Aakash Chopra Suggests Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy for 3rd ODI

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has urged captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir to make a bold selection call for the third and final ODI against Afghanistan, suggesting that Nitish Kumar Reddy should be included in the playing XI if fully fit. With India having already secured the three-match series, Chopra believes the final game offers an ideal opportunity to test combinations ahead of future assignments while giving fringe players valuable match experience.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said Yashasvi Jaiswal should retain his place after featuring in only one match of the series. He argued that the left-handed opener deserves an extended run and questioned the logic of dropping him after a single appearance. Chopra also recommended resting fast bowler Arshdeep Singh and replacing him with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, provided the latter is available for selection.

"Bite the bullet and say that we want to play Nitish Kumar Reddy if he is fit. Make Arshdeep Singh sit out and play Nitish. Don't make Yashasvi sit out because I have no idea when he will get another opportunity," Chopra said. His comments come as India look to complete a 3-0 clean sweep after convincing victories in the first two ODIs against Afghanistan.

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Meanwhile, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that pacer Harshit Rana has fully recovered from his injury following rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy and has joined the squad ahead of the Chennai ODI. However, the coaching staff is unlikely to rush him back into competitive action despite his fitness clearance, preferring a cautious approach as he prepares for a demanding schedule in the coming weeks.

Doeschate said Rana appeared physically fit and in good spirits after rejoining the team but indicated that he is unlikely to feature in the final ODI. According to the assistant coach, the immediate priority is ensuring the fast bowler is completely ready from a physical standpoint before addressing the mental aspects of returning to international cricket after a lengthy injury layoff.

India will enter the final ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium aiming to maintain their unbeaten run against Afghanistan in the series while also evaluating players ahead of future tournaments. With the series already in the bag, team management has the flexibility to experiment with the playing XI, making Chopra's suggestions regarding Nitish Kumar Reddy and Yashasvi Jaiswal a key talking point before the match begins.

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