Prasidh Krishna OUT, 2 Players IN? India's Likely Playing XI For 3rd ODI Against South Africa
India vs South Africa face off in the ODI series decider at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, with key selection changes likely for India.
The third and final ODI of the ongoing three-match series between India and South Africa will be played at Vizag's Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The third and final ODI of the ongoing three-match series between India and South Africa will be played at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6. Both teams have won one match each so far, and so the winner of Saturday’s contest will bag the series. For the winner’s take all contest, Indian team management could consider dropping fast bowler Prasidh Krishna.
Krishna was horribly out of form with the ball in the second ODI, where the hosts failed to defend the target of 359 runs. The Karnataka-based pacer, who finished as the highest wicket-taker in IPL 2025, bowled 8.2 overs in Raipur and conceded 85 runs. He did manage to take 2 wickets, but his economy rate was over 10 runs per over.
In the first ODI as well, which was played in Ranchi on November 30, his economy was more than six runs per over. Indian skipper KL Rahul was not too pleased with Prasidh’s bowling in the second ODI, and on multiple occasions he was seen getting angry at his India and Karnataka teammate. As Prasidh’s replacement, Indian selectors could include Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing XI. In the absence of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish is the only available option for India on the bench who can also contribute with the ball.
Apart from Prasidh, Washington Sundar’s place is also under the scanner. The spin bowling all-rounder from Tamil Nadu failed to make a significant contribution with the bat in the first two ODIs and was only used for four overs with the ball in Raipur after a three-over spell in Ranchi.
With the likes of Rishabh Pant, Tilak Varma and Dhruv Jurel waiting on the bench for an opportunity, Indian selectors could consider strengthening the batting unit by bringing one of them in place of Sundar.
But if the Indian team management decide to leave both Sundar and Krishna out of the playing XI, then they will not have a sixth bowling option available for the series decider, and their fifth bowling option will be Nitish. It will be interesting to see if the captain and head coach make a bold call for the match.
As far as other players are concerned, despite his two below-par outings in Ranchi and Raipur, Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to play in Vizag as opener, and Ruturaj Gaikwad will once again bat at No. 4.
