Visakhapatnam, Dec 6 (UNI) India wrapped up a dominant 9-wicket victory over South Africa in the 3rd ODI at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, completing a thrilling 2-1 series win here on Saturday.
The win was powered by a masterclass from Yashasvi Jaiswal, solid support from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and devastating bowling bursts from Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna.
Chasing a challenging 271, India’s innings was anchored by Jaiswal, who played a top-class 116 not out off 121 balls.
The young opener displayed a perfect blend of aggression and composure, carving, cutting, and lofting with precision. He reached his maiden ODI century, becoming the sixth Indian to score hundreds in all three formats.
Rohit provided steady support, scoring a vital 75 off 73 balls before falling to Keshav Maharaj, while Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls, hitting a flurry of six boundaries and three sixes to seal the match and the series.
India bowlers had set the stage for the chase with incisive spells. Prasidh struck early, dismissing South Africa captain Quinton de Kock for 106, and wrapped up the innings with four wickets, including the clean-bowled of Ottneil Baartman.
Kuldeep spun a web in the middle overs, claiming four key wickets, including Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch. Their combined pressure prevented South Africa from building partnerships, keeping the total within India’s reach.
South Africa had earlier posted 270 all out in 47.5 overs, with de Kock’s 106 being the only substantial innings.
Temba Bavuma scored 48, while other batsmen struggled against disciplined India bowling. India’s pacers and spinners shared the workload smartly, with Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Ravindra Jadeja providing support and maintaining consistent pressure.
India’s victory was a perfect combination of youth and experience – Jaiswal’s fearless strokeplay, Rohit’s measured aggression, Kohli’s finishing prowess, and the incisive bowling bursts of Kuldeep and Prasidh highlighted India’s dominance in all departments.
The emphatic win not only sealed the series but also showcased India’s depth, resilience, and versatility across batting and bowling.
With this win, India not only won the series 2-1 but also sent a clear message about their depth in batting, strategic bowling, and the emergence of young stars like Jaiswal making decisive impacts on big occasions.
Brief scores:
South Africa 270 all out (Quinton de Kock 106, Temba Bavuma 48, Dewald Brevis 29; Kuldeep Yadav 4/41, Prasidh Krishna 4/66), India 271/1 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 116*, Rohit Sharma 75, Virat Kohli 65*), India won by 9 wickets, series 2-1.
