INDIA VS. SOUTH AFRICA (3RD) ODI 2025

 SATURDAY 06 DECEMBER 2025, 01:30 PM (IST)

 ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

 Starts Sports Network (www.hotstar.com), DD Sports , Jio Hotstar

What Happened in the First Two ODIs

1st ODI – Ranchi: India eke out a 17-run win

The series began in Ranchi on 30 November 2025, where India posted 349/8 and South Africa fell short at 332, handing India a narrow 17-run win. Times Now Navbharat+1
It was a gritty, tense finish — as is often the case in Indo-SA encounters — and India took the early advantage.

2nd ODI – Raipur: Run-fest and South Africa’s fightback

In the 2nd ODI at Raipur on 3 December 2025, India went hard with the bat and posted a massive 358/5. The innings was lit up by Virat Kohli’s 53rd ODI century (102 from 93 balls) and a maiden ODI ton from Ruturaj Gaikwad (105 off 83). Their brilliant partnership gave India a formidable total. The Times of India+2NDTV Sports+2

But South Africa had other plans — a brilliant century from Aiden Markram (110) supported by handy knocks from Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis saw them chase down 359 with four balls to spare. The chase is now one of the highest successful targets against India in ODIs. NDTV Sports+2ESPN.com+2

That result reset the series at 1–1 and the momentum — confidence — seems swinging toward the Proteas ahead of the decider. NDTV Sports+1

📰 Why This Blog on CrickUpdator Matters Now  ✌

The final ODI is not just another match. It’s a battle for bragging rights, a test of temperament and consistency under pressure, and a decider that will shape opinions about both teams’ form and balance. For your readers — whether die-hard fans, fantasy cricket players, or casual viewers — this last match could be defining.

📝 Full Squads for the Series

India ODI Squad

According to the official squad lists, here are the players India has in the ODI squad for the series. BCCI+2IPL+2

• KL Rahul (Captain)

• Rohit Sharma

• Virat Kohli

• Yashasvi Jaiswal

• Tilak Varma

• Rishabh Pant

• Washington Sundar

• Ravindra Jadeja

• Kuldeep Yadav

• Dhruv Jurel

• Nitish Kumar Reddy

• Harshit Rana

• Ruturaj Gaikwad

• Prasidh Krishna

• Arshdeep Singh

South Africa ODI Squad

The South African squad for the series comprises the following players: IPL+2Outlook India+2

• Temba Bavuma (Captain)

• Aiden Markram

• Dewald Brevis

• Nandre Burger

• Quinton de Kock

• Marco Jansen

• Tony de Zorzi

• Ottneil Baartman

• Corbin Bosch

• Matthew Breetzke

• Keshav Maharaj

• Lungi Ngidi

• Ryan Rickelton

• Prenelan Subrayen

Note: The Playing XI for the 3rd ODI is yet to be announced (as of now), but given form and conditions, fans are already speculating on possible combinations. Samayam Tamil+1

🔍 What to Expect — Key Points Ahead of 3rd ODI

• India’s Batting Depth vs SA’s Bowling: With heavyweights like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and fledgling stars like Gaikwad/Jaiswal still in the squad, India has strong batting firepower. But South Africa’s bowling and their ability to chase down 300+ will be the real test.

• Psychological Advantage for SA: Chasing down 359 in the 2nd ODI shows nerves and game plan — that momentum could carry into the final match.

• Pressure on Indian Bowlers & Fielders: Raipur showed dewy, tricky conditions that made bowling difficult. On batting-friendly pitch in Visakhapatnam, India’s bowlers need to come prepared to bowl tight lines.

• Possible XI Tweaks: India might shuffle batters or bring in more bowling depth. On the other hand, SA could stick with momentum — Markram, Breetzke, and Brevis might again lead from front.

• Decider Drama: With the series tied, the 3rd ODI is all set to be a nerve-wracking, high-stakes clash — perfect for fans and neutral watchers alike.

   So, as you follow the toss, watch the scoreboard, and analyze each over — this moment is pure       cricket drama. And at CrickUpdator, we’ll be tracking every heartbeat.

• Let’s hope for a cracking finish on 6 December 2025 at Visakhapatnam. May the better team win! 🏏