The final ODI will be played at the Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium. The pressure is both the teams to deliver one last strong performance before the T20I series begins.
South Africa's Aiden Markram plays a shot during the second ODI cricket match between India and South Africa (Photo: IANS)
The three-match ODI series between India and South Africa sits perfectly poised at 1-1, after the latter won the 2nd ODI match in Raipur on Wednesday. The final ODI will be played at the Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. The pressure is on both the teams to deliver one last strong performance before the T20I series begins.
The first two matches revealed both teams’ clear areas to fix and strengthen. The third ODI will be a test of who can stay composed under pressure, minimise errors, and seize the key moments.
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With India’s luck at the toss hitting an all-time low this series, all eyes will once again be on the coin. Evening dew has played a decisive role in both matches, especially for the side bowling second, making the toss almost as important as team selection.
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“Not really. With so much dew and the challenges of bowling in the second innings, the umpires were kind to allow a ball change. The toss is extremely important, and I’m disappointed we lost it. There were definitely areas where we could have performed better,” Indian captain KL Rahul said after the previous match, highlighting the growing frustration.
Match: India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI
Date: 6 December 2025, Saturday
Venue: Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
Time: Toss at 1:00 PM IST, match starts 1:30 PM IST
Live: Broadcast on Star Sports Network; streaming on JioHotstar app and website
In the second ODI, Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad stitched together a crucial partnership that powered India to 358/5, although sloppy fielding cost them the match. Both batters enter the decider in good rhythm and will be under the spotlight again.
Gaikwad, who was under pressure after a quiet first ODI, responded strongly, while Kohli looked as composed as ever. KL Rahul also impressed with the bat and will be watched closely as captain for his leadership and his contributions.
For India, tightening their fielding remains non-negotiable if they want to clinch the series. Prasidh Krishna, who had a tough outing in his last spell, will be aiming for a strong comeback.
South Africa, meanwhile, will bank on Aiden Markram, whose century in the previous match played a pivotal role in their successful 359-run chase with four balls to spare. Despite injuries to Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi, the Proteas showed depth and composure in their batting, which will give them confidence heading into the decider.
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
On bench: Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Tilak Varma
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (w), Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Ryan Rickelton, Rubin Hermann, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman, Prenelan Subrayen.
With the series on the line and both sides coming off intense contests, the final ODI promises a gripping finish. Fans can expect high-quality cricket, high stakes, and no shortage of drama as India and South Africa battle for the series at Vizag.
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