The IND vs SA 3rd ODI will be the climax of the India vs South Africa ODI series 2025. On Saturday, the crowd at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium in Visakhapatnam will witness the trophy winner. After two heart-stopping matches where batters ruled the day, India and South Africa are locked at 1-1.
The IND vs SA 3rd ODI is beyond a series decider. Almost 38 years later, India faced the challenge of a Test and ODI series defeat at their home. So, it’s a battle of pride and prestige.
Meanwhile, a confident South Africa, fresh from chasing down 359 runs, can sense history. Vizag is already heating up for the classic match.
Table of Contents
The Toss: Not an Ordinary Coin Flip
If you think only skills and quality will make a difference in the IND vs SA 3rd ODI, think again. The coin toss has become the X factor in the series.
- A Streak of Bad Luck: India’s captain, KL Rahul, hasn’t had luck on his side at the toss. The team has lost an astonishing 20 consecutive tosses in ODIs. The last time they called correctly was in a World Cup semi-final.
- The Dew Factor: Winning the toss in Visakhapatnam almost certainly means choosing to chase. As the sun sets, heavy dew settles on the outfield, making the ball wet and slippery for bowlers. It becomes arduous to grip, especially for spinners, turning the second innings into a batting paradise.
- A Crucial Rule Quirk: A specific ODI rule made the problem worse. After the 34th over, the fielding side must choose one of the two balls in play to use for the rest of the innings. The team bowling second is stuck with an older, softer ball that becomes almost impossible to control once the dew arrives. This is why South Africa, despite being behind in the last game, stormed back to win in the final overs.
Simply put, the team batting second holds a massive advantage, with some experts giving them a 70-80% chance of victory if they are chasing. For India, breaking their toss jinx could be the key to breaking South Africa’s momentum.
Probable IND vs SA 3rd ODI Playing XIs
South Africa must make changes because of injuries. The big question is whether India will keep their winning formula or change their lineup for the final match.
India’s Likely Strategy
Most experts think the IND vs SA ODI playing 11 will stay the same. The batting, led by a phenomenal Virat Kohli (237 runs in two games), is firing on all cylinders. However, some voices are calling for a bold change to add more value.
The debate centers on the balance between the two sides. Analysts say India might choose Varma, a batsman, over Jadeja, an all-rounder. They plan to strengthen their batting to achieve a larger total, as a score of 360-370 might be required to feel safe here.
India’s Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (c & wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa’s Forced Changes
The Proteas have injury troubles. Hamstring injuries have sidelined Pacer Nandre Burger and batter Tony de Zorzi, making their return unlikely. This opens the door for Ottneil Baartman with the ball and likely Ryan Rickelton with the bat.
South Africa’s Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
Players in the Spotlight
- Virat Kohli (India): He is in a league of his own. With back-to-back centuries, he is eyeing a historic third in a row. At his favourite Vizag ground, where he averages 97.83 in ODIs, betting against him seems unwise.
- Kuldeep Yadav (India): Amidst bowling struggles, Kuldeep has been the standout, taking 5 wickets in the series. His ability to take crucial middle-over wickets will be vital.
- Matthew Breetzke (South Africa): The rock of the Proteas lineup. With 140 series runs, he has been consistently brilliant. He averages over 68 in ODIs this year and is the man India will want to dismiss early.
- Marco Jansen (South Africa): The tall all-rounder holds the key with both bat and ball. He is South Africa’s top wicket-taker in the series and can change the game with quick lower-order runs.
The Vizag Pitch and How to Watch
Good batting conditions are a hallmark of the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The last two ODIs here showed big differences. India scored 387 in one game and only 117 in another. With clear weather expected, we can expect a high-scoring game. The average first innings score here is 233, but this series has rewritten all norms, and 300+ will likely be the bare minimum.
IND vs SA 3rd ODI Details:
- Date & Time: Saturday, December 6. Toss at 1:00 PM IST, match starts at 1:30 PM IST.
- Venue: ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network.
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar.
Last Word
The IND vs SA 3rd ODI is set to be an exciting match. Strategy will be just as important as execution. India’s batsmen are in great form. However, their bowlers must deal with the dew if they lose the toss again. South Africa, riding a wave of confidence, knows another chase under lights plays right into their hands.
In the end, the IND vs SA 3rd ODI score will tell the story of who handled the pressure better. Will Kohli’s skill and home advantage help India win, or will South Africa’s bold batting make history? Everything will be shown under the Vizag lights.
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My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.
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