
India vs South Africa 3rd ODI in Vizag promises high drama as India’s Kohli–Rohit and South Africa’s Bavuma–Jansen chase major career highs. (Image Credit: X/ @ProteasMenCSA<, @guyfromhills)
As India and South Africa prepare for the series-deciding third ODI at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, many top players are on the threshold of landmark personal milestones. The Sunday game promises high drama and historic milestones from both sides, who have delivered commendable performances in the first two matches.
Virat Kohli needs just 8 runs to enter the elite 14,500 ODI-run club, a space that only belongs to Sachin Tendulkar so far. Kohli has scored 14,492 runs in 307 matches and will be expected to reach the landmark early in the innings.
If he can continue this good form and make 90 more runs, Kohli will also touch a monumental 28,000 international runs to become the fastest to reach the milestone.
Kohli is closing in on other personal records:
Indian captain Rohit Sharma needs 59 runs to reach 11,500 ODI runs and become only the ninth player in history to do so.
Across formats, Rohit stands at 19,973 international runs, only 27 away from becoming the latest entrant to the 20,000-run club milestone that cements his legacy among modern greats.
Temba Bavuma, the skipper of South Africa, is close to bringing up 2,000 ODI runs, needing only 13 more.
Meanwhile, Marco Jansen is just one wicket away from a notable 50 ODI wickets in the early days of his promising international career.
The first couple of ODIs saw contrasting efforts from the two teams.
In the first ODI, South Africa produced a composed, clinical display. Their disciplined bowling attack was ably supported by solid batting as India struggled to gain momentum throughout the match.
That allowed the visitors to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second ODI, however, saw a strong Indian resurgence.
Led by dominant batting displays from senior players and a sharper, more aggressive bowling effort, India levelled the series 1–1 with a commanding win. Kohli’s sublime form and Rohit’s assured leadership were central to India’s turnaround, setting the stage perfectly for a high-stakes decider.