Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has given a big statement after winning the ODI series against South Africa. Young bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana is important in Gambhir’s plan. Gambhir also reacted regarding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. However, he also said that the experience of Virat and Rohit is very important for the team, but along with this, the performance of the young players has also been incredible.

In the three-match ODI series against South Africa, Virat Kohli scored two centuries and an unbeaten half-century. He also became ‘Player of the Series’. Rohit Sharma scored two important half-centuries in this series. Coach Gambhir expressed hope that both the veteran players will continue their similar performance.

Gambhir gave a big statement on Virat and Rohit

Speaking to reporters after winning the third ODI against South Africa, coach Gautam Gambhir said, “They (Rohit and Virat) are excellent players. I have said many times that they are world-class players. They are the best players in this format and their experience in the dressing room really means a lot. They are doing what they have been doing. They have been performing like this for such a long time for Indian cricket. Hopefully, they will continue to perform like this in future also.”

Harshit Rana is an important part of coach Gambhir’s plan

Regarding Harshit Rana, Gautam Gambhir said, “We are trying to groom a player like Harshit in such a way that he can really contribute while batting at number eight. We have to strike a balance like this, because for the 2027 ODI World Cup after two years, we will also need three good fast bowlers. If he establishes himself as a bowling all-rounder, it will be good for us.”

Gambhir also seemed impressed by the performance of fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna. He said, the performance of Arshdeep, Prasidh and Harshit in this series has been incredible. These three do not have much experience especially in the 50 over format. He has hardly played less than 15 ODIs, but he has performed brilliantly.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored the first century of his ODI career. This century of Jaiswal came in the third ODI match against South Africa, in which he completed his century in 111 balls. Jaiswal played 75 balls to complete his fifty, while he scored the next fifty runs in 35 balls. Jaiswal has now become the sixth Indian to score a century in all three formats.

Indians who scored centuries in all three formats

Yashasvi Jaiswal has earlier scored centuries in T20 and Test cricket also. Now in the fourth match of his ODI career, he has also achieved the feat of scoring an ODI century. Before this, only 5 Indian batsmen have been able to score centuries in all three formats. Only their names Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Suresh Raina and Shubman Gill were able to do this. Jaiswal is the sixth Indian to do so.

He opened with Rohit Sharma in the third ODI match played in Visakhapatnam. Together they made a partnership of 155 runs. Jaiswal was able to score only 40 runs in both the matches of the current series. Ultimately, he capitalized on the opportunity and scored a century in the third and last match. He got a chance to open in the ODI team in the absence of injured Shubman Gill.

There were flops in the last 2 matches

Yashasvi Jaiswal was able to score 18 and 22 runs respectively in the first two ODI matches of South Africa. In the third ODI match, he exercised patience and completed his fifty in a very slow manner, playing 75 balls. After that he increased the pace and completed the next 50 runs in 35 balls. In this match, Jaiswal played an inning of 116 runs in 121 balls.

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Watch: Virat’s couple dance with Kuldeep, you would not have seen such a celebration; Video of Visakhapatnam ODI goes viral

Rohit Sharma has created history in the third ODI against South Africa. Rohit Sharma has completed 20 thousand runs in international cricket after scoring 27 runs in the third ODI being played in Visakhapatnam. Rohit has become the fourth Indian batsman to do so. Before Rohit, only Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid have done this.

Rohit Sharma, playing his 505th match in international cricket, created history in the 15th over against South Africa. Rohit has now scored more than 20 thousand runs in Test, ODI and T20 International combined. Rohit is looking in great form. He is close to his half-century. Rohit had scored a brilliant fifty in the first match of this series.

Rohit Sharma became the 14th cricketer in the world to score 20 thousand runs.

Rohit Sharma is the 14th cricketer to complete 20 thousand runs in international cricket. Before him, Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Virat Kohli, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara, Joe Root, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Inzamam Ul Haq and AB de Villiers have done this.

Indians who have scored the most runs in international cricket

34357 runs – Sachin Tendulkar
27910 runs – Virat Kohli
24208 runs – Rahul Dravid
20000* runs – Rohit Sharma

India has a target of 271 runs

Team India has got the target of 271 runs in the third ODI being played in Visakhapatnam. Looking at the way Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are batting, it seems certain that India will win the series. In this decisive match, Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna took 4-4 wickets for India. Till the time of writing the news, India’s score is close to 100 without losing any wicket. The first match of this series was won by the Indian team. After this, the South African team had won in the second match.

Virat Kohli’s style is very unique, he keeps having fun on the field. Sometimes he keeps doing dance moves and sometimes he keeps acting like someone else. Something similar happened in the third ODI match between India vs South Africa. Indian bowlers had reduced South Africa to 270 runs in the first innings. Quinton De Kock played an inning of 106 runs in this match. In fact, when Kuldeep Yadav gave the eighth blow to South Africa by dismissing Corbin Bosch, Virat and Kuldeep did a couple dance.

The video of Kuldeep Yadav and Virat Kohli dancing in a friendly manner is going viral on social media. After taking the wicket of Bosch, Kuldeep held Virat’s hand, then both of them won the hearts of the fans with the couple dance. India vs South Africa 3rd ODI match was full of funny moments. After winning the toss, KL Rahul was also filled with energy, because the Indian team had won the first toss after 20 matches.

Virat Kohli + Kuldeep Yadav = Couple-dance celebration after the wicket!
Only Kohli can bring this energy #INDvsSA #ViratKohli #wicket pic.twitter.com/KnMnnwkyKP

— Utkarsh Yadav (@utkarshyadav79) December 6, 2025

Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna took four wickets each for the Indian team. As a result, the South African team could not even play the full 50 overs and were limited to 270 runs. Let us tell you that in this ODI series, both the teams are on equal footing and the team that wins the third match will be called the winner of the series.

Quinton de Kock is in excellent form for the South African team, who scored a century of 106 runs in the third ODI match. This was the 23rd century of his ODI career, making him equal with Kumar Sangakkara in terms of scoring the most centuries as a wicketkeeper in ODIs. This was his 7th century in ODI against India. Sanath has equaled Jayasuriya in terms of most ODI centuries against India.

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The decisive match of the three-match ODI series is being played between India and South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. In the third ODI, the South African team could score only 270 runs. However, at one time South Africa’s score was 168 runs for 2 wickets. Quinton de Kock also played a record century inning of 106 runs, but the team was all out for 260. Kuldeep Yadav bowled brilliantly for India. This Chinaman spinner took 4 important wickets for just 41 runs with one maiden in 10 overs. The famous Krishna also got 4 successes.

Now to win the ODI series, Team India will have to score 271 runs. Looking at the way the Indian batsmen have batted in the first two ODIs, it would not be wrong to say that Team India will win the series. However, the fast bowlers are getting good bounce from the pitch. Still, after getting set, it is not difficult to score runs here.

Such was South Africa’s innings

Earlier, South Africa, who came to bat first after losing the toss, did not have a good start. Opener Ryan Rickleton was out for zero. Arshdeep Singh sent him to the pavilion. After this there was a century partnership between Temba Bavuma and De Kock. Bavuma was out after scoring 48 runs in 67 balls with the help of five fours. He was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja. This was Jadeja’s first wicket in this series.

After Bavuma’s dismissal, no South African batsman supported De Kock. Matthew Britzke was out after scoring 24 runs in 23 balls, Aiden Markram 01, Dewald Brewis was out after scoring 29 runs in 29 balls. De Kock hit 8 fours and 6 sixes in his innings of 106 runs off 89 balls.

Marco Yansen was out after scoring 17 runs in 15 balls. Keshav Maharaj batted carefully and the team’s score was respectable. He remained unbeaten on 20 runs with the help of two fours in 29 balls.

Indian captain KL Rahul won the toss in the deciding match of the three-match ODI series against South Africa. You will be surprised to know that the Indian cricket team has succeeded in winning the toss in ODI after losing 20 consecutive toss. Before this, the last time the Indian captain had won the toss was in the semi-final match of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Rohit Sharma won the toss against New Zealand in the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup. After this, all the Indian captains have lost the toss in ODIs. KL Rahul also lost the toss in both the opening ODI matches against South Africa, but his luck changed in the third ODI being played in Visakhapatnam. This time Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl.

Know what Indian captain KL Rahul said after the toss

In the third ODI against South Africa, KL Rahul said after winning the toss, “It will be better to chase the target considering the dew. It is better to bowl before that. We practiced here last night. There was dew and it did not come quickly like Ranchi and Raipur. We want to chase the target. Let’s see how we bowl first. The wicket looks good. We are very happy with the way we have played in the last two matches. Looking at the conditions. We have done well and there are a lot of positives.”

Team India’s playing eleven in the third ODI- Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Verma, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper/captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna.

South Africa’s playing eleven in the third ODI- Ryan Rickleton, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Britzke, Aiden Markram, Dewald Brewis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Otniel Bartman.

Today the ‘final’ match of the ODI series is to be played between India and South Africa. The three-match series is currently tied at 1-1. In such a situation, whichever of the two teams wins in Visakhapatnam today, the series will be in its name. For this reason the decisive match of the ODI series is being called the final.

Status of first and second ODI

The first ODI match was played in Ranchi, in which the Indian team scored 349 runs. In response, the South African team was able to score only 332 runs. In that match, Virat Kohli scored 135 runs and Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul scored half-centuries for India. India won that match by 17 runs.

The second match was played in Raipur, in which Team India, playing first, scored 358 runs, in which Virat Kohli once again scored a century. Rituraj Gaikwad also played a century inning of 105 runs in this match. But Aiden Markram’s century and especially Dewald Brevis’s brilliant innings of 54 runs helped South Africa achieve the record target of 359 runs.

How will the weather be?

According to Accuweather, the sky may remain cloudy during the India vs South Africa third ODI match, but there is no possibility of rain. The temperature in Visakhapatnam can be 27 degrees Celsius during the match, while at night the temperature can fall to 19 degrees. Humidity level may remain at 74%.

India’s probable playing eleven for the third ODI- Yashvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (captain and wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna.

Probable playing eleven of South Africa for the third ODI- Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Britzke, Rubin Herrmann, Dewald Brewis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi and Otniel Bartman.

India vs South Africa 2nd ODI match will be played tomorrow at ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam. The match will start at 1:30 pm Indian time. Before that, the Indian team had a practice session, in which only 4 players participated. From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul also did not become a part of this practice session.

The four players who participated in the practice session were Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Verma, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Apart from head coach Gautam Gambhir, other members of the support staff also attended the session. Actually, the Indian team had not organized any practice session for the third ODI match, and it was an optional session. Therefore, apart from four players, all other players including Virat-Rohit decided to take rest.

Important match for Jaiswal-Sundar

This ODI match against South Africa will be especially important for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Washington Sundar. In the absence of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal has opened with Rohit Sharma in both the matches, but he has scored only 40 runs in 2 innings. To stake claim for a place in the ODI team, it is very important for him to play in the third match.

On the other hand, Washington Sundar was put to bat at number 5 above KL Rahul in Ranchi, but was out after scoring only 13 runs. In the second match, he was run out after scoring just one run. Sundar has not been able to take a single wicket in bowling in this series. In such a situation, they too will have to perform better in every situation.

Indian ODI team’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is also not playing in this series. Rituraj Gaikwad got a chance in his place at number-4. He was out early in the first match, but capitalized on the opportunity by scoring a century of 105 runs in the second match.

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Former Indian spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin has once again targeted Gautam Gambhir. Before the India vs South Africa third ODI, Ashwin said that Gautam Gambhir should ensure that Washington Sundar is clearly explained his role. Sundar has not been able to perform well with neither bat nor ball in this series. He was sent to bat at number 5 in the first ODI and at number six in the second ODI.

In the first 2 ODI matches against South Africa, Washington Sundar has scored 13 and one runs respectively. Whereas in bowling he could not take even a single wicket. In both the matches, he was made to bowl only 7 overs. Earlier in the Test series, Sundar was sent to bat at number-3, but in the very next match, he was sent back to the lower order.

Ashwin angry at Gambhir

Regarding the turmoil in the batting order, Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “When you are playing Washington Sundar, first of all you have to consider him as a bowler who can also bat. You should make him bowl the entire overs. If he keeps bowling, then his mentality will also be that of a bowler who can bat. If he keeps bowling a few overs and keeps batting in any order, then he will start losing his identity.”

Ashwin further said that the team management should not let Sundar go in such a situation from where he cannot understand anything. According to Ashwin, Sundar should get a clear answer regarding his role.

no finisher in the team

Ravichandran Ashwin also raised the question that Team India currently does not have any player who can finish the game. In the second ODI, Team India had scored 284 runs in 40 overs, but after that only 74 runs were scored in the last 10 overs. Ashwin said that in the absence of Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who hits big shots like him, is sitting on the bench.

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Tomorrow India vs South Africa 3rd ODI match will be played in Visakhapatnam. Before this match, Team India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Deutsche said that there may be a feeling of disappointment within the team, but Indian players know how to play well under pressure. Let us tell you that only the team that wins tomorrow’s match will be called the winner of the series. Right now both the teams have won one match each.

Before the India-South Africa third ODI match, Ryan ten Deutsche said, “When the results start going against you and the performance level starts falling, then naturally there is a feeling of disappointment. But this team is used to playing under pressure. Pressure never leaves this team. The pressure of the decisive match in the bilateral series will be different and our focus will be on performing better and making good scores and chasing the target.”

Ryan ten Deutsche, coming from Netherlands, also said that dew has proved to be a big factor in the last two matches. Now Dew can play an important role in the third ODI also.

Regarding dew, Ryan ten Deutsche said, “There is a lot of dew here. We have no control over this thing and we have to adapt to the conditions. The boundaries here are small and it is a high-scoring ground.”

The ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam is known for high-scoring matches. Till now, the biggest score in ODI cricket history is 387 runs, which was made by Team India against West Indies in 2019. In the history of ODI cricket, more than 400 scores have been scored here in four overs, out of which Team India has done this thrice. Since 2018, Team India has scored more than 350 here thrice.

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