India Wins Toss and Opts to Bowl First Against South Africa in Third ODI

In a significant turn of events, India has won the toss and opted to bowl first against South Africa in the third ODI at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium. With key player changes on both sides, the match promises to be an exciting contest. India’s captain KL Rahul expressed confidence in their strategy, while South Africa's Temba Bavuma highlighted the importance of a strong start. Both teams are eager to perform well in front of enthusiastic crowds. Read on for more details about the playing XIs and match expectations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 6, 2025, 16:13 IST

India's Decision to Bowl First

Visakhapatnam, Dec 6: After 20 unsuccessful attempts, India has finally won the toss and chosen to bowl first against South Africa in the third ODI at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium.

In a notable change, Washington Sundar has been replaced by Tilak Varma in the Indian lineup. South Africa, on the other hand, has brought in Ryan Rickelton and Ottniel Baartman, following the injuries of Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi, who are sidelined for this match.

Cricket South Africa announced on Saturday that both Burger and de Zorzi sustained hamstring injuries during the second ODI. Burger felt discomfort while bowling, while de Zorzi experienced pain while batting, which forced him to stop during the chase. Scans confirmed the severity of their injuries.

India's captain, KL Rahul, expressed optimism about the toss outcome, stating, "We are looking to bowl first. We trained here last night, and while there was dew, it didn't arrive as quickly as in previous matches. We wanted to chase a total and see how we can bowl first. The wicket looks good, and despite the last game's chase, we found positives to build on. Consistency is key, and we need to sharpen our fielding."

South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma, also indicated a preference to bowl first, noting the wicket's challenging nature. He emphasized the importance of starting strong and assessing conditions early to set up for the middle order. Bavuma acknowledged the series' entertainment value and the fantastic crowd support, hoping for another thrilling match.

South Africa's playing XI includes: Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, and Ottniel Baartman.

India's lineup features: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna.