Yashasvi' Maiden ODI ton, Kuldeep, Prasidh' 4-fer power India Crush South Africa by 9 Wkts & clinch Series by 2-1

 @Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrating after completing his Maiden century vs South Africa in 3rd ODI 2025 at Vizag

 

🎯 Match Context & Stakes:

•  It was the third and last ODI in the India and South Africa Series

• As the series between the two teams was now at 1-1, this was a winner-takes-all   battle in Visakhapatnam. Having a good showing in this would not only determine   the series but also get India on track once again, after previous disappointments.

• Significantly, landing a winning tumble was fortunate as well to India: the skipper KL Rahul won the toss (after a long series of lost tosses), and chose to field first, a strategy choice that was imposed by the conditions and the dew prediction.

So stakes were great--and India retaliated in emphatic style.

South Africa Innings Good Start, but Not Good Enough:

• South Africa bowled out with a challenging total of 270 all out in 47.5 overs.

• India made an early strike early damage was made with India playing an early   opener: Ryan Rickelton became a duck in the first over thanks to a good   delivery   by India opener bowlers.

• Subsequently, old reliable wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock stood the   test  in a   stable manner. He made a good innings: 106 out of 89 balls, 8   fours and 6 sixes.

•  He had been supported well by the skipper Temba Bavuma (48) - both   provided a   solid foundation to South Africa and steered the innings out of   the  opening jitters. 

But when they left, the Indian bowling had to crumble through, with its disciplined   seamers and spinners, and the remainder of the batting had to break before the   concussion.

It is interesting to note that the execution of the bowlers in the death overs did not allow big runs to be made by the lower-order hitters - this fact was indeed decisive among those who were chasing.

India: Chase Dominance and Composure India set off in pursuit of 271 to win the match, and the target seemed insignificant   to them, as they reached 271/1 in only 39.5 overs to win the match by 9 wickets   with over 10.1 overs to spare. Key performances that led to it:

• Yashasvi Jaiswal- Heroof the match.He had a composed and unbeaten 116 off 121 balls, his maiden ODI century.This was what had underpinned the pursuit of   India.

• Rohit Sharma- presented India with a good opening score, and had an excellent opening partnership with Jaiswal, with a score of 75. The 155 run stand opening positions the chase in a wonderful manner.

When such a partnership exists the remainder of the innings in India became easy and serene,--no frantic hitting was needed, but gradual and steady pursuit. It was not only the batting that was dominant. The previous pressure performance by the bowlers presented India with a target that could be got, and the batters did it with professionalism.

Leadership & Strategy: Toss, Conditions and Implementation 

• As noted, it was important to win the toss when one had had several consecutive defeats. The decision to put up the first was a strategic move considering conditions of the pitch, and the chances of dew. That decision paid off.

• Both seamers and spinners bowled without any discipline. The fact that they   could raise and lower wickets, and defend in death over, helped South Africa   not to go beyond 300 (that would have been more threatening).

• India batted with a mature chase on the batting front instead of the   aggressive   slogging. The openers took their time, considered the   conditions, showed cool, a   method which was not panic-chase or swinging   in the dark.

Together, it is an embodiment of good planning, performance and character in high   pressure situations. Significance: Series Win and Momentum

• With this victory India win the series 2-1.

• This is a great personal milestone of Jaiswal, first ODI century, and in a high-   stakes  decider. That will make him feel good and get his position in the   team.

• The victory also helped India to become stronger in the limited-overs version and to be calm when in pressure particularly after the recent losses (or setbacks).

• It sends a message to other teams - that India, with its amalgamation of youth (Jaiswal) and experience (Rohit, others), is still dangerous in ODIs.

��Heroic Performers & Turning Points:

• Yashasvi Jaiswal-- maiden ODI ton, unbeaten, match-winning innings.   Anchor of victory.

• Rohit Sharma -- His magnificent 75 was laid the foundation.The opening   stand   made the pursuit easier.

• Indian bowling unit-- discipline spells, wavelength of crucial wickets,   particularly in   death overs. In the absence of that, SA would have recorded   300 or more.

Turning Points:

• Early dismissal of Rickelton (duck) prematurely -- left South Africa without a   good   start.

• Fall of lower middle- order of South Africa- when the collaboration between de Kock and Bavuma arrived, India rolled them over on the bowling of the former before they could pick up, never withstanding their acceleration.

• The massive opening score by India -155 runs. Chase seemed almost   unavoidable once that stand was completed.

What this Win Means Short-term & Long-term  In the short term:

•  India take the series 2–1.That will be instant bragging and self-esteem.

• Demonstrates profundity: and experience and youth work well together. Good   encouragement to select and match in future.

In the long term:

• Jaiswal proved as a reliable top-order batter: this is promising a number of   future   games.

• Strengthened faith in playing under stress, needed when playing in the future   bilateral series and ICC tournaments.

• Balance of the team (batting + bowling + fielding + tactics) appears to be good- like   that of good chemistry and planning.

✅ Conclusion:

The battle on 6 December 2025 was a textbook lesson on how to win a deciding   ODI when the situation was on. The victory of India by 9 wickets was not an event   in itself, but a summative of planning, action and decision under pressure. Early   strikes of the bowlers and a calculated pursuit that Jaiswal led and with the   assistance of Rohit Sharma, showed that India is deep-rooted and tempered.

In the case of South Africa: a two-part match a heavy salvo in the middle-class   through de Kock and Bavuma, but they were not executed properly at lower levels,   cost them a lot.

In case of India: this victory and emergence of a new talent such as Jaiswal augur   well in future challenges. Should they bring this balance and calmness forward   they will be difficult to defeat in further ODIs or larger tournaments.

Brief Scores: South Africa Innings: 270 in 47.5 Overs (Quinton de Kock 106, Temba Bavuma 48; Kuldeep Yadav 4-41, Prasidh Krishna 4-66) Lost to India 271/1 in 39.5 Overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 116*, Rohit Sharma 75, Virat Kohli 65*, Keshav Maharaj 1/44) by 9 wickets.