India turn to their reserves in Delhi as Afghanistan chase a consolation win

India close out a series they have already won when they meet Afghanistan in the third T20I in Delhi, with the Asian Games squad the real subject of the evening

The final match of Afghanistan's tour starts at 7.30pm at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, a dead rubber in everything but name. India have won the first two T20Is by seven wickets each, chasing 157 with 38 balls to spare and 160 with 31.

Neither chase was troubled. Afghanistan were held to 156 for 8 and 159 for 8, and India passed both totals inside 15 overs without losing more than three wickets.

That leaves Shreyas Iyer's side free to use the last night of the series as a look at the players who have carried drinks for a fortnight, with the squad due in Japan for the Asian Games later this month.

A series settled in the first six overs

The powerplay has decided both matches. Afghanistan managed 41 for 4 and then 41 for 1 in their opening six overs; India replied with 82 for 1 and 82 for 0.

Afghanistan's answer has been to hold their best bowlers back rather than attack with them. Fazalhaq Farooqi did not bowl until the 13th over on Tuesday, and neither Rashid Khan nor Noor Ahmad was given an over inside the powerplay.

By the time either spinner arrived, the chase was effectively finished. Ibrahim Zadran's side will need a different plan on Thursday if the result is to be any different.

Runs already banked

Abhishek Sharma has been the batter of the series, with 121 runs at a strike rate of 237.25 and eleven sixes among his scoring shots.

Sanju Samson's 57 from 22 balls on Tuesday was the most destructive innings of the two matches, and Ishan Kishan finished unbeaten on 38 alongside him.

With the bowlers, Nitish Kumar Reddy's 3-24 in the second match was a career-best in international cricket, and came after a quiet first game.

Room for the reserves

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the name most likely to be called. The teenager was named Player of the Series in India's recent tour of Zimbabwe and has not played in this series, and he is in the Asian Games squad.

Washington Sundar and Yash Thakur are also waiting, both having watched the first two matches from the dugout.

Iyer had already made the case for his back-ups before the series began. "Even if there is a backup, he is equally important for the team and we know that they can deliver as well," he said.

Asked about the run of injuries around the squad, the captain was unwilling to call it a problem. "It isn't frustrating. We need to understand, first of all, the number of matches a player is playing continuously, rigorously. He is prone to getting injured in some way or the other because the intensity is pretty high," he said.

The Bumrah question

Jasprit Bumrah has returned from a knee injury during this series and has bowled within himself, taking 1-26 and 1-25 in the two matches.

India must now decide whether a third outing in five days is useful preparation or an unnecessary risk before the travel to Japan.

Iyer had no doubts about his fast bowler's appetite when the series opened. "Definitely, I interacted with him yesterday and he is in that mindset where he wants to come and perform for the team and see to it that we win championships," he said.

Japan next

The men's cricket competition at the Asian Games runs from 24 September to 3 October, with Iyer named as captain and Sooryavanshi among the squad.

Afghanistan have their own reasons to finish well. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has fallen for a duck in each match, and only a sixth-wicket stand of 48 between Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan gave the second innings any shape after Zadran's 37.

A win in Delhi would be Afghanistan's first over India in a T20I, and the last chance this tour offers to get one.

The third T20I begins at 7.30pm at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with India unbeaten in the series and Afghanistan playing for pride.

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