India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI today: Who will win the decider?

India will take on South Africa in the third and final ODI of the series on Saturday, December 6, at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. With the series tied 1-1, this match is a winner-takes-all contest, and both teams will be desperate to finish on a high.

India began the series with a thrilling 17-run win in Ranchi. Virat Kohli’s 52nd ODI century, supported by Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, helped India post a competitive total. Despite a late fightback from South Africa, India’s bowlers held their nerve to secure the victory and take a 1-0 lead.

However, South Africa bounced back impressively in Raipur. Aiden Markram’s brilliant 110, along with key contributions from Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis, powered the Proteas to a record 359-run chase. Even centuries from Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad could not prevent India from losing, leveling the series 1-1 and setting the stage for an exciting decider.

The Visakhapatnam pitch is generally batter-friendly, but spinners tend to come into play as the innings progresses. The average first-innings score here is around 233, making middle-over control crucial. The team winning the toss may prefer to bowl first to exploit conditions and dew factor later in the day.

Toss history:

India are currently enduring a world-record streak of 20 consecutive ODI toss losses, including the first two matches of this series against South Africa. The streak began after the 2023 World Cup final and has involved multiple captains. Statistically, this is an extremely rare event (odds about 1 in a million), surpassing the previous record of 11 held by the Netherlands, and has become a major talking point in cricket. While exact historical data for tosses against South Africa is unavailable, India have clearly lost both tosses in this series so far.

Probable playing 11:

India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna. Note: All-rounder Washington Sundar is likely to be dropped after underwhelming performances in the first two ODIs. Tilak Varma, who can also bowl a few overs, is expected to take his place.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton / Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi. Note: Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi are undergoing fitness scans after injuries in the second ODI. If ruled out, Ryan Rickelton and Ottneil Baartman could come into the XI.

Key players to watch:

Virat Kohli (India):

Kohli has been in scintillating form, hitting back-to-back centuries in Ranchi and Raipur. He remains India’s biggest threat with the bat and could again be the difference in the decider.

Rohit Sharma (India):

Rohit provides experience at the top of the order and can play both anchor and aggressive roles. His ability to score big innings quickly makes him a crucial player for India.

Marco Jansen (South Africa):

Jansen has troubled Indian batters with the new ball, picking up four wickets in the first two matches. His ability to extract bounce and maintain pressure will be crucial, even on a batting-friendly surface.

Ravindra Jadeja (India):

Despite a quiet series so far, Jadeja will have a chance to prove his all-round credentials in the decider. His left-arm spin could be useful as the pitch slows, while his fielding and lower-order batting provide depth and balance to the team.

Prasidh Krishna or Arshdeep Singh (India):

For their wicket-taking ability with the new ball.

What to expect

South Africa’s injuries could tilt the balance slightly in India’s favour, especially in the bowling department. India will look to build a strong total, control the middle overs, and make full use of their spin options. South Africa, if fully fit, will rely on top-order stability and Marco Jansen’s new-ball threat to defend or chase a big score.

With both teams having match-winners and momentum shifting between them, the decider promises an intense, high-pressure encounter. Every run, wicket, and over could matter in this series finale, making it a must-watch clash for fans.