Krishna, Jaiswal power India to ODI sweep against Afghanistan

CHENNAI: Pace bowler Prasidh Krishna’s 5-23 and an unbeaten 110 by Yashasvi Jaiswal powered India to a nine-wicket win over Afghanistan in the third ODI and sweep the series 3-0 on Saturday.

Krishna registered his first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket to help bowl out Afghanistan for 218 in 44.2 overs despite skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi’s 102 in Chennai.

The left-handed Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma then put on 170 for the first wicket and the hosts romped home in 28.4 overs.

Jaiswal raised his second ODI ton with a six and put another one over the fence to take India to victory after senior partner Rohit departed on 79 off 69 balls.

The series – the first bi-lateral ODI fixture between the two nations – kickstarts the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

“A lot of the boxes were ticked,” said India skipper Shubman Gill.

“We spoke about keeping the intensity in the middle overs and how as batters we can push for extra runs. Going to England the conditions will be a little closer to what we will get in South Africa.”

India play two T20 internationals in Ireland later this month before they move to England for a white-ball series.

Krishna started India’s domination as he took the first four wickets as Afghanistan slumped to 36-4 before Shahidi struck his maiden ODI ton.

Afghanistan elected to bat first, but Krishna sent back Rahmanullah Gurbaz (5), Rahmat Shah (5) and Ibrahim Zadran (11), all three batters caught by Rohit.

Darwish Rasooli was next out for one before Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai, who made 50, put on 105 for the fifth wicket to thwart the opposition bowling.

It was only temporary, though, as Prince Yadav broke through to dismiss Omarzai after the batters’ ninth ODI half-century.

Mohammad Nabi made 21 in another stand with Shahidi before wickets tumbled.

Shahidi, a left-hand batter, suffered cramps in hot and humid Chennai and limped towards the back end of his innings but reached his hundred with a four off Washington Sundar.

The captain soon fell to Krishna, who took his fifth to wrap up the innings.

“I think we have talented guys, but when it comes to India, playing in India, (which) is a tough side and we were not good,” said Shahidi. “We will learn from that. And moving forward, I think we are a quality side.”

Jaiswal and Rohit came out and hit regular boundaries to pummel the opposition attack and put India on course.

Rohit miscued a pull to be caught at deep mid-wicket off spinner Mohammad Nabi but Jaiswal kept up the pace.

He added 54 with Shreyas Iyer, who made 20 not out, to take the team home. It gives India a sweep across formats after they hammered Afghanistan in the one-off Test.