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| Yashasvi Jaiswal brought up his maiden ODI century |
India completed a dominant nine-wicket win against South Africa in the 3rd ODI at Visakhapatnam, securing the series 2-1. The match was filled with strong batting, smart bowling, and standout individual performances. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden ODI hundred, Rohit Sharma played a solid supporting knock, and Virat Kohli finished the chase in style. With the ball, Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna shared eight wickets, setting up an easy chase for the home side.
India Finally Win a Toss After 20 Matches
One of the biggest stories even before the first ball was bowled: KL Rahul finally won a toss. India had lost 20 consecutive tosses in ODIs, which made this moment almost comical but extremely important. Winning the toss gave India a clear advantage because the pitch often becomes easier to bat on under lights.
India chose to bowl first, and that decision paid off beautifully.
South Africa’s Start: De Kock Leads, India Keep Pressure
South Africa had to adjust their top order due to Tony de Zorzi’s absence, and Ryan Rickelton walked out to open with Quinton de Kock. Indian pacers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana used the early moisture well and made life difficult for the openers.
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Arshdeep removed Rickelton early.
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Rana began with a maiden over.
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India bowled three maidens in the first eight overs.
The South African innings only started to move when Prasidh Krishna was introduced. De Kock immediately went after him, smashing two sixes and a beautiful cover drive. Bavuma also supported him with a steady knock. The pair added 113 runs, giving South Africa a strong platform.
De Kock’s century, his seventh ODI hundred against India, highlighted his dominance in Indian conditions.
But India struck right back.
Prasidh and Kuldeep Bring India Back
At 168 for 2, South Africa looked set for a score of 320–350. But the match changed dramatically when Prasidh Krishna returned for his second spell.
Key Breakthroughs
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Breetzke lbw – misjudged a back-of-length ball
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Markram caught by Kohli – chipped one straight to short cover
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De Kock bowled – played around a long half-volley
Suddenly, South Africa slipped from control to a shaky 199 for 5.
Then came Kuldeep Yadav, who finally got to bowl with a dry ball after two matches of dealing with heavy dew. This made a huge difference.
Kuldeep’s Impact
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Used the older, single ball after the 34th over
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Tossed the ball wide and slow
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Forced big shots from Brevis and Jansen
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Took 4 wickets for 41
By the time the innings ended, South Africa were bowled out for 270, far below what they were aiming for.
India’s Chase: Rohit Guides, Jaiswal Shines, Kohli Finishes
India needed 271 to win — a comfortable target if the top order clicked. The ball moved around a little in the early overs, but South Africa hurt themselves by bowling seven wides in the first two overs.
Rohit Sharma’s Experience Shows
Rohit looked confident from the start:
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Pulled Ngidi for six
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Chipped Maharaj against the turn
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Played his trademark pull shot with ease
He scored 75 runs before getting out, but by then the platform was set.
Jaiswal’s Maiden ODI Century
Jaiswal had struggled in the first two matches because India needed fast starts, but this time he had the freedom to settle in. His innings was perfectly paced:
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50 off 75 balls
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Next 66 runs off just 46 deliveries
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Finished with 116 off 121 balls*
He became the sixth Indian batter to score a century in all three international formats.
Kohli Completes the Job
Kohli joined Jaiswal after Rohit’s dismissal and continued his excellent form in the series. He played quick, aggressive cricket:
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Hit more sixes in this series than in any other
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Scored an unbeaten 65 off 45 balls
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Finished the chase with still more than 10 overs left
India ended at 271 for 1, sealing a convincing nine-wicket victory.
Why This Win Matters for India
✔ A statement win after losing the second match
India showed character by bouncing back and winning the series 2-1.
✔ Young talent stepping up
Jaiswal delivered under pressure, showing he can be trusted in ODIs.
✔ Kuldeep Yadav’s consistency
He ended the series with the most wickets despite bowling under difficult dew conditions.
✔ Prasidh Krishna’s comeback
After being expensive earlier, he returned strongly with four crucial wickets.
✔ Kohli and Rohit still setting standards
Both senior players remain key contributors heading into future tournaments.
Final Score Summary
South Africa – 270 all out
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Quinton de Kock – 106
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Bavuma – 48
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Brevis – 29
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Breetzke – 24
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Kuldeep Yadav – 4/41
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Prasidh Krishna – 4/66
India – 271/1 in 39.5 overs
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Yashasvi Jaiswal – 116*
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Rohit Sharma – 75
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Virat Kohli – 65*
India won by 9 wickets and took the series 2-1.
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