Overview
- KL Rahul won the toss after 20 straight ODI losses at the flip and chose to field, citing expected evening dew.
- India made one change with Tilak Varma replacing Washington Sundar, whose first two-game returns were 13 and 1 and seven wicketless overs.
- South Africa confirmed two enforced changes as hamstring injuries ruled out Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi, with Ottneil Baartman and Ryan Rickelton coming in.
- The series is level at 1-1, and Virat Kohli enters the decider on back-to-back centuries seeking a third in a row.
- Team staff highlighted dew’s influence in late innings at Visakhapatnam, shaping the decision to chase on a dry first-innings ball.