India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: India and West Indies meet again on Saturday, October 3, in the third and final ODI of their 2026 series, with the hosts already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The match is being played at the PCA International Cricket Stadium, Ground A, New Chandigarh, with the scheduled start at 2:00 PM IST. According to the latest BCCI match information, India won the toss and chose to bat first.
For India, the immediate goal is clear: finish the ODI series with a 3-0 sweep. For West Indies, the final match is an opportunity to avoid a clean sweep and end the series with a victory before the teams move into a five-match T20I series later in October.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: The first two matches have already produced huge batting numbers, major individual milestones and important moments for both sides. India won the opening ODI by eight wickets in Thiruvananthapuram before producing another record-breaking chase in Guwahati, where they hunted down a target of 406 with 43.3 overs completed.
That makes the India vs West Indies 3rd ODI more than a routine final match of a bilateral series. India are trying to maintain their momentum on the road toward the 2027 ODI World Cup, while West Indies need answers after conceding more than 700 runs across the first two matches.
What Happened So Far?
The three-match ODI series began in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: India won the toss and chose to field, giving West Indies the chance to bat first. The visitors made a strong start through John Campbell and Justin Greaves, who put together a 135-run opening partnership. Campbell scored 62 from 60 balls, while Greaves went on to make 101, his maiden ODI century.
West Indies eventually finished on 295 for 7 from their 50 overs.
India’s reply was built around a major partnership between Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli.
Gill scored 110, while Kohli remained unbeaten on 139 from 88 balls. Kohli’s innings was particularly significant because the century was his 55th in ODI cricket, and he became only the second batter in men’s ODI history to cross 15,000 runs, after Sachin Tendulkar.
India reached 300 for 2 in only 41.4 overs and won the first ODI by eight wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav also played a major role with the ball, taking four wickets for 40 runs and helping India restrict the West Indies total.
The second ODI in Guwahati was even more dramatic.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: West Indies responded with an enormous score of 405 for 7, putting pressure on India’s batting lineup. Under different circumstances, such a total would normally be difficult to chase.
India, however, produced one of the biggest successful run chases in ODI history.
They reached 406 for 2 in 43.3 overs, winning the match by eight wickets and taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.
The centerpiece of that chase was India captain Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten double century.
Gill finished on 200 not out, while Rohit Sharma added a rapid century and played a major part in India’s record 255-run opening partnership with Gill.
The second ODI therefore produced a strange contrast for West Indies.
Their batting unit had scored 405 runs, including several big individual performances, but India’s response was even stronger.
That result left India 2-0 ahead and turned the third ODI into a match with different objectives for the two teams.
When Is India vs West Indies 3rd ODI?
The third ODI is being played on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM Indian Standard Time.
BCCI’s official match centre lists the fixture as starting at 8:30 AM UTC at New Chandigarh.
India have already won the first two matches, so the series cannot be lost by the hosts.
For West Indies, however, this is the final opportunity to get a victory from the ODI portion of the tour.
The two teams will then move into a five-match T20I series, which begins on October 6 in Lucknow.
Where Is the Match Being Played?
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: The third ODI is being played at the PCA International Cricket Stadium, Ground A, New Chandigarh, Punjab.
The ICC match-official information lists the venue as the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, while BCCI’s current match centre uses the PCA International Cricket Stadium designation.
This is an important match for the venue as well because New Chandigarh is hosting this ODI as part of India’s busy 2026-27 international home season.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: BCCI announced earlier this year that the West Indies tour would begin India’s new home season, with three ODIs followed by five T20Is across several Indian cities.
The ODI venues were selected in Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and New Chandigarh, making Saturday’s match the final stop of the ODI leg.
India Enter the Final Match With the Series Already Won
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: The most important fact surrounding the India vs West Indies 3rd ODI is that India have already secured the series.
They won the first ODI comfortably and then followed it with an even bigger victory in the second.
That gives India some flexibility.
The team management can look at combinations, manage player workloads and continue preparing for the larger objective of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: The ICC has already described this West Indies series as part of India’s preparation for next year’s World Cup. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel said the team wants to maintain its standards in the format rather than trying to increase its level only shortly before the tournament.
That makes this third ODI useful even though the series result is already decided.
For players trying to secure places in India’s long-term ODI plans, every match remains an opportunity.
West Indies Need a Response
West Indies have had an unusual series.
Their batting has produced huge totals, but the bowling attack has struggled to stop India.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: Across the first two games, West Indies conceded 300 and 406, allowing India to score more than 700 runs in total. ESPNcricinfo’s preview for the third ODI noted that West Indies had taken only four wickets while conceding 706 runs across those first two matches.
That statistic explains why the visitors now need a different approach.
The West Indies batting unit has shown that it can score runs in India.
In the first ODI, Greaves scored a century.
In the second, West Indies crossed 400.
The bigger issue has been preventing India’s top order from taking control once the chase begins.
Shai Hope’s side will therefore need to find ways of creating pressure early with the ball.
Shubman Gill Is a Major Storyline
Shubman Gill arrives in New Chandigarh as one of the central figures of the series.
He scored 110 in the first ODI and followed it with an unbeaten 200 in the second.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: The second innings was particularly important because Gill became the first Indian batter to score an ODI double century as captain, according to the ICC match report.
His partnership with Rohit Sharma was also a major part of India’s record chase.
The two added 255 runs, which the ICC identified as India’s highest ODI opening partnership on home soil.
Gill now enters the third ODI with the chance to continue a remarkable run of form.
The challenge for West Indies is obvious.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: They have tried different bowling options during the first two matches, but India’s captain has consistently found a way to control the chase.
Whether West Indies can restrict Gill early could have a major influence on the shape of the match.
Virat Kohli’s Role
Virat Kohli is another major name to watch.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: His unbeaten 139 in the first ODI was one of the biggest individual performances of the series so far, and it also moved him past the historic 15,000-run mark in ODI cricket.
The century was Kohli’s 55th in the format.
His innings also showed how effectively he can control a chase once set at the crease.
Kohli’s role is particularly interesting because India are building toward a major ODI tournament next year.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: For a player with his experience, matches such as this one also provide opportunities to maintain rhythm and help the younger members of the squad understand what is required in international cricket.
The final ODI could therefore become another important chapter in the ongoing story of India’s experienced batting group and the next generation.
Rohit Sharma’s Impact
Rohit Sharma made a significant contribution in both the series and India’s recent ODI setup.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: He scored 101 from 75 balls in the second ODI, producing an aggressive innings at the top of the order before being dismissed by Jayden Seales.
His 255-run opening partnership with Gill gave India a perfect platform for the enormous chase.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: Rohit’s ability to score quickly in the first 10 overs can change the direction of an ODI innings before the opposition has time to settle.
For West Indies, stopping India’s opening pair remains one of the most important tasks.
The first two matches have shown exactly what can happen if the Indian top order is allowed to bat without sustained pressure.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Bowling Remains Important
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: India’s batting has naturally received much of the attention because of the huge scores, but Kuldeep Yadav’s role should not be forgotten.
He took four wickets for 40 runs in the first ODI, earning Player of the Match honours as India restricted West Indies to 295 for 7.
His ability to take wickets in the middle overs provides India with an important option.
The West Indies batting lineup includes players capable of building long partnerships, as the first two matches showed.
Kuldeep can therefore be crucial when India need a breakthrough.
His recent ODI comeback was also part of India’s broader effort to test different bowling roles ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Prasidh Krishna’s Injury Adds Another Talking Point
India will not have Prasidh Krishna for the third ODI.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: BCCI confirmed on October 1 that Krishna suffered a left hamstring injury during the second ODI in Guwahati and was ruled out of the final match.
India added Anshul Kamboj as his replacement.
This is an important development because Krishna had been part of India’s ODI plans during the series.
The injury gives another bowler an opportunity to be involved and provides the team management with more information about its depth heading toward next year’s World Cup.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: India’s bowling group has already been an area of focus during the year, with the coaching staff working to give different players opportunities in different roles.
West Indies’ Batting Has Not Been the Problem
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: It would be easy to look at the 2-0 scoreline and assume that everything has gone wrong for West Indies.
That would not accurately describe the first two matches.
Their batting has been one of the strongest aspects of the series.
In the opening ODI, Justin Greaves scored his maiden ODI century.
In the second ODI, the visitors scored 405 runs, a total that would normally give a team a strong chance of controlling a match.
The difficulty has been converting those batting performances into complete team performances.
India’s top order has repeatedly chased down large targets with a high level of control.
That has left West Indies with the difficult task of finding wickets at the right time.
Shai Hope and West Indies’ Challenge
West Indies captain Shai Hope has acknowledged the size of the challenge.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: Before the ODI series, he noted that West Indies had not won a bilateral ODI series against India since 2006 and understood the scale of the task. The team has remained competitive in individual games, but the results have continued to go India’s way.
Hope’s leadership will be important in the third ODI.
With the series already gone, West Indies need to focus on the next 50 overs rather than the results of the first two matches.
A win in New Chandigarh would at least prevent a clean sweep and give the visitors some momentum before the T20I series begins.
What the Third ODI Means for India
For India, the third ODI is not about winning the series anymore.
That part is already done.
Instead, the focus is on maintaining standards and continuing preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
The team has already seen impressive performances from Gill, Kohli and Rohit.
Kuldeep has provided wickets.
Young players such as Naman Dhir have also received opportunities, while the selectors continue to assess the depth of the squad.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: BCCI has described the broader home season as a significant part of India’s international preparation, with 22 matches across multiple formats scheduled across 17 cities.
The final ODI against West Indies therefore fits into a much larger calendar.
Every player’s performance can contribute to selection decisions later in the year.
The Bigger 2027 World Cup Picture
The third ODI also matters because the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 is getting closer.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: India will be one of the teams expected to enter the tournament with major attention around them, and the current home season is part of their preparation.
The ICC has specifically described the West Indies series as a chance for India to build momentum and maintain its standards in the 50-over format.
India’s players will therefore need to keep working on different match situations.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: That includes defending totals, chasing difficult targets, handling early wickets, rotating the strike and developing bowling options for different phases.
The first two matches covered two very different scenarios.
India chased 296 in the first match.
They then chased 406 in the second.
The third ODI could provide another type of challenge.
Important Facts About India vs West Indies 3rd ODI
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: The third ODI is being played on October 3, 2026.
The venue is the PCA International Cricket Stadium, Ground A, New Chandigarh.
The scheduled start time is 2:00 PM IST.
India won the first ODI by eight wickets.
India won the second ODI by eight wickets.
India therefore lead the ODI series 2-0.
India won the toss in the third ODI and chose to bat first, according to the BCCI match centre.
Shubman Gill scored 110 in the first ODI and an unbeaten 200 in the second.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 139 in the first ODI and reached 15,000 ODI runs during that innings.
Rohit Sharma scored 101 in the second ODI.
Kuldeep Yadav took 4 for 40 in the first ODI.
Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the third ODI with a left hamstring injury, and Anshul Kamboj has been added as his replacement.
The ODI series is followed by a five-match T20I series, beginning October 6 in Lucknow.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is the conclusion of the third ODI in New Chandigarh.
Because India already lead the series 2-0, the result will not change the overall ODI series winner.
A third Indian victory would complete a 3-0 series sweep.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: A West Indies victory would leave India with a 2-1 series result and give the visitors something positive to take into the next part of the tour.
After the ODI series, attention will shift quickly to the T20I format.
The first T20I is scheduled for October 6 in Lucknow, followed by matches in Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: The T20I squad is different from India’s ODI group. Shreyas Iyer has been named captain of the T20I side, with players including Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav included.
There has also been a change involving Washington Sundar.
BCCI confirmed that Washington was withdrawn from the T20I squad because of India’s upcoming Test preparations, and Naman Dhir was named as his replacement.
That means the end of the ODI series will not be the end of the India-West Indies story.
It will simply mark the transition from one format to another.
Why the Final ODI Still Matters
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: When a series is already decided, it can be easy to describe the last game as less important.
For India and West Indies, however, there are still several reasons to take the match seriously.
India have a chance to complete a clean sweep and continue their preparation for the 2027 World Cup.
West Indies have a chance to finally turn their strong batting performances into a victory.
Individual players also have plenty at stake.
A big score can strengthen a batter’s position in the ODI plans.
A strong bowling performance can help a player push for future selection.
Young players can gain valuable international experience.
For coaches and selectors, the match can provide another set of answers before the next stages of India’s international season.
The Human Side of the Contest
One of the interesting features of this series has been how different individual stories have developed within the larger result.
Gill has moved from a century in the first ODI to a double century in the second.
Kohli celebrated a historic milestone by passing 15,000 ODI runs.
Rohit contributed a century in the second match.
Kuldeep returned to the ODI side and made an immediate impact with a four-wicket haul.
Greaves produced his maiden ODI hundred for West Indies before injury ruled him out of the second game and raised doubts over his availability for the third.
Prasidh Krishna then suffered an injury in the second ODI and was ruled out of the third.
These are the details that often make a bilateral series interesting beyond the final score.
A Different Challenge in New Chandigarh
The first two ODIs were played in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati.
The third game moves the series to New Chandigarh.
That creates a fresh setting for both teams.
Even when two sides have already played each other twice in quick succession, a different venue can change the feel of an ODI.
The pitch, boundaries and conditions can influence how teams structure their innings and bowling plans.
India won the toss and decided to bat first, meaning the hosts have chosen to put their batting lineup on the board before West Indies begin their reply.
That decision also gives India another opportunity to test their batting depth in a first-innings situation after successfully chasing in both earlier games.
Final Take
The India vs West Indies 3rd ODI brings the ODI leg of the 2026 series to New Chandigarh with India already holding a 2-0 lead.
The hosts have produced two very different but equally convincing victories.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: The first came through a controlled chase of 296, powered by centuries from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli and a four-wicket haul from Kuldeep Yadav. The second was even more striking, with India chasing down West Indies’ 405 for 7 in just 43.3 overs as Gill remained unbeaten on 200 and Rohit Sharma scored 101.
Now, India have the opportunity to complete a 3-0 sweep.
West Indies, on the other hand, need a response.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: Their batsmen have shown that they can score against India, but their bowlers have struggled to contain one of the strongest batting lineups in the current series.
The third ODI is also another important step in India’s preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Shubman Gill remains a major storyline after his double century.
Virat Kohli arrives with a major ODI milestone behind him.
Rohit Sharma has shown that he can still change the tempo of an innings.
Kuldeep Yadav has already demonstrated his value with the ball.
India vs West Indies 3rd ODI: At the same time, Prasidh Krishna’s injury opens another opportunity for India’s bowling depth, with Anshul Kamboj added to the squad.
The match will begin at 2:00 PM IST at New Chandigarh, with India having won the toss and opted to bat first.
Whatever happens in the final ODI, the series has already produced major performances and several memorable numbers.
But for India, there is one more target before the focus moves to T20 cricket: finish the ODI series without dropping a match.
For West Indies, the task is equally clear: find a way to stop India’s batting dominance and leave New Chandigarh with their first win of the series.
The next few hours will decide how the final chapter of the ODI series is written.
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