India looks to seal ODI series while juggling World Cup combos

India tests – With India leading Afghanistan 1-0 in the three-match ODI series, Wednesday’s second match in Dharamsala carries a dual purpose: push toward an unassailable lead and keep testing combinations for the 2027 World Cup—decisions that could shape whether Kuldeep Ya

When the rain cut short the opener. India didn’t just protect a win—they set a tempo for what comes next. Now. with a series lead on the line in the second ODI against Afghanistan on Wednesday in Dharamsala. the pressure isn’t only about running up the score. It’s about choosing a playing XI that can still flex.

India goes into the match holding a 1-0 advantage after their comfortable win in the rain-curtailed opener. Another victory on Wednesday would give them an unassailable lead in the three-match series. But the team management is already looking past the immediate result. using the ongoing series to experiment with roles and pairings ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“For this series, it’s all about trying different combinations and seeing what really works for us,” skipper Shubman Gill said ahead of the opener. “We don’t play that many ODIs anymore – leading up to the World Cup, so it’s all about trying different combinations and seeing what our strengths are.”

That approach is putting Kuldeep Yadav’s spot under scrutiny. The 31-year-old left-arm wrist spinner has featured regularly in India’s home series against South Africa and New Zealand. but the article points to a dip in form since then. A modest IPL season was followed by an underwhelming outing in an one-off Test where he struggled for rhythm. He also missed selection in India’s recent T20I squads for the Ireland and England tours. as well as the Asian Games.

Still, ODIs remain Kuldeep’s strongest format, and the management could decide he’s worth another look. There’s a clear cricketing argument in the middle overs: when Kuldeep takes wickets there, India’s job gets easier.

But coach Gautam Gambhir prefers multi-dimensional cricketers—less for their bowling alone. and more for their ability to contribute with the bat. That preference has made Washington Sundar a certainty in the lineup. If India sticks with that balance. it could mean Harsh Dubey—who picked three wickets in the opener in his debut finger-spin outing—having to make way for Kuldeep.

India’s bowling discipline looked like a foundation in the opener, and a second strong performance would tighten their grip on the series. On the pace front, another debutant, Gurnoor Brar, impressed and is likely to get another game, even as fellow rookie Prince Yadav waits his turn.

While Kuldeep’s inclusion is being weighed, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s claim is also quietly growing. Jaiswal is among those pushing for a spot in the playing XI for the second ODI. The article notes that Virat Kohli is missing the series due to a hamstring injury, which leaves the No. 3 slot open in a way that could affect the entire batting shape.

In the opener, Ishan Kishan was preferred, but Jaiswal has done enough in recent months to stake a claim for the place.

India’s batting planning has room for movement. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel said earlier in the week. “In terms of that number three slot. that’s something that in this series we’ll play around with. Even if it’s Ishan or KL or Yashasvi, it’s a nice opportunity now. We’ve got a couple of one-day games coming up and we’ll give guys opportunity in different slots. Just to give ourselves a better idea in terms of how we can go and structure the team and have different options.”.

That same search for the right combination reaches into the top order as well. Rohit Sharma, run out cheaply in the first game, will be looking to make a bigger impact, while Gill would be pleased with how India handled pressure in a contest shortened by rain.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, will be chasing more than the scoreboard. The visitors’ standout in the opener was opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s attacking century. but he received little support from the other end as Afghanistan failed to post a challenging total. Afghanistan’s spin has been their biggest strength. yet the trio of Rashid Khan. AM Ghazanfar. and Mohammad Nabi wasn’t able to trouble India enough in Dharamsala. The article also notes that the Lucknow surface should suit them more.

The squads list the options India can lean on.

India’s squad includes: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav.

Afghanistan’s squad includes: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Bilal Sami, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Fareed Ahmad Malik, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.

The match starts at 1.30 PM IST.

The question for Wednesday is simple on the surface: can India turn a 1-0 lead into an untouchable series advantage?. Underneath it, decisions about Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and the open No. 3 slot carry a heavier weight—because this match isn’t only about sealing the series. It’s about finding the structure India wants to carry into a World Cup that’s still two years away.

India vs Afghanistan second ODI Shubman Gill Kuldeep Yadav Yashasvi Jaiswal 2027 World Cup Dharamsala Washington Sundar Harsh Dubey Morne Morkel Rohit Sharma