IND vs SA, 3rd ODI: Virat Kohli on a ‘hat-trick’ as India, South Africa square off in series decider

Cricket is a religion in India, a unifying force even in the most strenuous situations. The country is currently reeling under a widespread disruption to air travel. But even fans dealing with last-minute cancellations and delays found momentary solace in predicting which way the pendulum will swing when India faces South Africa here on Saturday.

And understandably so. After 1,401 runs, including four centuries, and 29 wickets, there’s little to separate the two teams heading into the series decider at the ACA-VDCA Stadium.

The Proteas come into the clash with wind beneath their sails, having almost effortlessly completed the joint-highest chase by any team against India in its backyard. They ran the host close in the first ODI and then stunned a packed house in Raipur, chasing down the 359-run target with four balls to spare.

The focus, unsurprisingly, will once again be on the toss, with dew capable of wreaking havoc, as seen in the previous clash. India’s dismal record with the coin – having not won one since the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal (20 matches) – doesn’t help.

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That said, this venue has been kind to both the Men in Blue and Virat Kohli. While the team has a 7-2 win-loss record, the veteran has an extraordinary average of 97.83 (587 runs) in seven ODIs, including three centuries.

India will also look to Rohit Sharma, the other elder statesman, to lead from the front. The Ro-Ko pair, in the final phase of their career, has defied all stereotypes about ageing players, with their bodies still as willing as their minds.

Rohit Sharma in action during the first OD| against South Africa.
| Photo Credit:
RV MOORTHY

They could, however, do well with some support from the rest of the pack, with only K.L. Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad making meaningful contributions with the willow so far. All eyes will be on Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has failed to make the most of good starts and playing with an obvious chink in his armour: left-arm pacers, who have dismissed him 30 times to date (nine times in Tests, twice in ODIs and 19 times in T20s).

India’s fortunes will also depend heavily on how its bowlers, led by the young trio of Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh, perform. Humidity will also come into play, even if the coastal city has experienced slightly cooler evenings in the days leading to the match.

While India has a full squad to call on, South Africa is awaiting Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi’s scan results after the pair picked up hamstring injuries in the second ODI. If ruled out, they will likely be replaced by Ottneil Baartman and Ryan Rickelton.

Kohli has scored three ODI centuries back-to-back only once in his career, with one of them coming at this venue in 2018. Will he feast on this hallowed turf again? Or will India concede both the Test and ODI series in a bilateral at home for the first time since 1986-87?

Published on Dec 05, 2025