New Delhi: South Africa’s record run chase in the second ODI prevented the series from ending on a drab note. While India would have loved to wrap up the series in Raipur and thought they had done so after setting up a massive 359-run target, the Proteas had other ideas. India’s failure to stop the visitors from hunting down the joint-highest total ever against them in ODIs might come back to haunt them in the third and final ODI at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Vizag.

The series decider gives South Africa a great chance to win only their second series in India. Of six ODI series between the two countries on Indian soil, South Africa’s only success came in 2025 when they won the 5-match series 3-2. India, meanwhile, have won four of the six series, while a five-match affair back in 2005 ended in a 2-2 draw.

The most recent meeting between the two powerhouses in a bilateral ODI series in India went 2-1 in the home team’s favour in 2022.

To replicate the result, India must fix several issues or face suffering a huge embarrassment. If India lose the series decider on Saturday, it will be the first time in nearly four decades that they will lose both Test and ODI series at home on the same tour.

At home, India haven’t........

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