India put on a commanding performance in the third One-Day International against Afghanistan at Chennai's Chepauk stadium. Senior batsman Rohit Sharma and young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal both hit fluent half-centuries to lead the home side to a comfortable victory.
The opening pair showed distinct aggression from the start. According to NDTV Sports, Jaiswal completed a 38-ball half-century while Rohit Sharma also capitalised on the good batting conditions. The pair brought up 50 runs inside the seventh over, as noted by the Indian Cricket Team's official Facebook page.
Jaiswal Powers India to Clean Sweep
Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his excellent form by scoring his second ODI century. According to Hindustan Times, Jaiswal's century powered India to a 9-wicket victory and a clean sweep of the series. India chased down the target of 271 runs in 39.5 overs.
Afghanistan had earlier set a target of 218 runs, with India's bowlers restricting them effectively. Prasidh Krishna was the standout bowler, taking 5 wickets for 23 runs, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
Dominant Opening Stand on Good Pitch
The red-soil pitch at Chepauk offered good batting conditions, and India's openers made full use of it. Rohit Sharma's experience combined with Jaiswal's aggressive stroke play put Afghanistan under pressure from the start. The pair engineered a highly authoritative response during the secondary phase of the match, which was essentially a dead rubber with the series already decided.
India Today reported that Jaiswal scored 110 not out to power India to a 3-0 series win, as per India Today.
Our Take: A Statement of Intent
This performance sends a clear message about India's batting depth. Having two openers — one a seasoned captain and the other a young talent — both scoring fluent fifties in the same innings shows the strength of India's top order. Jaiswal's second ODI century at such a young age suggests he is quickly becoming a reliable option at the international level. For Afghanistan, the series loss highlights the gap in experience and depth between the two sides, though their bowling attack showed glimpses of quality. This win gives India momentum heading into future assignments.
