The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion as India and South Africa gear up for the deciding third ODI of their fiercely contested series at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. With the series locked at 1-1, anticipation is sky-high among cricket fans, who are eager to witness which side will seize the moment and etch their name into the record books. The action unfolds on Saturday, December 6, 2025, with both teams carrying not only the hopes of their nations but also the weight of recent history.
India drew first blood in Ranchi with a 17-run victory, thanks largely to a standout performance by their batting talisman, Virat Kohli. South Africa, however, bounced back in Raipur, chasing down a stiff target to claim a four-wicket win and level the series. The see-saw battle has been characterized by high scores, with all four innings across the first two matches surpassing the 300-run mark. If that wasn’t enough to get pulses racing, the fact that this is South Africa’s chance to win an ODI series in India for the first time in a decade—and their first ever at this venue—adds even more spice to the contest.
For the hosts, Visakhapatnam has been a happy hunting ground. India has played 10 ODIs here, winning seven, losing just two, and tying one—a win percentage hovering around 70%. Their last triumph at this ground came in 2019, although they stumbled here in 2023 against Australia. South Africa, on the other hand, have never played an ODI at this stadium. Their only experiences here—a Test match in 2019 and a T20 clash in 2022—both ended in defeat. Will the Proteas finally break their Visakhapatnam jinx, or will India’s fortress hold strong?
The teams are expected to go in with unchanged elevens, banking on the players who’ve brought them this far. For India, the probable lineup features Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (captain and wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna. South Africa’s likely playing eleven includes Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, and Ottneil Baartman.
Yet, there are selection headaches. India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, acknowledged the pressure on his side ahead of the decider, stating, “We always want to win but, yeah certainly, when a few losses do start stacking up and performances have been below what we expect from ourselves, I think it’s a slight desperation from the series point of view.” He went on to note, “I don’t think pressure ever goes away for this team... We try to focus on the process. We try and assess what’s going to be a good score and then the batting unit has to go about getting it.”
For South Africa, confidence is riding high after their recent Test series whitewash of India, and the depth of their batting has been on full display. However, the Proteas have a few fitness concerns, with pacer Nandre Burger and batter Tony de Zorzi limping off during the second ODI in Raipur. Despite these setbacks, South Africa’s bench strength has ensured they remain competitive, and nothing seems to faze them in this high-stakes environment.
One of the biggest challenges for both sides has been the conditions. The batting-friendly pitches in Ranchi and Raipur, coupled with the dew factor, have made defending totals a tricky proposition. Ten Doeschate highlighted the impact of dew, saying, “The dew factor is so big here. It’s obviously not our fault but it is our responsibility to find a way to get around that. I think we’re doing pretty well in the defending department now (if India is bowling second).” He also remarked on the need for extra runs, “We actually tried to factor it into our batting. You know in the start of the first game we thought 320 was sort of high and then we put a frame on that 350, even given the ball coming it was a good effort to get that score. You always want more runs and again the conversations have been around how can we maximise it, even then sometimes the conditions make it tough but again the responsibility is to find ways in tough conditions.”
With both teams’ bowling units under scrutiny—India struggling to take wickets in the death overs, South Africa looking toothless in the middle phases—the outcome could very well hinge on which side adapts best on the day. The small boundaries and high-scoring nature of Visakhapatnam only add to the intrigue. Will India’s bowlers finally find their rhythm, or will South Africa’s batsmen continue to pile on the runs?
Historically, the head-to-head record leans slightly in South Africa’s favor. Out of 96 ODIs played between the two nations, South Africa has won 52, India 41, with three matches ending without a result. But as any seasoned cricket follower knows, past records can count for little when the stakes are this high and momentum swings so quickly.
Fans in India can catch all the action live on the Star Sports Network, with streaming available on the JioHotstar app and website. The toss is scheduled for 1:00 pm IST, with the match set to begin at 1:30 pm IST. With so much riding on the outcome, expect both teams to leave nothing in the tank.
South Africa’s motivation is clear: end a decade-long wait for an ODI series win in India and claim their first ever at this ground. For India, pride and home advantage are on the line, and the desire to bounce back after a recent Test series defeat is palpable. As ten Doeschate so aptly put it, “bilateral series, when the series is on the line, there is an element of pressure there in itself.”
As the sun rises over Visakhapatnam, one thing is certain: fans are in for a cracker of a contest, with both teams hungry for glory. Whether history will be rewritten or the status quo maintained, the cricketing world will be watching with bated breath. The ODI series decider is poised to deliver drama, skill, and perhaps a few surprises—just the way the sport should be.
