After visitors South Africa swept India 2-0 in the Test series, the hosts finally have an opportunity for payback when the sides meet in the winner-takes-all third ODI at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
The ODI series sits perfectly balanced at 1-1, India winning the opener by 17 runs, before South Africa responded emphatically with a four-wicket victory in another run-fest.
India’s Batting on Fire, Bowling Under Pressure
India’s batting has been exceptional. Virat Kohli is in rare form with back-to-back centuries, KL Rahul has produced consecutive fifties, and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden ton added substance to an already fluent lineup. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal have offered brisk starts, while Rohit remains keen to deliver a statement knock to strengthen his place in the ODI set-up.
But the flip side has been India’s wayward fast bowling. Prasidh Krishna has leaked runs, and India’s failure to defend 358 exposed both tactical and execution lapses. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the ignored Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj has been glaring. Bowling under dew remains a major challenge, something India are actively working on.
We’re trying to put a number on the dew factor—it varies between 10 and 20%. We’re doing all the practical prep, guys bowling with wet balls… figuring out how to defend and what’s best to bowl when there’s dew on the grass.
Proteas Gain Momentum Ahead of Decider
South Africa enter the decider with renewed confidence. Temba Bavuma’s return from illness has added depth and composure to the batting lineup, while also prompting a reshuffle—Matthew Breetzke dropping to No. 4.
I’m starting to feel more comfortable at four. The more I play there, the better I’ll get.
He added that his role has shifted depending on match situations: “In the first game we were in trouble, so I had to build. In the second, it was about managing the guys around me and building partnerships.”
The Proteas bowling attack, led by Marco Jansen, with boosts from Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj, has looked stronger, but injuries to Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi are concerns.
Conditions, Toss, and Dew to Decide the Finale
Both teams will rely heavily on their batting depth while hoping for improved discipline from their bowling units. With dew once again expected to influence the evening session, the toss could prove decisive, just as it has throughout the series.
Probable XIs India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (capt & wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
