India turned the third ODI in Visakhapatnam into a statement of control, composure, and authority, sweeping past South Africa by nine wickets to secure the series. In a match that swung from an early setback to complete domination, the hosts underlined why their home record has become one of the strongest in world cricket.
India made a solitary change, bringing in Tilak Varma for Washington Sundar, while South Africa were forced into two adjustments as the injured Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi made way for Ottniel Baartman and Ryan Rickelton.
For the first time since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final at Wankhede, an India captain won an ODI toss. KL Rahul had no hesitation in bowling, and the new ball brought instant reward. Arshdeep Singh, full of rhythm and intent, removed Rickelton for a duck in the opening over, setting off a lively start.
What followed was a period of resistance that briefly restored balance. Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma, leaning on experience and calmness, put together a century stand. Bavuma’s 48 pushed him past 2000 ODI runs, making him the oldest of 22 South African batters to reach the milestone, and the fifth-fastest from his country in just 53 innings.
De Kock went further. His hundred, carved with authority, was his seventh against India, the most by any designated wicketkeeper against a single opponent. He reached the landmark in only 23 innings and matched Kumar Sangakkara’s record of 23 ODI tons as a designated wicketkeeper.
But South Africa’s progress stopped abruptly. Prasidh Krishna, expensive early on, flipped his spell on its head. After conceding 27 in his first two overs, he returned with precision and intent, taking three wickets for 25 in his next five. Aiden Markram (0), Matthew Breetzke (24), and de Kock (106) fell in quick succession, and the innings lost its stability.
Kuldeep Yadav tightened the screws further. His late burst broke the lower order open, removing Dewald Brevis (29) and Marco Jansen (17) in the same over before dismissing Corbin Bosch (9) and Lungi Ngidi (1). His four-wicket haul was his fifth against South Africa, the most an Indian bowler has claimed against a single team in ODIs.
South Africa, batting first for the first time in the series, folded for 270. On a true surface, it felt like a total that needed early breakthroughs to stay competitive.
India allowed no such possibility. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma dismantled the chase with clarity and command, stitching together a 150-run opening stand, India’s second-highest against South Africa in ODIs. For Rohit, it was the 35th time he had been involved in a hundred-run opening partnership, second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s 40. It also marked India’s first century opening stand against South Africa since the Champions Trophy 2013.
Rohit’s fluent 75 carried him past 20,000 international runs, joining an elite group of four Indian batters to reach the milestone.
At the other end, Jaiswal marched towards a maiden ODI hundred, becoming the sixth Indian batter to score centuries in all three international formats. Virat Kohli added a smooth fifty, ensuring the chase ended as a formality.
Jaiswal’s composed century earned him the Player of the Match award. Kohli, consistent throughout the series, was named Player of the Series, his 20th such honour in men’s international cricket, surpassing Tendulkar’s tally of 19.
The win reinforced India’s home dominance, extending their run to 10 ODI bilateral series victories in 11 attempts since the 2019 World Cup.
With South Africa having taken the Test series and India clinching the ODIs, attention now shifts to the five-match T20 series beginning December 9 in Cuttack, where both teams will look to gain early rhythm ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Scorecard:
South Africa: 270-10, Overs 47.5, Quinton de Kock 106, Kuldeep Yadav 4/41
India: 271-1, Overs 39.5, Yashasvi Jaiswal 116*, Keshav Maharaj 1/44
