India defeated South Africa by 9 wickets in the third ODI played in Visakhapatnam, winning the series 2-1. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden ODI century, while Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna delivered excellent bowling performances.
IND vs SA Third ODI Highlights: Team India defeated South Africa by 9 wickets in the third ODI played in Visakhapatnam, clinching the three-match series 2-1. Throughout the match, both Indian batsmen and bowlers were completely dominant. Bowling first, the Indian bowlers restricted South Africa to 270 runs. Subsequently, chasing the target, Team India registered a dominant victory, losing only one wicket with 61 balls remaining.
This victory not only saw India claim the series but also witnessed many players achieve significant records. Notably, Yashasvi Jaiswal's maiden ODI century and Kuldeep Yadav's lethal bowling emerged as the biggest highlights of the entire match.
Excellent Start by Indian Openers
Chasing a target of 271 runs, Team India was given an excellent start by captain Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal, who had scored a total of just 40 runs in the previous two matches, was under pressure, but in the decisive game, he showcased a brilliant blend of patience and class. He completed his half-century in 75 balls and remained unbeaten from start to finish, guiding the team to victory.
Rohit and Jaiswal put on a 155-run partnership for the first wicket, putting pressure on South African bowlers right from the start. This partnership completely shifted the momentum of the game in India's favour and made the target seem much easier.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's Maiden ODI Century
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his maiden ODI century of his international career. This century was an excellent example of his game awareness, understanding, and classic shots. He remained unbeaten on 116 runs from 121 balls, hitting 12 fours and 2 sixes in the process.
Furthermore, with this century, Jaiswal also became the sixth Indian batsman to score centuries in all three formats of the game. This achievement is considered a major milestone that will shape the direction of his long career in the future.
Rohit Sharma's Crucial Innings
Rohit Sharma played an excellent innings of 75 runs, showcasing his experience and responsibility. After scoring 57 runs in Ranchi and getting out early in the second ODI, Rohit batted in his characteristic style in the third match, hitting 7 fours and 3 sixes. This innings proved to be the foundation of India's victory.
Rohit focused on stroke-play from the outset and kept the team's scoring rate high by playing powerful shots against the South African bowlers.
Virat Kohli's Swift Batting
After Rohit was dismissed as the first wicket, Virat Kohli came to the crease and displayed aggressive play. Kohli scored an unbeaten 65 runs off 45 balls, which included 6 fours and 3 sixes. His 116-run partnership with Jaiswal made the target exceptionally easy.
Kuldeep Yadav's Brilliance in Bowling
In this match, spinner Kuldeep Yadav shone the brightest in bowling. He sent four South African batsmen back to the pavilion, thereby setting a special record in ODI cricket. Kuldeep has now taken four wickets 11 times. In this regard, he has been included in India's top list.
Only two Indian bowlers are now ahead of him: Ajit Agarkar, who has taken four wickets 12 times, and Mohammed Shami, who has done so 16 times. This achievement by Kuldeep demonstrates his continuous crucial role for the Indian team.
Prasidh Krishna's Impressive Bowling
Apart from Kuldeep, fast bowler Prasidh Krishna also delivered an excellent performance. He troubled the opposition batsmen and took 4 wickets. His line-length and pace gave South Africa no chance to recover. Krishna's spell broke the backbone of the South African batting order. Due to the collective performance of the Indian bowlers, the South African team could only manage 270 runs, which was considered a low score on Visakhapatnam's batting-friendly wicket.
