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IND vs SA statistical preview: Key stats, records and head-to-head ahead of 3rd ODI

Mayank

India and South Africa will lock horns for the decider in Visakhapatnam [Source: Proteas Men, BCCI/X.com]India and South Africa will lock horns for the decider in Visakhapatnam [Source: Proteas Men, BCCI/X.com]

Days after South Africa levelled the ODI series against India in Raipur, the action will move down south to Visakhapatnam, where the teams will lock horns for the third and final fifty-over match of the tour to decide who clinches the trophy. The match will begin at 1:30 pm (IST) on December 6.

India

The in-form Indian batting line-up will look to continue their good run of form, led by two centuries by Virat Kohli; everyone has chipped in with crucial runs. While Washington Sundar's role in the team continues to remain uncertain, the Men in Blue would like for him to score some runs and add 25-30 runs to the total, which could turn the game.

The bowling department also leaked runs in both games due to the dew on offer in the second half of the match, so KL Rahul would also be hoping to avoid the 21st consecutive coin-toss loss in ODIs with the series on the line.

South Africa

Just like the hosts, the visitors have also struggled with the bowling department leaking runs in the series. Additionally, Nandre Burger's injury would mount worry for Temba Bavuma, considering his good showing in the first two matches. On the other hand, the batting department has fired in both matches, which they would like to continue. Tony de Zorzi's availability after he hobbled off with a possible hamstring tear will remain under the scanner.

IND vs SA Head-to-head overview

India and South Africa have met each other on 96 occasions in their ODI history, where 41 matches have been won by India and 52 by South Africa. Three face-offs have finished with No Results.

ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam pitch report

Similar to the previous two ODIs of the series, Visakhapatnam is expected to offer a batting-friendly surface for a good, high scoring match to cap off an exciting series. The spinners could get some turn in the first innings of the match, but as the dew settles in, fast bowlers will become important in the second half.

The average first innings score at the venue in 10 ODIs so far is 296 runs, which are likely to be chased by the teams batting second. On only 3/10 occasions, the teams batting first have been able to defend the targets here.

India and South Africa probable playing XI

India

Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (c) (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.

South Africa

Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.

Top run-scorers in IND vs SA ODIs

(Only considering the players from the current squads)

1. Virat Kohli- 1741 runs

The former India skipper has faced South Africa in 33 ODIs and scored 1741 runs at an average of 69.64 with 7 centuries and 8 fifties to his name. His best score against the opposition is 160* from Cape Town, 2018.

2. Quinton de Kock- 1085 runs

The most experienced player in the Proteas side, de Kock, has scored 1085 runs in 22 matches against India. He averages 49.31 with 6 centuries and 2 fifties against the Men in Blue and has the best score of 135.

3. Rohit Sharma- 877 runs

Another former India captain featuring in this list, Rohit Sharma, has played 28 ODIs against the Proteas, scoring 877 runs at an average of 33.73. He has three fifties and three hundreds against them, including a high score of 150.

Top wicket-takers in IND vs SA ODIs

(Only considering the players from the current squads)

1. Kuldeep Yadav- 32 wickets

The leading wicket-taker of the ongoing series, with 5 wickets, Kuldeep Yadav has taken 32 wickets in 15 encounters against SA, averaging 18.50 at a strike rate of 22, while conceding at only 5.02 runs per over. He has the best figures of 4/18 against them.

2. Lungi Ngidi- 19 wickets

The fast bowler has faced India in 11 ODIs since 2018 and picked up 19 wickets at an average of 28.84 and a strike rate of 29.1. His best figures against India read 4/51 and has conceded at an economy rate of 5.93.

3. Ravindra Jadeja- 15 wickets

Jadeja has played 12 ODI matches against South Africa and has scalped 15 wickets at an average of 33.93, striking every 42 balls and also has a five-fer (5/33) to his name. His economy rate against the opposition is just 4.83 runs per over.

IND vs SA key stats

India key records

  • With three fifties and three hundreds, Virat Kohli is India's leading run-scorer in 2025, with 586 runs at an average of 58.60 and a high score of 135, which came in this ongoing series.
  • Harshit Rana has the most ODI wickets among the Indian bowlers since the start of 2025, with 20 scalps in 10 matches. He has the best figures of 4/39, while averaging 23.35 at a strike rate of 23.1 and an economy rate of 6.06.
  • In the 10 ODIs played in Vizag, India has won 7, lost just two, while a solitary game has ended in a tie.
  • Virat Kohli vs Lungi Ngidi in ODIs: 8 innings, 124 runs at a strike rate of 96.1 and average of 124, only 1 dismissal.
  • Kuldeep Yadav vs Aiden Markram in ODIs: 6 innings, 3 dismissals, 41 runs at a batting strike rate of 72 and average of 13.70.
  • India has played 13 ODIs this year and only lost 3, while winning 10, including the ICC Champions Trophy.

South Africa key records

  • Matthew Breetzke has scored 682 runs in 11 ODIs this year, averaging 68.20 and is SA's leading run-scorer in the calendar year. He has 6 fifties and a 150 to his name.
  • Lungi Ngidi has 19 wickets in 12 ODIs played in 2025 and is SA's best-performing bowler this year. His best figures read 5/42 and has a bowling average of 29.73, striking every 28.8 balls.
  • Marco Jansen vs Yashasvi Jaiswal across formats: 9 innings, 5 dismissals, 58 runs in 98 balls.
  • Dewald Brevis vs Kuldeep Yadav in ODIs: 2 innings, 32 runs at a strike rate of 139, 1 dismissal, batting average of 32.
  • South Africa has won 8/16 ODIs played in 2025 and have a chance of improving that record in Vizag.

Records that can be broken in IND vs SA, 3rd ODI

  • Matthew Breetzke can become the leading run-scorer in ODIs in 2025 if he scores 126 or more. Currently at 682 runs, he is 4th in the list behind George Munsey, Daryl Mitchell and Joe Root.
  • Rohit Sharma (11,441 runs) can surpass Jacques Kallis (11,579) in the tally of most ODI runs, if he scores 139 or more in Vizag.
  • South Africa can win their first ODI series in India since 2015.