How does the pitch behave at Vizag for the IND vs SA 3rd ODI?

The pitch at Visakhapatnam is usually batting-friendly early, with the ball coming nicely onto the bat. However, as the match progresses, grip and turn help spinners, especially in the middle overs. Batting first can produce 300+ scores, but chasing becomes easier when dew arrives in the evening.

What score is considered safe on this pitch?

A score around 320–340 is considered competitive. Anything below 300 may be difficult to defend due to heavy dew, which reduces grip for bowlers and makes stroke play easier for the chasing team.

What impact will weather and dew have on the match?

The weather is clear and cool, but heavy dew is expected after 7 PM. This means bowlers may struggle to grip the ball later, giving a strong advantage to the chasing team. Teams winning the toss are likely to bowl first because of this factor.

IND vs SA 3rd ODI Pitch Report – Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam

IND vs SA 3rd ODI Pitch Report: The deciding ODI between India and South Africa comes to Visakhapatnam, and the pitch conditions at the ACA-VDCA Stadium are expected to play a decisive role. This ground traditionally offers a firm batting surface during the afternoon, but as the game progresses, the characteristics of the pitch shift just enough to bring spinners and cutters into the contest.

IND vs SA Pitch Behaviour – First Innings Advantage, but Dew Rules Later

Visakhapatnam is known for its true bounce and quick value for shots. Openers usually enjoy the first 15 overs here, especially when they present the full face of the bat. Seamers who hit a full length can extract movement early due to the coastal breeze, although there is rarely excessive swing. Once the surface settles, the ball comes nicely onto the bat, enabling classical stroke-play rather than pure power-hitting.

In the second half, the story changes. As soon as the sun dips, heavy dew begins to settle across the outfield, making the ball slippery and reducing grip for the bowlers. The change in conditions makes defending totals extremely difficult. Both teams are well aware that bowling with a wet ball in Visakhapatnam becomes a challenge, especially for finger spinners and death overs pacers.

Stats Favour Batting Second

Teams batting first at this venue average around 277, but that number becomes deceptive because dew makes chases far simpler. India’s 387/5 against West Indies in 2019 is the highest score here, yet even totals above 320 have been successfully challenged. Anything below 300 could be unsafe in an evening game.

Spin Through The Middle

Once the ball gets older, the turn and grip are noticeable, especially between overs 15 and 35. This is the phase where Kuldeep Yadav and Keshav Maharaj will be crucial. Quick in-air dip and control at this venue often produce breakthroughs, though quality batters can still rotate at decent margins.

Toss Prediction – Win and Bowl

With strong dew expected after 7 PM, the toss virtually becomes a tactical advantage. The captain winning the toss should opt to bowl first, protect runs early, and then rely on easier chasing conditions.

A balanced surface awaits both sides, but the weather will favour the team batting second. Expect a high-scoring contest with calculated risk-taking. In a close series at 1-1, the pitch suggests that if India chase, they hold the edge, while South Africa becomes the favourite if they chase. Either way, another thriller is on the cards in Visakhapatnam.