Confident Proteas aim to seal thrilling ODI series against India in Vizag decider

Over the past decade, when India hosts South Africa for a ODI series, it is almost guaranteed to go right down to the wire.

Who can ever forget the five-match series in 2015, where the AB de Villiers-captained South Africa beat the MS Dhoni-led India 3-2, winning the fifth and final match to seal what was a highly entertaining series?

In engagements with the media, Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada still refers to that series as the best he has been involved in his career.

These past five days, the two teams, under different leaders in South Africa’s Temba Bavuma and India’s KL Rahul, have produced fireworks of the same calibre in Ranchi and Raipur. The ongoing three-match series is currently deadlocked, with each side having one win. The series decider is set for Visakhapatnam this coming Saturday.

Both ODIs have seen each team cross the 300-run mark, with three players — Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Aiden Markram — having smashed at least one century so far.

The two games have both gone into their final overs, with India winning the first match in Ranchi by 17 runs, and South Africa taking the second in Raipur by four wickets (both with four balls to spare). With the stakes high for the series decider, Markram believes the Proteas are currently high in confidence.

“Confidence is massive for the group,” Markram said. “Any changing room is a better place when you’re getting good results, so I think the boys will be in good spirits.”

Though the team is confident, question marks remain. Fast bowler Nandre Burger and middle-order batter Tony de Zorzi walked off the field in the second match, and it is unclear whether they will recover in time for the series decider.

Apart from injuries, the Proteas still have areas to improve. Quinton de Kock is yet to fire in the series, and senior player Lungi Ngidi will be looking to deliver a tidier bowling performance this weekend.

Markram acknowledged the need for improvement going into Visakhapatnam and emphasised the team’s broader goal of preparing for the 2027 home World Cup.

“There is still a lot of learning for us to do and improvements that we can make going into the Vizag game, so that’s where a lot of the discussions will be based,” Markram said.

“As much as you want to win a series, obviously, the main goal is that World Cup in 2027, and you want to keep going in that direction. We won’t lose focus on that either. We’re definitely going to play to win, but if we can keep improving throughout, at least more often than not, then the team is in the right direction.”

South Africa, having created history by winning their first Test series in India in 25 years earlier in the tour, have an opportunity to win the ODI series as well, inflicting further damage on Indian cricket.

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad spoke about making India "grovel" during the Test series, and the team will surely aim to extend that dominance if they wrap up the series with a victory on Saturday, especially with a five-match T20I series to follow.