The stage is perfectly set for a thrilling winner-takes-all encounter as India and South Africa clash in the third and final ODI at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6, 2025. The series is tantalizingly poised at 1-1, making this a pure decider. The hosts, led by KL Rahul, won the opening match in Ranchi, only for Temba Bavuma's Proteas to bounce back strongly with a victory in Raipur.
Series on the Line in Batting Paradise
The narrative of the series has been dominated by the batters. Both games have witnessed high scores, with bowling attacks from both sides coming under significant pressure. The pitch and conditions have heavily favored stroke play, and the trend is expected to continue in Visakhapatnam. The ACA-VDCA Stadium is known for its relatively smaller boundaries and has a history of hosting high-scoring contests, promising another run-fest for fans.
Predicted Playing XIs and Key Players
With the series at stake, both teams are likely to field their strongest available combinations. For India, the top order boasts formidable names. Rohit Sharma, who scored a half-century in Ranchi, will be keen to convert his start into a match-defining innings. His recent approach of building an innings before accelerating has been noteworthy.
India's predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
For South Africa, the all-round brilliance of Marco Jansen has been the standout story of the tour. Excelling in both the Test and ODI series, Jansen will be crucial with both bat and ball if the visitors are to secure a series win on Indian soil.
South Africa's predicted XI: Quinton de Kock (w), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
Squads and Match Logistics
The full squads provide depth for both sides. India's squad includes: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (w/c), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy.
South Africa's squad comprises: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (w), Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Ottneil Baartman, Rubin Hermann, Prenelan Subrayen.
The match will start at the scheduled time on Saturday, December 6. For fans in India, the action will be telecast live on the Star Sports network. Live streaming will be available on the JioCinema app and website.
The 2025 ODI series schedule is as follows:
- 1st ODI: November 30 - Ranchi (India won)
- 2nd ODI: December 3 - Raipur (South Africa won)
- 3rd ODI: December 6 - Visakhapatnam
With everything to play for, the Vizag decider promises to be a captivating contest of power-hitting and nerve, concluding what has been an intensely competitive bilateral series.
