The stage is set for a thrilling winner-takes-all finale as India locks horns with South Africa in the third and final One Day International today, December 6. With the three-match series tantalisingly poised at 1-1, this contest at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) will crown the victor, offering India a chance to claim ODI success after a 2-0 Test series whitewash by the Proteas.
Vizag: India's ODI Fortress
Visakhapatnam has been a happy hunting ground for the Indian cricket team in the 50-over format. The city has transformed into one of the team's most successful home venues. India have played 10 ODIs here, winning 8, losing just 1, with one match ending in a tie. This impressive record underscores the venue's significance as a stronghold for the Men in Blue.
However, the team's last outing here was a forgettable one. In March 2023, Australia handed India a crushing 10-wicket defeat, bundling them out for a mere 117 runs. Mitchell Starc was the chief destroyer, claiming a brilliant 5-wicket haul (5/53) that included the prized scalps of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Siraj. Virat Kohli's 31 was the highest score in that dismal Indian innings.
Memorable Triumphs and Historic Knocks
Prior to that loss, India enjoyed a formidable winning streak at the venue, defeating cricketing giants like West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia, and Pakistan over the years. Some victories were emphatic, such as the massive 190-run win against New Zealand in 2016, where leg-spinner Amit Mishra's magical spell of 5/18 earned him the Player of the Match award.
The history of ODI cricket in Vizag is rich with iconic Indian performances. In the city's first-ever ODI back in 2005, a young MS Dhoni announced his arrival with a blistering 148 against Pakistan, a knock that also earned him the Player of the Match award. Batting at number 3, Dhoni powered India to 356, a target Pakistan fell 58 runs short of, thanks also to Ashish Nehra's 4-wicket haul.
The venue has also witnessed successful chases, including a 7-wicket win over Sri Lanka in 2007 and a 5-wicket victory against Australia in 2010, proving India's adaptability whether setting or chasing a target.
Rohit and Virat's Vizag Highlights
Two of India's modern batting greats have left their mark here. In 2019, Rohit Sharma smashed a magnificent 159 against the West Indies in a total of 387/5, sharing a mammoth 227-run opening stand with KL Rahul, who also scored a century. Ironically, captain Virat Kohli was dismissed for a golden duck in that high-scoring affair.
Kohli, however, had already authored a classic at this ground a year earlier. His unbeaten 157 against the West Indies in 2018 was the centrepiece of a nail-biting match that ended in a tie. With the Caribbean team needing 14 runs off the final over, Umesh Yadav managed to restrict them to 13, dismissing Ashley Nurse to ensure a dramatic deadlock.
As the teams prepare for today's decider, India will be keen to draw strength from this formidable home record and past glories. South Africa, buoyed by their Test success, will aim to breach this fortress and clinch the ODI series, setting the stage for a captivating contest under the Vizag sun.
