The India vs West Indies 3rd ODI arrives on Saturday, October 3, at 2 PM IST with the series already locked at 2-0. India chased down 406 in Guwahati to seal the trophy, so the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh hosts a dead rubber with real storylines. West Indies want to dodge a whitewash, and India’s selectors get a rare chance to test their bench.
Mullanpur stages its first-ever men’s ODI, so even the pitch is a mystery. Red-soil surfaces tend to offer true bounce, and evening dew could turn the match into a chaser’s paradise. Read on for the predicted playing XIs, the pitch report, the rest-or-rotate debate and a clear prediction.
| Detail | Information |
| Match | India vs West Indies, 3rd ODI |
| Series | West Indies tour of India 2026 (India leads 2-0) |
| Date and time | Saturday, October 3, 2026, 2:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh |
| Broadcast | Star Sports Network and JioStar app |
| ODI head-to-head | 144 played: India 74, West Indies 64, tied 2, no result 4 |
Shubman Gill smashed an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls, and his double century came in 117 balls, the fastest in ODI history. Rohit Sharma added 101 off 75 deliveries, and the pair shared a 255-run opening stand. India finished the chase of 406 in 43.3 overs with 39 balls to spare.
West Indies deserve credit despite the defeat. Amir Jangoo (114), Shai Hope (104) and John Campbell (101) all scored hundreds in a 405/7 total. Bowling remains the glaring weakness, because Jayden Seales and company could not defend even that mountain.
Virat Kohli walked in at 255 for 1 and made 29 off 19 balls before Sherfane Rutherford caught him at deep backward point. Rohit also crossed 12,000 ODI runs in Guwahati, becoming the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli to reach the mark. Fans hoping for a Kohli hundred in this series now have one final chance. Read our full 2nd ODI analysis for the complete story of that record chase.
Mullanpur hosts its first men’s ODI, so no ODI history exists to lean on. Reports describe a red-soil surface with reliable bounce that rewards stroke-makers once they settle. Seamers may find early movement, and spinners should get some grip as the afternoon wears on.
Weather looks friendly for the series finale. Forecasts point to a bright, sunny afternoon with no rain expected to interrupt play. Dew often arrives in the evening at this venue, so a wet ball could make bowling harder in the second innings.
Captains will likely bowl first after winning the toss. Chasing sides have thrived in this series, and India just ran down 406. Totals in the 300s look realistic on this surface, and 400 is not off the table after Guwahati.
India (predicted): Rohit Sharma/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy/Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar
West Indies (predicted): John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c), Amir Jangoo, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Keemo Paul/Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph/Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Vitel Lawes
India’s batting core of Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Gaikwad and Rahul looks settled, while the bowling attack carries more questions. Siraj sat out the first two ODIs and could return, as Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out with a left hamstring injury. Anshul Kamboj has been called up as a replacement.
West Indies may keep faith with the group that scored 405, though bowling changes look overdue. Matthew Forde and Gudakesh Motie sat out the second ODI, and might return to the setting. Any tweak will likely target the pace attack, which leaked runs at will in Guwahati.
With the series sealed, rotation is the question every fan is asking. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel sit in the squad without a game, and Nitish Kumar Reddy could return as an all-round option. Nothing official points to a mass rest, so treat every change as speculation until the toss.
Gill’s workload and the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup strengthen the case for managing minutes. Rohit and Kohli now play only the ODI format for India, which makes every match precious for rhythm. Rhythm arguably matters more than rest for veterans in that position, so a full-strength XI would not shock anyone.
Expect one or two changes at most, with Siraj the likeliest inclusion. A tweak in the middle order could hand Jurel or Jaiswal a rare outing. Anything bigger would surprise, because selectors rarely break a winning habit.
Gill against the West Indies new-ball pair is the headline duel. Seales went for 18 in one over during Gill’s charge, yet he later removed Rohit, so the contest cuts both ways. Gill is in imperious form, and another big score would push him further into the record books.
Shai Hope’s form gives the visitors genuine belief. Hope has scored 331 runs in his last 10 ODIs at an average of 41.38, and he made 104 in Guwahati. Jangoo and Campbell also hit centuries, so the top order can post big totals again.
Kuldeep Yadav against the West Indies middle order will decide how many runs India concede. Kuldeep took 2 for 65 in the last game on a night when the pacers struggled. Spin could matter even more on a surface that grips later in the day.
India should win this one, and the margin could again be comfortable. Their batting depth reaches deep, and the world No. 1 ODI side has shown it can chase anything. West Indies will score runs at the top, yet their bowling has not shown the control to defend a big total.
When and where is the India vs West Indies 3rd ODI?
The match takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with a 2 PM IST start. The venue is the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Fans can watch live on the Star Sports Network and the JioStar app.
Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play the 3rd ODI?
Both are expected to play, though no official confirmation exists before the toss. India could rotate players with the series won, so the final XI may include surprises. Check the toss update for the confirmed lineup.
Is the New Chandigarh pitch good for batting?
Reports describe a red-soil surface with good bounce that favours batters once settled. Seamers may get early help, and spinners could find grip later. Dew may also make chasing easier in the evening.
Dead rubber or not, the India vs West Indies 3rd ODI has enough subplots to keep viewers glued to the screen. West Indies are hunting a face-saving win, India are hunting bench answers, and a brand-new venue adds mystery. The series might already be decided, but for the men taking the field, every ball at Mullanpur carries the weight of a World Cup audition.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
