As the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa stands tantalisingly poised at 1-1, the battle against the elements has emerged as a crucial subplot ahead of the decider in Visakhapatnam. In a significant development that could influence the toss and team strategy, the dew factor, which plagued bowlers in the earlier matches, is expected to make a later appearance at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Saturday.
Late Dew Arrival Changes the Equation
During an optional training session on Friday, December 5, 2025, the Indian coaching staff and players made a deliberate effort to understand the conditions, staying on the ground till 7:45 pm. Their observations brought a sliver of hope. Unlike in Ranchi and Raipur, where dew descended heavily at the start of the second innings, in Visakhapatnam, the moisture was seen only after 7:30 pm.
This delay implies that the team bowling second might face a wet ball only in the second half of the chase, allowing captains to use finger spinners like Washington Sundar more effectively in the initial overs. The ground staff has been proactive, using anti-fog and anti-dew sprays for two consecutive evenings, with plans to apply the anti-dew spray hours before the match begins.
Team Composition and the All-Rounder Conundrum
The optional session, attended by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Tilak Varma, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, also offered hints about the playing XI. Head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen in a long discussion with Sundar and Varma, indicating a potential toss-up between the two for the No. 6 slot.
This decision is critical as India's team balance has been under scrutiny. In a modern ODI era where teams favour multi-dimensional players, India's composition in the first two games was an anomaly. They fielded only two genuine all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, with nine specialists. This creates a dual challenge: batting depth ends at No. 7, and there are no part-time bowling options among the top five batsmen.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed this, stating, "I guess that is a bit of an anomaly... Ideally, in Test cricket, you have a more solid base of batters and bowlers but we feel at the moment the guys who are doing the job for us just happen to be all-rounders."
Practical Prep and Broadcast Realities
The team is leaving no stone unturned in preparation for the dew challenge. Ten Doeschate revealed that the players are practicing with wet balls to simulate match conditions, quantifying the dew's impact as varying between 10 to 20 percent in terms of difficulty.
He also touched upon a potential solution—an earlier start time. "A different start time could bring that effect down a little bit if you started two hours early," he said, referencing past series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka where matches began at 11:30 am. However, he conceded that broadcast schedules and other "moving parts" make it a "futile conversation" for now.
With the series on the line, the team's assessment of the Visakhapatnam conditions has provided a crucial tactical insight. The later onset of dew could be the respite the bowlers desperately need, potentially tipping the scales in what promises to be a thrilling series finale.
