Rohit, Kohli carry India’s hopes as South Africa eye historic ODI series win

India enter the final ODI in Visakhapatnam with their backs firmly against the wall, knowing another slip-up against South Africa would deepen the unease surrounding the team. After losing the Test series 2-0 and fumbling in Raipur, the hosts now face the prospect of consecutive home-series defeats, an outcome almost unthinkable for a side of India’s pedigree, especially amid murmurs of a divided dressing room.

Saturday’s clash is more than a decider. It is an opportunity to reset the narrative, and once again, the responsibility will fall heavily on the shoulders of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the two pillars who have carried India’s ODI cricket for over a decade. Both are in sublime touch as Kohli enters the match with two centuries and a fifty in his last three innings, while Rohit has struck a hundred and two fifties in his previous four.

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Their recent form not only signals experience but also hunger, even as both approach the twilight of their careers. Another defining performance from the duo could stabilise a wobbly campaign.

Yet, India cannot afford to lean solely on its senior pros. The younger generation must rise to the occasion, much like Ruturaj Gaikwad did in Raipur with his maiden ODI hundred during a 195-run stand with Kohli.

The team will also hope for a turnaround from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has shown promise but hasn’t converted his starts. His struggles against left-arm pace, a recurring issue across formats, have been exposed again by Marco Jansen and Nandre Burger. With Jaiswal dismissed 30 times by left-armers across his career, both he and the support staff know the issue can no longer be overlooked.

If the pattern persists, team management could be tempted to consider Gaikwad as a frontline opening option.

Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA Stadium offers some comfort as a venue where India have traditionally performed well, winning seven of their last 10 ODIs. The track generally favours batting, but dew, a decisive factor in Ranchi and Raipur, complicates reading the conditions.

Humidity in the coastal city is expected to remain high at night, even with the recent dip in temperatures due to cyclonic activity. India’s training session under lights on Friday is likely to play a key role in shaping their final XI.

Swap Washington with Tilak

A potential talking point is whether the team will replace Washington Sundar with Tilak Varma to inject more depth into the middle order. India’s innings has repeatedly lost momentum in the final overs, and Tilak’s all-round ability, including his fielding and part-time spin, gives him a strong case for inclusion.

Rishabh Pant is another option, though his role in the balance of the XI remains under deliberation.

The hosts will also look for tighter spells from young pacers Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, whose inconsistency has cost India in pressure moments. Their improvement will be vital in supporting the in-form Arshdeep Singh in conditions that could again be challenging for bowlers handling a wet ball.

South Africa, meanwhile, have a historic opportunity at hand. A win in Visakhapatnam would seal their first-ever ODI series triumph on Indian soil and add to their Test series dominance. Their only concern leading into the decider is the fitness of Marco Jansen Burger and Tony de Zorzi, both of whom walked off with injuries in Raipur. Their availability could significantly influence the visitors’ balance for the final match.

Squads

India: KL Rahul (C/WK), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (C), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Prenelan Subrayen.