India thrashed South Africa by 9 wickets in the 3rd ODI at Visakhapatnam, clinching the 2025 ODI series 2–1 on the back of a ruthless bowling display and a dominant opening stand from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma.
Match Summary
South Africa, sent in to bat at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA‑VDCA Stadium, were bundled out for a below‑par total after collapsing against India’s relentless pace and spin attack. India then made a mockery of the chase, cruising to the target with nine wickets in hand and plenty of overs to spare, sealing a statement series win.
South Africa’s Innings: Early Blows and Collapse
India’s new‑ball bowlers struck early, removing South Africa’s top order inside the first powerplay and never allowing any substantial partnerships to form. Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh did the bulk of the early damage before Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja took control in the middle overs, sharing key wickets and squeezing the scoring rate.
Only a brief resistance from the middle order pushed South Africa into three figures, but regular strikes meant they were bowled out well short of a competitive score, leaving their bowlers with very little to defend. India’s fielding backed up the bowlers with sharp catching and ground work, underlining the home side’s intensity in a must‑win decider.
India’s Chase: Jaiswal and Rohit Dominate
Chasing a modest target, India got off to a dream start as Yashasvi Jaiswal launched a blistering assault in the powerplay, putting immediate pressure on South Africa’s seamers. Rohit Sharma played the perfect foil, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries as the pair added a big opening stand that effectively killed the contest within the first 15 overs.
Jaiswal raced to a quick‑fire half‑century and continued to find boundaries all around the ground, showcasing his full range of strokes. Rohit’s composed knock kept India well ahead of the rate, and by the time he was dismissed, the hosts were only a handful of runs away, allowing Virat Kohli to walk in and finish the chase without fuss.
Bowling Heroes and Player of the Match
India’s win was built on a complete bowling performance, with both seamers and spinners contributing. Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh provided early breakthroughs, while Kuldeep Yadav once again emerged as the standout spinner with crucial middle‑overs strikes that broke South Africa’s backbone.
On the batting front, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive innings at the top earned widespread praise and was central to India’s commanding chase. Reports list Jaiswal as the key performer and strong candidate for Player of the Match, with his aggressive approach setting the tone in a high‑pressure series decider.
