India vs South Africa 3rd ODI Stats Review: South Africa’s lowest total against India, Kuldeep Yadav’s second-best ODI figures, and other stats

Kuldeep Yadav scripted his second-best figures of 4/18 as India bowlers bundled out South Africa got bundled out their lowest total against India in ODIs, eventually losing the third and the final match of the series by seven wickets in Delhi.

Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar and Shahbaz Ahmed picked two wickets apiece to support Kuldeep in dismantling the Proteas batting line-up. With this, the Men in Blue sealed the series 2-1 after already beating the visitors by the same margin in the T20Is.

Speaking about how the decider unfolded, skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and opted to field first. David Miller captained the South Africans as they became the first team to field three different captains in a three-match ODI series.

Wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock recorded his second single-digit score in as many games as he fell prey to Sundar for just six. Janneman Malan failed to score big yet again as he got dismissed for 15 to Siraj. Half-centurions from the last encounter, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram amassed just three and nine respectively while skipper Miller made seven.

Heinrich Klaasen top-scored for the tourists as he mustered 34 off 42. Kuldeep spun his web to pick four wickets for 18 in just 4.1 overs, including a maiden. The Proteas never really looked like scoring big against a solid all-round display from the Indian bowling attack. Chasing just 100, captain Dhawan got run out for just eight, ending a disappointing series for himself where he managed to score only 25 runs.

His opening partner Shubman Gill played a fluent innings of 49 off 57 with the help of eight fours. Man-in-form Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 28 off 23 to finish off the formality for the hosts in just 19.1 overs. Both teams now gear up for the ultimate challenge, the T20 World Cup, beginning on October 16 in Australia. Kuldeep won the Player of the Match award while Siraj, for picking up five scalps at an economy rate of just 4.52 grabbed the Player of the Series award.

Meanwhile, here are some of the important stats and numbers from the 3^rd ODI between India and South Africa:

99 – South Africa recorded their lowest total against India in ODIs. Previously, they managed to score only 117 in Nairobi in the year 1999.

4/18 – Kuldeep Yadav registered his second-best figures of 4/18 in an ODI. His spell of 6/25 against England in Nottingham in 2018 is at the top.

4 – South Africa also suffered their fourth-lowest ODI total of 99. Their previous three lowest scores are 69 against Australia in 1993, and 83 against England in 2008 and 2022 respectively.

38 – India equaled Australia for winning the most matches (38) in international cricket in a calendar year. The Aussies won as many games in the year 2003.

3 – India recorded the third-biggest defeat on the Proteas in terms of balls remaining (185). England with 215 and Australia with 188 deliveries won against South Africa in 2008 and 2002 respectively.

25 – Shikhar Dhawan managed to amass only 25 runs at an average of 8.33 in three matches of the series.

24 – Kuldeep has now taken the fifth-most ODI wickets for India against South Africa. Anil Kumble (46), Harbhajan Singh (31), Javagal Srinath (28), and Venkatesh Prasad (25) are in the top four positions.

5 – India also won their fifth successive ODI series with their last defeat coming against the Proteas at their home in January this year.

1 - South Africa became the first team to field three different captains in a three-match ODI series.

1 – The Proteas also scripted the lowest total of 99 in a one-day international in Delhi (excluding rain-curtailed games). The previous lowest of 115 was posted by the Netherlands against West Indies in the 2011 World Cup.