India has landed in Visakhapatnam ahead of the third and final ODI against South Africa on December 6 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, a match now locked in at 1-1 after intense battles in Ranchi and Raipur.
Tickets for the encounter sold out rapidly, boosted by Virat Kohli's recent century in Ranchi that sparked massive demand despite slow initial sales. This decider marks international cricket's return to Vizag post-IPL 2025, with the coastal venue prepped for high-stakes action amid fan frenzy.
As per the latest reports, the tickets have already sold out as the stadium is expected to be a jam-packed one for the decider at the east coast.
India kicked off with a 17-run win in Ranchi, posting 349 led by Kohli's 135, while South Africa replied with 332.
South Africa bounced back in Raipur, chasing down India's 358 for a four-wicket triumph despite tons from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad, plus KL Rahul's fifty. Bowling woes plagued India in the second game, as Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna proved costly, shifting focus to their redemption in Vizag.
The ACA-VDCA Stadium holds special memories for Kohli, who boasts a stellar ODI record there with 399 runs at 99.75 average across four games, including two centuries. Organizers upgraded facilities for 22,000 fans, with teams set for practice on December 5 after arriving December 4.
With the final match on the horizon, team India may make a couple of changes for the encounter. Prasidh Krishna can make way for Nitish Reddy, while Tilak Varma can replace Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Post-ODI, the T20I series starts December 9 in Cuttack, featuring a refreshed India squad led by Suryakumar Yadav (captain) and Shubman Gill as his deputy. As per the latest BCCI selections, the majority of the players picked for the South Africa T20Is will be the frontrunners for selection in the T20 World Cup as well.
