India and South Africa head into the third ODI on December 6, 2025, at Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA Stadium with the series poised at 1-1, following a thrilling opener where India defended 299 to win by 17 runs in Ranchi and a high-octane second match where South Africa chased 359 with four wickets and seven balls remaining in Raipur. Virat Kohli‘s 52nd ODI century anchored India’s first victory, while Aiden Markram‘s 110 and a partnership with Matthew Breetzke powered South Africa’s comeback, highlighting both teams’ batting depth amid bowling concerns.
India started strongly in Ranchi, posting 299/8 with Kohli’s ton outshining Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s half-century, as Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav restricted South Africa to 282 despite Temba Bavuma‘s resistance. South Africa bounced back emphatically in Raipur, where Ruturaj Gaikwad‘s century helped India reach 358/6, but Markram and Breetzke’s stand dismantled the target, exposing India’s middle-order fragility and Prasidh Krishna‘s high economy. Head-to-head, South Africa leads ODIs 51-41 overall, but India holds recent edge with four wins in the last five.
Visakhapatnam Pitch Report
The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam presents a batting paradise for the India-South Africa 3rd ODI, featuring true bounce, consistent carry, and short boundaries that have fueled high scores in ODIs, with an average first-innings total around 237 across 19 matches. Teams chasing have triumphed 14 times, largely due to evening dew that grips the ball, making bowling second a challenge amid 27-28°C temperatures and 60-65% humidity. Expect captains to prioritize fielding first, with pacers vital early before spinners exploit any grip; no rain forecast ensures a full contest favoring aggressive strokeplay.
Also READ: Top 5 highest ODI run chases in India ft. South Africa
ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium ODI Stats and Records
- Total matches: 20
- Matches won batting first: 3
- Matches won bowling first: 15
- Average 1st innings score: 233
- Average 2nd innings score: 213
- Highest total recorded: 387/5 (50 Ovs) by India vs West Indies
- Lowest total recorded: 76/10 (39.3 Ovs) by Sri Lanka vs India
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