भारत वि. वेस्ट इंडिज ३ रा एकदिवसीय सामना: जयडेन सील्सचे दोन झटके;...

By GT24x7 Reporter · 3 October 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

Jayden Seales Delivers Early Double Blow in New Chandigarh

The third and final One Day International (ODI) between India and the West Indies at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh got off to an eventful start on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India faced an immediate setback in the opening overs as West Indies pacer Jayden Seales delivered a double strike, removing skipper Shubman Gill and star batter Virat Kohli in consecutive deliveries. The early breakthroughs reduced India to four runs for two wickets in 2.4 overs, bringing right-handed batter Ruturaj Gaikwad out to join opener Rohit Sharma in the middle to rebuild the Indian innings.

The initial damage was inflicted in the third over of the match. Seales, bowling with disciplined line and seam movement, got a delivery to bounce and angle down the leg side, inducing a faint glove tickle from Shubman Gill. West Indies captain and wicketkeeper Shai Hope moved swiftly to his left to complete a low catch, dismissing Gill for one run off six balls. On the very next delivery, Seales produced a sharp, incoming ball that breached the defense of Virat Kohli, knocking over his stumps and sending the veteran batter back to the pavilion for a golden duck.

Rebuilding Effort Underway After Top-Order Wobble

Following the rapid loss of two key wickets, opener Rohit Sharma was joined by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was brought into the top order for the series finale. The pair faced a disciplined opening spell from Seales and fellow fast bowler Matthew Forde, who bowled tight lengths to restrict scoring opportunities during the powerplay. Sharma and Gaikwad adopted a cautious approach, focusing on defensive solidity and rotating the strike to negotiate the early movement offered by the pitch.

Gaikwad’s inclusion in the XI offered India a technically sound right-handed option to absorb the pressure applied by the West Indies seam attack. With Rohit Sharma settling in at the other end, the duo aimed to establish a partnership, steadying the foundation before accelerating later in the innings. The early movement under overcast conditions provided the West Indies bowling lineup with favorable conditions, forcing the Indian batters to re-evaluate their aggressive intent shown in earlier fixtures of the series.

Tactical Changes and Playing XI Formations

India entered the third ODI having already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, following dominant victories in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati. Seeking to test squad depth ahead of upcoming international commitments, the Indian team management made three changes to their Playing XI. Fast bowler Anshul Kamboj was handed his ODI debut, while all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj were recalled to the side. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the fixture due to a minor injury sustained during training.

The West Indies management also instituted tactical modifications to their lineup, bringing back pace bowler Matthew Forde alongside Vitel Lawes to strengthen their bowling attack. Having conceded a high score in the second ODI in Guwahati, the visiting team sought to cap off the ODI series with an improved performance in both departments, leveraging early pitch assistance to put the hosts under pressure.

Series Context and Broad Performance Background

India's strong position in the series was built on back-to-back dominant performances in the preceding matches. In the first ODI at Thiruvananthapuram, India secured an eight-wicket victory driven by strong bowling performances and top-order contributions. The second match in Guwahati featured a high-scoring encounter where India successfully chased down a target of 406 runs with 6.3 overs to spare, highlighted by Shubman Gill’s unbeaten double century (223*).

While India aimed to complete a 3-0 series whitewash, the early wickets in New Chandigarh underscored t...