India Clinch Series With Dominant Win in 3rd ODI

New Delhi Chronicle News Desk

Visakhapatnam | December 7

In an emphatic finish to the three-match ODI series, India defeated South Africa by 9 wickets in the third and final ODI at Visakhapatnam on December 6, 2025 — sealing the series 2–1.

South Africa Set a Respectable Target, But India’s Chase Was Effortless. Batting first, South Africa posted a total of 270 all out. A notable resistance came from Quinton de Kock, who scored a fighting 106 runs off 89 balls. However, India’s bowlers — particularly Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav — combined to restrict the Proteas to a gettable total.

In reply, India chased down the target in style, reaching 271/1 in just 39.5 overs, with over ten overs to spare. The chase was anchored by a brilliant, unbeaten century from young Yashasvi Jaiswal — a composed 116* that earned him Player of the Match honours. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma also played a crucial role, contributing a solid 75 runs, helping set a calm and steady platform for the chase.

Jaiswal’s century made him only the sixth Indian batsman to have scored hundreds in all three formats — Test, ODI, and T20. The opening pair for India accounted for a strong start — marking the 10th occasion that India had registered a 100-plus opening stand against South Africa in ODIs, and the first such instance since 2013. With this win, India ended their long drought in toss wins — captain KL Rahul won the toss (the first by India in their last 21 ODIs) and opted to field first.

The strong performance, particularly from Jaiswal and Rohit, along with a tight bowling effort, showcased India’s depth and temperament under pressure. The young opener’s calm head and strokeplay underlined that India’s next generation is ready to rise.
With the series win, India ended on a confident note — a message that the squad is both competitive and balanced.