India Finally Wins the Toss Against South Africa in Thrilling ODI Showdown

In a thrilling third ODI, India has finally won the toss against South Africa, choosing to bowl first at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium. With one change in their lineup, India hopes to capitalize on the conditions. South Africa, facing injuries, has made two adjustments to their team. Both captains shared their strategies and expectations for the match, promising an exciting contest. Read on for more details about the teams and their plans.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 6, 2025, 13:36 IST

India Opts to Bowl First After Winning the Toss

Visakhapatnam: In a long-awaited moment, India has won the toss after 20 attempts and has chosen to bowl first against South Africa in the third ODI at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium.

The Indian team has made one adjustment, bringing in Tilak Varma to replace Washington Sundar. On the other hand, South Africa has included 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 Burger suffered discomfort in his right hamstring while bowling during the second ODI, while de Zorzi experienced pain in the same area while batting, which forced him to stop during the chase. Both players underwent scans on Friday that confirmed the severity of their injuries.

KL Rahul, the captain of India, commented, "We are looking to bowl first. We trained here last night, and while there was dew, it didn't arrive as quickly as it did in Ranchi or Raipur. I don't expect it to affect the game as much as in previous matches. We want 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 and sharpness in the field are key for us."

South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma, expressed, "We would have chosen to bowl first as well. The pitch doesn't seem easy, so our strategy is straightforward – start strong, assess the conditions early, and set up for the middle order. If we can post a competitive score, we believe we can defend it.

"This series has been incredibly entertaining, showcasing the intensity of red-ball cricket alongside the excitement of white-ball matches. The crowd support has been fantastic, and we aim to deliver a performance that matches their enthusiasm. We hope today will be another thrilling encounter."

Bavuma also mentioned the changes in their lineup, stating, "We have two changes today – Ryan Rickelton and Ottniel Baartman are in the XI. Unfortunately, Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi are out for a couple of weeks due to injuries sustained in the last ODI. This presents an opportunity for the new players, and we trust they will rise to the occasion."

Playing XIs:

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

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