Visakhapatnam, Dec 5: The three match ODI series between India and South Africa is set for a thrilling finish as the teams head into the decisive third ODI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday with the scoreline locked at 1-1. After South Africa’s impressive chase in Raipur, both sides enter the finale under pressure to deliver one final statement before shifting focus to the T20I series.
Toss, Dew and Pressure: Key Factors Ahead of Decider
The first two matches have exposed critical areas for improvement on both sides, but one factor has overshadowed everything luck at the toss. Heavy evening dew has decisively influenced both games, making the toss nearly as crucial as team selection.
Indian captain KL Rahul, frustrated after yet another lost toss, said, “With so much dew and the challenges of bowling second, the toss is extremely important. There were definitely areas where we could have performed better.”
Match Details: India vs South Africa 3rd ODI
Match: India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI
Date: 6 December 2025, Saturday
Venue: Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
Time: Toss 1:00 PM IST; Match at 1:30 PM IST
Live: Star Sports Network; Streaming on JioHotstar
Players to Watch: Big Names in Big Moments
India’s batting looked strong in the second ODI, with Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad stitching a vital partnership to post 358/5. Kohli’s control and Gaikwad’s return to form will be crucial again, while KL Rahul’s dual role as captain and middle-order stabiliser remains key.
However, India’s fielding failures proved costly in Raipur. Prasidh Krishna, after an expensive spell, will aim to bounce back strongly.
South Africa will rely heavily on Aiden Markram, whose match winning century kept the series alive. Despite missing Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi, the Proteas’ composed batting lineup gives them confidence heading into the decider.
Probable Playing XIs
India:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul (C/WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh
Bench: Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Tilak Varma
South Africa:
Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Ryan Rickelton, Rubin Hermann, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, Prenelan Subrayen
Final Showdown in Vizag
With both teams coming off intense, high-scoring matches, the series finale promises a gripping contest. Fans can expect high-quality cricket, tactical battles and high drama as India and South Africa fight for the ODI crown in Vizag.