India and South Africa are set to face off in the decisive 3rd ODI on December 6, 2025, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. With the series leveled at 1-1, this match is a must-win for both teams. India will be aiming to avoid losing both the Test and ODI series against South Africa, especially after the 0-2 Test series defeat. India hasn't won an ODI series in the last two years and lost their last home ODI series against Australia in March 2023.

Potential Changes in India's Playing XI

Several changes could be in store for the Indian team as they seek to clinch the series.

• Washington Sundar's Place Under Scrutiny: All-rounder Washington Sundar's position in the playing XI is uncertain. He hasn't had many opportunities to bowl in the recent matches, and his batting contributions have been minimal. In the first ODI, he scored 13 runs, and in the second, he managed only one. He bowled three overs without taking a wicket in Ranchi and four overs, conceding 28 runs, without a wicket in Raipur.
• Possible Replacements for Sundar: KL Rahul could replace Sundar with Rishabh Pant in the playing XI, given Pant's experience batting in that position. Another option is Tilak Varma, who has been waiting on the bench. Varma is also a part-time spinner.
• Prasidh Krishna's Inconsistent Performance: Pacer Prasidh Krishna could be excluded after being expensive in the second ODI, conceding over 80 runs in 8.2 overs. He also had an underwhelming performance in the first ODI.
• Nitish Kumar Reddy as a Seaming All-rounder Option: Nitish Kumar Reddy could replace Krishna, adding batting depth and a third seam option to the team.

Mistakes India Must Avoid

India needs to address critical areas to secure a victory in the series decider.

• Poor Fielding: In the second ODI, India's fielding was subpar. Ravindra Jadeja's errors at the boundary cost the team eight runs. Washington Sundar and Yashasvi Jaiswal also underperformed in the field, and the team conceded unnecessary runs through overthrows. Sundar also missed a catch.
• Inconsistent Bowling: Indian bowlers need to improve their consistency. In the second ODI, Arshdeep Singh and Ravindra Jadeja were the only bowlers with an economy rate of under six. Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav all had economy rates above seven, with Krishna being the most expensive.
• Middle order Batting Concerns: In the second ODI, Virat Kohli (102) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (105) built a 195-run partnership for the third wicket, leaving 86 balls and a score of 257. However, slow batting from Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja in the later overs meant India scored 20-30 runs fewer than they could have.

Key Tactical Considerations

• Spin Bowling: India has confidence in Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
• Aggressive Batting Lineup: India may opt for a deeper, more aggressive batting lineup.
• The Toss Factor: The toss could be crucial due to the anticipated dew, which makes bowling in the second innings challenging.

India will need to address these areas to win the series decider against South Africa.