IND vs SA 3rd ODI Match Preview – The South Africa tour of India 2025 ODI series has been an unprecedented showcase of batting dominance, and it all comes down to a blockbuster finale. With the series locked at 1-1 after two high-scoring thrillers, India is set to clash with South Africa in the 3rd and final One-Day International at the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, December 6th.
The first two matches saw over 1,400 runs scored, with both teams posting totals above 349. India won the opening game in Ranchi, but South Africa leveled the series in Raipur by successfully chasing down a massive target of 359 runs—the joint-highest chase ever achieved against India in ODIs. The match will be decided by which team can overcome the heavy evening dew and control the opposition’s rampant batting lineup.
IND vs SA 3rd ODI Match Details
| Feature | Details |
| Match | India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI |
| Series | South Africa tour of India, 2025 |
| Venue | Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy International Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam |
| Date & Time | Saturday, December 06, 2025, 01:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Telecast | JioCinema, Star Sports |
IND vs SA 3rd ODI Head-to-Head
Historically, South Africa holds the overall advantage in ODI cricket against India. This match will mark the first time the two teams play an ODI at the Visakhapatnam venue.
| Format | Total Matches | India Won | South Africa Won | No Result |
| ODI | 96 | 41 | 52 | 3 |
IND vs SA 3rd ODI Pitch Report
The Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam is generally a batter-friendly surface, known for its even bounce and true pace in the early part of the match.
Pace and Bounce: The ball comes onto the bat nicely, encouraging fluent stroke play. Competitive scores here are typically above 270, and aggressive teams often push past 300.
Spin Factor: The pitch tends to support spinners as the game progresses.
Toss and Dew: Dew is a critical factor in the evening, which makes batting easier in the second innings and neutralizes the spin threat. For this reason, teams winning the toss will strongly lean towards bowling first.
IND vs SA 3rd ODI Weather Report
The weather forecast for Visakhapatnam on Saturday is clear and warm, with high humidity expected later in the day.
Temperature: The temperature will be around 27°C to 28°C in the afternoon, dropping to a low of 21°C by night.
Rain Threat: There is only a minimal chance of precipitation (around 10% during the day and night), indicating a full match is expected.
Conditions: The humidity will increase, potentially aiding swing bowlers early on, with the crucial factor remaining the heavy dew expected post-sunset.
IND vs SA 3rd ODI Probable Playing11
Given the high-scoring nature and the failure of the Indian bowlers in the second ODI due to dew, India may consider a slight adjustment to their balance. South Africa may be forced to make changes due to minor injuries.
India (IND): Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (c/wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
Potential Change: India may consider Nitish Kumar Reddy to bolster the all-rounder options or bring in Dhruv Jurel for batting depth if Washington Sundar’s bowling struggles continue in the dew.
South Africa (SA): Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
Potential Change: If Tony de Zorzi and Nandre Burger are unavailable due to injury concerns, Ryan Rickelton or Ottneil Baartman could step in, providing an extra batting or bowling option, respectively.
IND vs SA 3rd ODI Match Prediction
The final match is set to be a true test of nerve and strategy.
India’s Strength: India’s batting form is phenomenal. Virat Kohli is in record-breaking form, scoring centuries in both matches, and Ruturaj Gaikwad has also found his maiden ODI century. Their top order is virtually unstoppable.
South Africa’s Strength: The Proteas have shown superior chasing ability, matching the highest-ever successful chase against India. Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis have been destructive in the middle order.
The Deciding Factor: The toss will be highly influential due to the expected evening dew. The team batting second has historically had the advantage at this venue.
Given the strength of both batting lineups, the match will likely be decided by the bowling unit that can best manage the challenging conditions. Although South Africa has the overall H2H advantage, India holds a slight edge due to their powerful spin attack (Jadeja, Kuldeep) and their desperation to seal the series at home.
Prediction: India to win a closely fought contest and clinch the series 2-1.
