India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI Live Cricket Score: Bavuma, De Kock Break Shackles After IND Seamers Dominate Powerplay

Not the support Prasidh needs to be giving Harshit and Arshdeep! Hasn't found it yet. First overpitched, de Kock lofts it over the offside. That's a good shot and a risk India will be happy for him to take. Next ball is disappointing. Not a bouncer, just a nothing length which de Kock can pick up and swivel over square leg for six.

 3 of the 6 overs thus far have been maidens. Good sharp bowling, length has been found early on both ends. Keeping tabs on the South African top order early on.

What has happened there! Pitched up by Harshit, de Kock goes for the drive, and massive edge flies quickly over the head of Gaikwad and Rohit at slips. Could they have gotten there if they leaped? Going very fast.

Next ball is another edge, this time well wide of Gaikwad. Good bowling from Harshit, two boundaries off this over is bad luck.

Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton at the crease as the two teams run out for this crucial decider. Good start essential from Arshdeep Singh on a pitch that looks hard and true but a little bit of crackage. Should be something on offer early.

A couple of changes for the Proteas as well as they combat some injuries in the squad. A move down the order expected for Aiden Markram?

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

KL Rahul goes left-handed on the toss this time to try and get the coin flip his way, and it sure does! Shares a smile with referee Richie Richardson.

Opts to bowl first and does cite the dew as the reason for his decision. Washington Sundar misses out for a chance to Tilak Varma.

SQUAD UPDATE

Proteas Men’s fast bowler Nandre Burger and batter Tony de Zorzi have been ruled out of the third One-Day International (ODI) against India on Saturday due to injury.

Burger experienced right hamstring discomfort while bowling during the second ODI on… pic.twitter.com/zL7wLHReXb

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 6, 2025

South Africa, meanwhile, also have a couple of issues that will prove a headache. Tony de Zorzi and Nandre Burger have both been ruled out of the third ODI of the series, meaning the Proteas will have fewer troops to turn to over in Vizag. Burger in particular is a big miss, having shown excellent cross-phase form and arguably their best bowler of the series. With only 5 seamers in their squad, a matter of necessity now.

Given a chance to open the batting in this format given Shubman Gill's injury, Yashasvi Jaiswal hasn't had the series he would have wanted to put pressure on the incumbent opening pair. To replace either of two ODI batters of the quality Rohit and Gill possess was a long shot as is, but Jaiswal would have expected more from himself; he has one last opportunity to play the kind of innings that ensures he remains a constant part of conversations in the future.

While the batting has seen Virat Kohli provide a sensational backbone, the let-down has been the bowling as they have made to 350-run targets look very gettable for the Proteas. Yes, there are mitigating factors such as dew, and you have to provide credit for the opening win, but there are issues to be solved for a Bumrah-less team that has struggled to contain the opposition batters. More also expected of Kuldeep Yadav, who has been expensive, and short of his usual quality.

Rohit Sharma started the series well with a 57-run knock in Ranchi. However, he failed to get going in the next game, scoring just 14 runs before falling to Nandre Burger. The former India captain would look to get among the runs and end the series on a high. A riveting contest coming up in Vizag.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be playing their last game for India in 2025 as there are no more ODIs scheduled this year. The duo will return to action next year in the three-match series against New Zealand, beginning January 11. However, before that, the duo will be seen in action in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

 India have now gone 20 ODIs without winning a toss. The trend started on November 19, 2023, the day of the World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill - captains have changed but the luck has continued to evade Team India. Can Rahul finally break the jinx on Saturday or will the rub of the green continue to go against him? Only time will tell.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the third and final ODI between India and South Africa in Vizag. It's all to play for and expect yet another high-scoring contest. Stay tuned for more updates!