India and South Africa are all set to lock horns in the third and final ODI of the ongoing multi-format series between the two sides. Both teams take on each other at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, and with the series levelled, both sides have all to play for in the upcoming series decider.
1. Sachin Tendulkar - 15
2. Virat Kohli - 12
3. Sanath Jayasuriya - 11
"Honestly, playing the way I have in the series is the most satisfying thing for me. I feel really free in my mind. I haven't played like this in 2-3 years. I know when I can bat like that in the middle, it helps the team a long way. Makes me confident, any situation in the middle, I can handle that and bring it in favor of the team. When you play for that long - 15-16 years, you do doubt yourself. Especially as a batter when one mistake can get you out. It's a whole journey of getting better and getting better as a person along the way. It improves you as a person and it improves temperament as well. I'm just glad that I'm still able to contribute to the team. When I play freely, I know I can hit sixes. There's always levels you can always unlock. The first one at Ranchi - because I hadn't played a game since Australia. Just how your energy is on the day, Ranchi is very special for me and I'm very grateful as to how these three games have gone. It's always brought the best of us - that's what we want to play for. When it's 1-1, we want to do something special for the team. That's why we have played for the team for so long. Just happy that both of us continue to do it for so long," Kohli said.
Can Virat Kohli win the Player of the Series? Rohit Sharma won the POTT in the last series against Australia.
India won the match by nine wickets. Virat Kohli finishes off with a boundary. Cometh the hour and cometh the man! Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten for 116 runs. India seal the series 2-1.
Goodness gracious, Virat Kohli! He completed his half-century in 40 balls.
Yashasvi Jaiswal completed his century in 111 balls. It was his maiden century in ODI cricket and he also became the sixth Indian cricketer after Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill to score a century in each of the format.
All too easy for Virat Kohli. Oozing class in Visakhapatnam! What a player and in what form. He seems to be in the form of his life. India are 214/1 after 34 overs. Only 57 runs are required for India to win.
South Africa keeper Quinton de Kock is hurt. The ball hit his fingertips as the Proteas physio is out in the middle attending to the player. South Africa have Ryan Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke as backup but de Kock seems ready to go.
Rohit Sharma departed after scoring 75 riuns off 73 balls. Keshav Maharaj breaks the partnership. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli patted Rohit's back while the latter was on his way to the dressing room. India are 155/1 after 25.5 overs.
Yashasvi Jaiswal registers his maiden ODI half-century. He reached the milestone in 75 balls. India are 129/0. The duo has been phenomenal as India progress for a 10-wicket win in Vizag.
Rohit Sharma completed his half-century in 54 balls. He is on song in Visakhapatnam as South Africa don't seem to know on how to stop the former India captain. He looks unstoppable!
1. Sachin Tendulkar - 34357 runs
2. Virat Kohli - 27910 runs
3. Rahul Dravid - 24064 runs
4, Rohit Sharma - 20000* runs
India are in the driver's seat in Vizag. Rohit Sharma is nearing another half-century as he is currently unbeaten on 45 runs off 47 balls. 17 overs done, India are 85/0.
Rohit Sharma completed 20000 runs in international cricket. Only the fourth Indian cricketer to achieve the major feet.
Rohit is now taking the Proteas bowlers on, while Jaiswal is not going at a rate of knots. India are cruising well here at 54/0 after 11, thanks to some strong strokes from Rohit.
The Indian openers have been a bit cautious but have made a fine start here. Jaiswal at 17 from 32, while Rohit, having just slammed a six, is on 12 from 14 deliveries.
India with a very cautious start. They are 10/0 after two overs. Virat Kohli is ready with pads and helmets on the dugout.
Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal open for India in Vizag. The youngster will be hoping to get going after two flops. Rohit, meanwhile, will be eyeing to send the selectors another message with his knock. Meanwhile, Marco Jansen has been handed the new ball.
"We started very well. Arshdeep and Harshit started well, they kept a tight line in the first 7-8 overs and then the spinners came, it was actually gripping a bit. We were trying to mix the pace. Bowling with the dry ball is a luxury. We lost 20 consecutive tosses, this was the 21st and finally we won, very happy. (On his banter with Rohit) In the DRS, I am someone who is very bad and he keeps pulling my leg. If the ball hits the pad, I feel like every ball is a wicket. When you have a former captain ... KL has been really good behind the wicket and especially in DRS calls, as a bowler you feel like every not out is out, so you have to have those people around you to guide you to just calm you down. The wicket is good to bat on. Because of the rule change, there's only one ball after 34 overs, the ball was holding and it wasn't easy to score runs. I mixed it up with the variations, bowling scrambled seam, leg-spin, googly, flipper, just trying to vary the variations," Kuldeep said.
Prasidh Krishna pins the final nail as South Africa are bundled for 270 runs in the first innings. The reverse swing got the better of Ottoneil Bartmaan in Vizag. The second innings is on the other half of the break.
Kuldeep Yadav with his fourth wicket of the night. Lungi Ngidi departed for one run. South Africa are now 258/9. Can Kuldeep complete his five-for? That's the million-dollar question now. He has been ruthless so far in the innings.
A pretty simple caught and bowled for Kuldeep Yadav. Corbin Bosch departs for 9 runs. South Africa are in trouble as they are reduced to 252/8 in Visakhapatnam.
Kuldeep Yadav also got the better of Marco Jansen. Two wickets in three balls now. Jansen went for the glory shot, but straight to Ravindra Jadeja. He departs for 17 runs off 15 balls. South Africa are 235/7
Dewald Brevis departs for 29 runs off 29 balls. Kuldeep Yadav with his first wicket of the night. He pitched it outside and Brevis took the bait as Rohit Sharma made no mistake to complete the catch. South Africa are 234/6
Dewald Brevis and Marco Jansen keep the scoreboard ticking. South Africa are 224/5 after 36 overs. The Proteas are seem to be in a rebuilding phase, as they are focusing more on rotating the strike. Kuldeep Yadav comes in for his second spell.
Prasidh Krishna with his third wicket of the night as Quinton de Kock departed for 106 runs. Clean bowled! A Very good knock came to an end in Vizag. South Africa are reduced to 199/5. Marco Jansen joined Dewald Brevis in the middle.
South Africa opener Quinton de Kock completes his century with a maximum off Harshit Rana. It's his seventh ton against India. He reached the landmark in 80 balls as South Africa look to rebuild.
Another one bites the dust. Second wicket of the over for Prasidh Krishna. South Africa are in a bit of bother now. They are 170/4 after 29 overs.
Prasidh now gets the breakthrough. He dismisses Breetzke LBW. This was a little fuller one as it hit the thigh of the batter as the umpire raised his finger. SA went for review but this is plumb.
Temba Bavuma departs right before his half century, the skipper walks on a score of 48 runs here. Virat Kohli takes a comfortable catch as India take their second wicket of the game. The score reads 114-2.
South Africa have completed 100 runs here, in 19 overs. Both Bavuma and De Kock are well set on the crease. This partnership could spell trouble for the Men in Blue.
Quinton de Kock has completed his half century, batting on a score of 54 runs in 44 deliveries. Bavuma on 30 as the Proteas' score reads 86-1 after 16 overs.
Quinton de Kock has been brilliant this afternoon. With 41 runs scored in 35 deliveries, the veteran is looking in brilliant form in Vizag. South Africa no 71-1 after 13.5 overs.
A huge over for South Africa here! After two consecutive sixes, Prasidh Krishna's over ends with another boundary. This partnership getting dangerous for India. The score reads 60-1 after 11 overs.
With a six in the previous over and a boundary in this one, the Proteas seem to have found their rhythm. After 9.4 overs, the score reads 41-1.
Harshit Rana is constantly attacking the wickets and putting the Proteas in a spot of bother. After eight overs, the score reads 25-1, De Kock on 13, with Bavuna on 10
Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock are setting the foundation for South Africa's innings here in Vizag, after six overs, the score reads 18-1.
Two balls, and two outside edges for Quinton de Kock. South Africa is playing with fire here. A brilliant bowling display by Harshit Rana in the fifth over despite conceding two boundaries. The Proteas are now 14-1 after four overs in the first innings.
The Men in Blue have gotten off to the best start here in Vizag, After two overs, the score reads 1-1. Arshdeep and Harshit Rana look to limit the Proteas right from the get go.
Team India is off to a flying start here. Ryan Rickelton departs after being caught behind. Arshdeep Singh draws first blood for India here! South Africa now 1-1.
The Indian team is out in the field, Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton are walking out to the crease as live action is set to begin here in Vizag.
South Africa (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
India will take the field in the series decider with one change! Washington Sundar misses out from the clash, and his place is taken by Tilak Varma.
India have broken their streak of losing tosses! KL Rahul finally wins one as the Men in Blue opt to bowl first in Visakhapatnam.
It will be toss time very soon here in Visakhapatnam. Team India has lost their last 20 tosses in ODIs, and it could become 21 here today!
Welcome to our live coverage of the third and final ODI of the ongoing multi-format series between India and South Africa! With the series score levelled, both sides will look to put in their best performances in the game, as they aim to clinch the series here in Visakhapatnam.
