Team India registered a series-clinching nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the third and final ODI at Vizag on Saturday (December 6).

Chasing 271 to win, the Men in Blue rode on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden ODI ton (116* off 121) and half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (75 off 73) and Virat Kohli (65* off 45) to get over the line with 61 deliveries to spare.

After the series was sealed, India’s stand-in skipper KL Rahul jokingly said his teammates were proud of him for winning the toss in the decider.

For the unversed, India were on a world record toss losing streak of 20 consecutive ODIs. The streak, which is a one-in-a-million event mathematically, started in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final.

“The first was the toss, I don't think the team has looked at me and smiled so much and have been more proud of me for doing anything other than winning this toss. Yeah, it was really crucial. You can see how the ground is at the moment. We got tough conditions in the first two games. So, it was good to give the bowlers a break in a wet outfield,” Rahul said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Opting to bowl first, the hosts bundled out the Proteas for 270 in 47.5 overs. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, claiming four wickets by conceding 41 runs in 10 overs. Pacer Prasidh Krishna also broke the back of South Africa's top and middle order, returning with figures of 4 for 66 in 9.5 overs.

Quinton de Kock was the top scorer for tourists, hitting 106 off 89 balls. It was his 23rd ODI hundred and seventh against India in the 50-over format.

“It was still a really good wicket, what we were able to do was pick up wickets in bunches. And we know with teams that go so hard, it can either be a 400 chase or sometimes play one too many shots and get out and that's what happened. We were able to squeeze in the middle. Prasidh picked up those two or three wickets in a spell which was really crucial. And then Kuldeep coming in, picking two wickets in an over. So, in ODI cricket, that's how you try and contain teams. That's how you can win games of cricket - picking up wickets. That's the only way you can stop teams,” Rahul stated.

“The way he (de Kock) was batting ... when he get out, it was 180 or something and he was already batting on 120. It shows that the set batter obviously felt the wicket was a bit different. For guys coming in, it was much harder. So, it was a really crucial wicket at that point,” he added.

Rahul also counted on the positives from the 2-1 ODI series win against South Africa. “Yeah, that's the most pleasing thing about the series is how we've been able to hold our nerve and how we've been able to handle the pressure. In all the games, the batters from South Africa have been able to come in with that sort of an intent to come and put our bowlers under pressure. And the bowlers have really held their nerve,” the captain remarked.

“One result that didn't go our way. But like I said, at the toss, we're not really upset or not really thinking too much about it. Because I think the stuff that we've been doing, the planning that we've done and the processes that they've followed and they've been consistent with that. So, today was one instance where doing the same thing paid off,” he concluded.

The two teams will now square off in a five-match T20I series, starting on Tuesday (December 9) in Cuttack.