongside local talent Gurnoor Brar, while Kuldeep Yadav provides key spin breakthroughs in the middle overs.
West Indies
Under the leadership of Shai Hope, the West Indies squad brings dangerous firepower and athletic versatility. The batting lineup relies heavily on Shai Hope, Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, and John Campbell to construct big totals. All-rounders Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, and Keemo Paul balance the unit, while a fiery seam attack featuring Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Matthew Forde, and Shamar Joseph presents a genuine challenge for Indian batters under lights. Spinner Gudakesh Motie will carry the primary workload in the spin department.
IND vs WI Pitch & Weather Report
Pitch Report (Mullanpur Stadium, New Chandigarh)
The track at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium is known to be a balanced, sporting surface that gives equal opportunity to batters and bowlers.
- Pace & Bounce: Fast bowlers will find early movement and extra carry with the new ball during the opening powerplay overs.
- Batting Conditions: Once batters navigate the initial seam movement, the true bounce allows for high-scoring strokes across a fast outfield.
- Spin & Dew: Middle-overs will see spinners getting slight grip. However, as the evening sets in during the second innings, dew can become a decisive factor, making chasing considerably easier. Winning the toss and opting to bowl first remains the preferred strategy.
Weather Report
The weather forecast for Saturday in New Chandigarh indicates clear, pleasant conditions ideal for a full day of cricket. Temperatures will range around 30°C to 32°C during the afternoon, cooling down comfortably into the evening. Rain probability is near 0%, ensuring an uninterrupted 100-over game for fans.
Probable Playing XIs
India
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar.
West Indies
John Campbell, Shai Hope (C/WK), Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph.
Key Player Matchups & Fantasy Insights
- Rohit Sharma vs Alzarri Joseph: The opening contest between Rohit’s aggressive pull shots and Joseph’s high-pace back-of-a-length deliveries will dictate the powerplay tone.
- Virat Kohli vs Gudakesh Motie: Kohli’s ability to manipulate left-arm spin in the middle overs will be key to keeping the scoreboard ticking.
- Shai Hope vs Kuldeep Yadav: Hope’s technical prowess against wrist-spin will decide how West Indies navigate the crucial middle phase.
Match Prediction
While the West Indies possess game-changing individual match-winners, India holds a strong advantage owing to their formidable batting lineup, versatile bowling options, and superior familiarity with home conditions in Mullanpur. Expect India to register a clinical victory in the 3rd ODI.
