The third and final ODI between India and West Indies rolls into Chandigarh on Saturday night at 6:30 pm AEST, with the series already wrapped but pride and form still on the line. India have been utterly dominant in the opening two fixtures, chasing down imposing totals with plenty in hand — the most recent a record-breaking run chase of 406 in just 43.3 overs on Wednesday. West Indies, coming off back-to-back defeats by narrow margins, arrive knowing they face the unenviable task of salvaging something from a tough tour.
The yarn here is simple: India have found their groove in front of home crowds, rattling off two wins in a row to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. West Indies, meanwhile, have posted competitive scores but watched them chased down with clinical precision. The visitors managed 405 for seven in the last outing and still fell short, a testament to just how imposing the hosts have been with the bat. Both sides posted 295-plus totals in the second ODI as well, and India again found a way home with eight wickets and eight overs to spare.
Who wins the dead rubber?
India's recent form line tells a compelling story. Coming off that thrilling one-wicket victory on Wednesday, they've now won their last two starts, both at home, and both in successful run chases. Before the West Indies series, they suffered a pair of losses away to England in July — going down by 27 runs and two wickets in tough chases — but sandwiched a win in between. The England tour feels a distant memory now; back on home soil, India have been a different proposition entirely.
West Indies arrive in Chandigarh on the back of two consecutive losses to India, having also dropped two of three against New Zealand at home in July. Their lone win in the last five came in a low-scoring thriller against the Kiwis, chasing down 269 with one over and two wickets to spare. The pattern is clear: when totals climb north of 280, West Indies have struggled to keep pace. They've been competitive — posting 405 and 295 in the first two ODIs — but their bowling hasn't been able to contain India's batting firepower.
When these sides met four days ago, India successfully chased 406 in a stunning display of power hitting. Three days before that, they hunted down 296 with similar ease. The head-to-head ledger for this series reads two commanding Indian victories, both at home, both in high-scoring affairs. West Indies have had no answers so far, and there's little in the form book to suggest Saturday will be any different.
The head-to-head market has India at short odds, and it's not hard to see why. The hosts have been flawless at home this series, while West Indies have yet to register a win on Indian soil this tour. With the series already decided, some squads might rest key personnel, but even a reshuffled Indian lineup would fancy their chances against a West Indies outfit that has leaked runs and failed to defend totals across two matches. Our cricket tips lean heavily toward the hosts to complete the clean sweep.
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FAQ
The stage is set for Saturday night under lights in Chandigarh. India will be looking to send a statement with a 3-0 series whitewash, while West Indies search for some consolation and a platform to rebuild confidence. The recent form and head-to-head record paint a clear picture, but as any punter knows, dead rubbers can throw up the occasional surprise. We're backing India to finish the job, but West Indies have shown they can post runs — expect another high-scoring affair at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.