India vs Afghanistan ODI 2025: Nayar warns Gill's side not to underestimate Afghanistan
Synopsis
Abhishek Nayar's alert ahead of India's Afghanistan ODI series cuts through the assumption of an easy win. With nearly every Afghan player battle-hardened in global franchise leagues, Nayar argues this is no walkover — and with the 2027 World Cup lens already on, India's selection calls in Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai carry more weight than the scoreboard alone.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Nayar warned Shubman Gill 's India not to underestimate Afghanistan in the three-match ODI series starting 13 June 2025 .
Afghanistan's white-ball squad draws on extensive global franchise cricket experience, making them a credible white-ball threat, according to Nayar.
Nayar backed Ishan Kishan over Yashasvi Jaiswal for the number three slot in Virat Kohli 's absence.
He recommended a pace attack featuring Arshdeep Singh , Harsh Dubey , and either Prince Yadav or Gurnoor Brar .
Piyush Chawla highlighted the series as an early opportunity to build India's 2027 ODI World Cup squad, with Nitish Kumar Reddy among players to watch.
Former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar has cautioned captain Shubman Gill and his teammates against underestimating Afghanistan in the upcoming three-match ODI series, asserting that the Afghan side's deep exposure to global franchise cricket makes them a genuinely dangerous white-ball outfit.
Afghanistan's Franchise Experience a Key Threat
Speaking on JioHotstar, Nayar pointed to the breadth of franchise cricket experience within Afghanistan's white-ball squad as the primary reason India must stay sharp. 'Afghanistan will be a much tougher challenge in this ODI series. Almost every player in their white-ball squad plays franchise cricket around the world. That gives them a lot of exposure,' he said.
Nayar added that Afghanistan's aggressive brand of cricket — in both T20s and ODIs — along with a bowling attack capable of troubling Indian batters, should not be dismissed. He acknowledged a quality gap between the two sides but stressed that Afghanistan would be targeting at least two wins. 'If they manage that, it will be a huge achievement for them and a major upset for India,' he warned.
India plays its first ODI against Afghanistan on 13 June in Dharamshala, followed by matches in Lucknow and Chennai.
Ishan Kishan Preferred Over Jaiswal at Number Three
With Virat Kohli absent from the squad, Nayar was asked about the number three batting slot. The former India assistant coach backed Ishan Kishan ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal for the position, citing recent form and adaptability.
'He was excellent in the T20 World Cup and also did well against New Zealand in the T20I series. He is a more experienced and proven option at number three compared to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal is naturally an opener — in his last ODI, he scored a century while opening the innings. So based on experience and comfort in the number three role, I would go with Ishan Kishan,' Nayar explained.
Bowling Combinations in Focus
Nayar also outlined the bowling options India could explore given the absence of several first-choice seamers. He expressed a preference for Harsh Dubey as the left-arm spin option and flagged Gurnoor Brar as a seamer deserving a place in the playing XI.
'I want to see Prasidh Krishna's workload managed carefully. If the team wants to give him game time, they should also look at Gurnoor Brar. He was part of the Test squad but didn't get a chance to play there,' Nayar said. He added that Prince Yadav's recent performances also merit consideration, suggesting a pace attack built around Arshdeep Singh, Dubey, and either Yadav or Brar.
2027 World Cup Planning Begins Now
Former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla underlined the broader context of the series — early groundwork for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup. He highlighted Rohit Sharma, now a single-format player, as India's key batter, with added responsibility in Kohli's absence.
Chawla also flagged Nitish Kumar Reddy as a player to watch, noting significant improvements in pace and variations during the IPL this year. 'We need to keep an eye on him and others like him. Harsh Dubey should also get a game or two in this series. This is the right time to give young players a chance and see how they fit into the bigger picture for 2027,' Chawla said.
Point of View
And complacency is a genuine risk. Afghanistan's franchise-hardened squad is not the side India met five years ago; their bowlers in particular have developed variations that can unsettle top-order batters on subcontinental tracks. The selection debate around number three and the pace attack also reveals a deeper issue: India are still stress-testing their ODI core with a World Cup less than two years away. If the management treats this series as a low-stakes experiment rather than a competitive benchmark, they may find Afghanistan has other ideas.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the India vs Afghanistan ODI series 2025?
The three-match ODI series begins on 13 June 2025 in Dharamshala, followed by matches in Lucknow and Chennai. It is India's first ODI assignment against Afghanistan in the current cycle.
Why did Abhishek Nayar warn India not to take Afghanistan lightly?
Nayar pointed out that nearly every player in Afghanistan's white-ball squad has experience in global franchise leagues, giving them significant exposure to high-pressure cricket. He noted their aggressive style and capable bowling attack as specific threats to India's batters.
Who does Nayar prefer at number three in Virat Kohli's absence?
Nayar backed Ishan Kishan for the number three slot, citing his performances in the T20 World Cup and the T20I series against New Zealand. He argued Yashasvi Jaiswal is more naturally suited to opening the innings.
Which bowlers did Nayar recommend for India's ODI playing XI?
Nayar suggested a combination of Arshdeep Singh, Harsh Dubey, and either Prince Yadav or Gurnoor Brar. He also called for careful management of Prasidh Krishna's workload across the series.
How does this series fit into India's 2027 World Cup preparations?
Piyush Chawla described the series as an early opportunity to identify and expose players for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup. He specifically highlighted Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh Dubey as emerging players who should get game time to assess their readiness for the global stage.
