India vs South Africa - 3rd ODI match preview: Dhawan-led India will be up against the Proteas in the third and final ODI on Tuesday, October 11 from 1:30 PM IST onwards at Delhi.

The series is currently tied at 1-1 with the final match scheduled to be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Who will clinch the title on Tuesday?

Also Read: India's World Cup jerseys since 1992

Make your dream11 team prediction and every Fantasy League prediction with our fantasy cricket tips and suggestions. Get early updates, game previews, team news, guidance, and forecast for your fantasy team in our entire section Fantasy Sports.

India vs South Africa: 3rd ODI Preview

Match Details:-

Match: India vs South Africa - 3rd ODI
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
Date & Time: October 11, 2022 at 1:30 PM (IST)
Where to Watch Live: Star Sports Network and JIO TV.

Pitch Report: India vs South Africa: 3rd ODI

The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium has, more often than not, assisted batters. With the small size boundaries, batters can deal with boundaries. However, when it comes to the third ODI, the rain has been a problem for the pitch curators. When it rained the pitch and the ground has been under covers.

Read Also: Most Runs in T20 World Cup history

Head-to-Head Stats: (ODI)

Matches Played: 89
Won by India: 36
Won by South Africa: 50
Draw/Tie: 3

Team News:

India:

Shikhar Dhawan-led India bounces back in the series with a win in the second ODI on Sunday. With the help of two brilliant innings from Shreyas Iyer (113* off 111)and Ishan Kishan (93 off 84), India successfully chased down the target set by the visitors. Meanwhile, Mohammad Siraj standout among the bowlers and took three wickets including a maiden in his 10 overs spell.

All-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed debuted in Sunday's game picking up his first international wicket on the same day. He gave away 54 runs in his 10 overs quota. The momentum is currently with team India and they will be looking to keep their momentum in the final game also. Will India be able to grab crucial moments again here in Delhi?

Also Read: Most Matches Won by Indian Captain

South Africa:

Meanwhile, for the visitors, it's a bad day for them as they failed to defend despite having a good total on the board. Skipper Bavuma didn't play while Maharaj captained the side in absence of the former. However, a few positive things to take from the second game is the innings of Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram. Both of them scored half-centuries to help the Proteas to get past 275.

The main concern was Proteas bowling which failed to defend the total. Rabada failed to take wickets in crucial times while Nortje was punished by Ishan Kishan several times. Rabada, Parnell, and Fortuin took one wicket each but that wasn't enough to restrict the home side to chase down the target. Now, the visitors will be looking to bounce back here in Delhi and clinch the ODI series and make it 1-1 as they previously lost the T20I series.

India vs South Africa: 3rd ODI: Possible Playing XI

India:

Shikhar Dhawan (C)
Shubman Gill
Ishan Kishan
Shreyas Iyer
Sanju Samson (wk)
Washington Sundar
Shahbaz Ahmed
Shardul Thakur
Kuldeep Yadav
Avesh Khan
Mohammad Siraj

South Africa:

Janneman Malan
Quinton de Kock (wk)
Reeza Hendricks / Temba Bavuma (C)
Aiden Markram
Henrich Klassen
David Miller
Wayne Parnell
Keshav Maharaj (C)
Bjorn Fotuin
Kagiso Rabada
Tabraiz Shamsi

Read Also: Most Wickets in T20 World Cup history

3rd ODI: Fantasy Cricket Dream11 Team: Indis vs South Africa:

You must change your team if these players aren't announced in the starting lineup.

In a crucial stage like IPL playoffs, captains are expected to not only lead their team but also deliver crucial performances. The ability to score big when the team need you the most sets certain leaders apart.

We bring you the most 50+ scoresas a captain in IPL playoffs. See how Shreyas Iyer is leading this elite group with being the exceptional captain that he is.

1. Shreyas Iyer (3 times) | DC, KKR, PBKS

Shreyas Iyer has swiftly risen as a captain who performs under pressure in IPL playoffs. He holds an exceptional record of being the only captain to lead 3 different franchises to the final (Delhi Capitals in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and Punjab Kings in 2025).

He has also delivered 50+ scores thrice for his team in IPL playoffs. Here's a breakdown of that:

• 65* vs MI (Final, IPL 2020): An unbeaten 65* off 50 balls in the vital match while captaining DC, which came off when the team's top-order collapsed early. Despite their defeat in that match, Iyer's knock helped them reach a hopeful total.
• 58* vs SRH (Qualifier 1, IPL 2024): A captain's knock of 58* runs (from 24 balls) that set the tone for KKR's successful victory in the Q1 and led them into the finals.
• 87* vs MI (Qualifier 2, IPL 2025): From handling Bumrah's brilliant yorkers and turning them into boundaries, to keeping the asking rate down with towering sixes, this man has done it all in this match under pressure! Iyer's 87* off 41 balls (featuring five 4s and eight 6s) took PBKS to the final after 11 long years.

Read Also: 5 batters with the most runs in IPL playoffs history

A 1⃣1⃣ year wait ends... 🥹#PBKS are in the #TATAIPL 2025 Final and who better than Captain Shreyas Iyer to take them through ❤

Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/vIzPVlDqoC#PBKSvMI | #Qualifier2 | #TheLastMile | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/vILymKxqXp

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 1, 2025

2. Rohit Sharma (2 times) | MI

The five-time IPL winning captain, Rohit Sharma, holds a place with his 2 times delivering 50+ scores as a captain in IPL playoffs, playing for Mumbai Indians.

He scored both of them in Finals, contributing to MI's title-winning years. Here's a breakdown of that:

• 50 vs CSK (Final, IPL 2015): Helped MI set a strong total with his 50 runs off just 26 balls, showcasing his leadership in the team's title-winning efforts for the 2nd time in IPL.
• 68 vs DC (Final, IPL 2020): Played a captain's knock of 68 runs (from 51 balls) to control the chase and secure their 5th IPL title.

3. MS Dhoni (2 times) | CSK

One of the most successful captains in IPL history, MS Dhoni has played a significant role with the bat along with wicket-keeping and strategising overall. He scored 50+ knocks 2 times as a captain in IPL playoffs for Chennai Super Kings.

He scored both of them against MI, in different IPL seasons. Here's a breakdown of that:

• 51* vs MI (Eliminator, IPL 2012): Dhoni's explosive knock of 51* runs from just 20 balls helped CSK post a competitive total which eventually converted to a victory.
• 63* vs MI (Final, IPL 2013): In a hard-fought final against MI, his unbeaten 63 off 45 balls kept the hopes alive for CSK, but fell short of 23 runs in the end.

Read Also: Most P.O.T.M Awards in IPL

4. David Warner (2 times) | SRH

David Warner was a dominant force at the top of the order for Sunrisers Hyderabad and an equally good captain. He delivered many impactful performances throughout, along with 50+ scores 2 times in playoffs.

He scored both of them in IPL 2016, the season when SRH became champions. Here's a breakdown of that:

• 93* vs GL (Qualifier 2, IPL 2016): A sensational match-winning knock of 93* runs off 58 balls when the team needed it the most. He single-handedly chased down and took the match out of a poor situation, securing the win.
• 69 vs RCB (Final, IPL 2016): A classy knock in the final of the same season, where his explosive 69 runs (off 38 balls) helped SRH set 208 runs on board. They successfully defended and lifted their maiden IPL title by winning that match.

In Test cricket, captaincy is often associated with experience and seasoned wisdom, which matters in the long format. However, young talents step up early and prove how they are worthy of leadership.

With Shubman Gill stepping up as the new test captain for India, let's take a moment to celebrate the youngest cricketers to lead India in tests.

Here we bring you the five youngest cricket to ever represent India in tests as a captain.

5. Shubman Gill (25 years 285 days) | 2025

The newest name to join this list of young Indian test captains is Shubman Gill. At the age of 25 years and 285 days, Gill became the 37th test captain of India, and is set to lead in the longest format of the game.

The Indian team will play under Gill's captaincy with the commencement of five-match test series against England on June 20, 2025. This was a major change in the test squad after the former captain, Rohit Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, announced retirement from tests.

Gill made his test debut against Australia in December 2020, and scored 1893 runs, with 5 centuries and 7 fifties so far. With this new turnaround in his career, he became the 5th youngest cricketer to lead India in tests.

Read Also: Every Test Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

4. Ravi Shastri (25 years 229 days) | 1988

A prominent all-rounder and later a successful coach for the Indian team, Ravi Shastri also briefly held the reins of Test captaincy. He took on the role at the age of 25 years and 229 days, when he led India against West Indies on January 11, 1988.

His captaincy tenure was limited to a single match, but it was a memorable one, as India secured a victory by 255 runs. Shastri scored 3830 runs and took 151 wickets in his test career, that spanned from 1981 to 1992.

3. Kapil Dev (24 years 48 days) | 1983

The legendary all-rounder, Kapil Dev stepped into test captaincy for India at the age of 24 years and 48 days. His first match as a captain was against West Indies on February 23, 1983.

Dev captained India in 34 matches and proved how he was worthy of the position with true leadership skills at such young age. He took 434 wickets and scored 5248 runs in his test career (1978-1994).

He is still the youngest captain to win the World Cup for any team, and comes third in the list for youngest cricketers to lead India in tests.

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

2. Sachin Tendulkar (23 years 169 days) | 1996

One of the greatest batsmen of all time, Sachin Tendulkar also had his tenure as the test captain of India at the age of 23 years and 169 days. He first took on the captaincy to lead India in a match against Australia, in 1996.

Tendulkar's captaincy journey had two phases, with him leading in 25 matches. He had an incredible test career with 15921 runs in 200 matches, which is still the highest by any batter in the world!

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

1. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (21 years 77 days) | 1962

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi remains India's youngest ever test captain, having taken the role at the age of just 21 years and 77 days! He was famously known as 'Tiger' Pataudi in the field of cricket.

He captained India in 40 matches out of his 46-match test career. Despite losing his right eye in an accident early in his career, he continued to play and lead with brilliant skills and courage.

Pataudi scored 2793 runs, smashing 6 centuries and 16 half-centuries in his test career (1961-1975).

India A started their England tour on a great note with a solid Day 1 display against the England Lions in Canterbury. Karun Nair headlined the day with a solid, unbeaten 186 with the bat for India A.

England Lions captain James Rew won the toss and decided to bowl first on a greenish pitch at the St. Lawrence Ground. 

India A lost captain Abhimanyu Easwaran early on 8 while Yashasvi Jaiswal went back to the dressing room after adding 24. 

When it looked like that, Rew took the right decision of bowling first, Sarfaraz Khan and Karun Nair put up a 181-run partnership for the third wicket to give India A the advantage after Day 1’s play. 

Karun Nair, who last played a test match in 2017, continued his great form and completed his fifty in 85 balls. 

Soon, Sarfraz Khan, who was dropped from the test squad, completed his fifty in 84 balls as well. When both batters were looking to get to the hundred mark first, Sarfraz was caught down the leg side on 92 off 119 balls and missed his ton.

Sarfaraz Khan gets dismissed 8 short of a well-deserved hundred.

Sarfaraz was looking good but was eventually caught down the leg side on 92.

Karun Nair is batting on 97!

India A 233/3 in the first inning!#ENGAvINDA #SarfarazKhan pic.twitter.com/pY7pCRmwZP

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) May 30, 2025

Nair, who was dropped on 89 off Ajeet Singh Dale, completed his 24th first-class ton off 155 balls.

Post that, incoming batter Dhruv Jurel and Nair started smashing the bowlers and changed their gears. Nair reached the landmark of 150 in 205 balls while Jurel reached his fifty in just 68 balls.

At the end of Day 1 of the 4-day unofficial test match, Jurel remained unbeaten on 82 off 104 balls while Nair remained unbeaten on 186 from 246 balls, with India A finishing with 409/3. 

The Eliminator match of IPL 2025 will be played between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Friday, May 30. The team that wins this match will play Qualifier-2 while the losing team will be out of the tournament.

Gujarat Titans were strong contenders for the number two position from the beginning, but the defeat in the last 2 matches spoiled their chances. After the initial defeat, Mumbai Indians were also riding on the winning chariot, but after losing 2 out of the last 3 matches of the league stage, Hardik Pandya and team had to settle for the fourth position. Now both these teams have to win 3 consecutive matches to win the title.

Also Read: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 Preview, Head-to-head, Possible XIs and Fantasy Team Prediction

After defeating MI twice in the group stages earlier in the IPL 2025 season, GT will be confident to get the better of the five-time champions once again, to get themselves a step closer to winning their second title in four seasons.

For MI, it will be very important to bring their A game forward after not playing to their full potential against GT earlier in the tournament, and this could very well be the case due to the impressive track record in the knockout matches for the franchise.

From possible playing XIs to head-to-head record, here is everything you need to know about the Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians Eliminator in IPL 2025.

Match Details

• Match: Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians 
• Tournament: IPL 2025, Eliminator
• Date: 30 May 2025
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur

Streaming Details

Cricket fans from India can watch the GT vs MI Eliminator on Star Sports TV Channels on Television. They can also stream the match LIVE on JioHotstar for free.

Pitch Report

The pitches at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur had something for batters and bowlers during the early stages of the IPL 2025, allowing for some compelling cricket for the fans. Over the years, the teams batting first have five matches, while teams batting second have won four matches in the league at this venue. The average first innings total here in the IPL is 170.

Weather Report

The weather report has forecasted rain in Chandigarh on the match day. However, there is no forecast of rain during the match time at night. As a result, rain is unlikely to play spoilsport during the GT vs MI clash. The temperature is set to hover in the early 30s during the match.

GT vs MI: Head-to-Head Record

Gujarat Titans have a proud 5-2 record in seven IPL matches over MI, with a few matches going down to the wire over the course of the last four seasons. Earlier in the IPL 2025, one of their fixtures, which was played in Mumbai, was decided on the last ball with the rain playing a role leading up to it, wherein GT held their nerve to get across the finishing line.

GT's Last Five Matches

MI's Last Five Matches

Also Read: IPL 2025 playoffs: Here is how each team reached top four

Possible XIs

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Gerald Coetzee, R Sai Kishore, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj

Impact Subs: Arshad Khan

Mumbai Indians: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Charith Asalanka, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

Impact Subs: Karn Sharma

Fantasy Team Prediction

Kusal Mendis, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (vc), Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya (c), Mitchell Santner, Arshad Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Trent Boult.

The first playoff match of the 18th season of Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played tomorrow, Thursday, May 29. The first qualifier match will be played between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.

After the group stage, PBKS finished first in the points table while RCB finished second. Now the team that wins the Qualifier-1 match will get a 'Ticket to the Final'.

Also Read: Every heated moment of IPL 2025 that you missed

Both the teams had a great season so far and are among the favourites to lift their maiden IPL title this year. PBKS have qualified into the playoffs after 11 years while RCB made into the top-two for the first time after 2016.

Ahead of their clash in the IPL 2025 playoffs, PBKS and RCB met twice in the league stage this year with both teams winning one game each. Now, looking for their maiden title, both PBKS and RCB are now just a win away from getting into the final. However, the losing team will also get another chance in the qualifier two. 

From possible playing XIs to head-to-head record, here is everything you need to know about the Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Qualifier 1 in IPL 2025.

Match Details

• Match: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
• Tournament: IPL 2025, Qualifier 1
• Date: 29 May 2025
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadiu, New Chandigarh

Streaming Details

Cricket fans from India can watch the PBKS vs RCB Qualifier 1 LIVE on Star Sports TV Channels on Television. They can also stream the match LIVE on JioHotstar for free.

Pitch Report

The newly-constructed Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh provides an equal contest for both the batters and the bowlers. Out of eight IPL matches played at this ground so far, the team batting first five times while the chasing team came out victorious on four occasions. The average score at this ground is around 170 runs.

Weather Report

The New PCA stadium in Mullanpur is expected to witness temperature highs of up to 40 degree Celsius and lows of 24 degree Celsius on Thursday, with the forecast predicting a mostly sunny day, with the chance of a few clouds.

PBKS vs RCB: Head-to-Head Record

Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have faced each other 35 times in the IPL history so far. Out of these 35 matches, PBKS won 18 times while RCB defeated them on 17 occasions.

PBKS vs RCB: Recent Team Performances

Also Read: IPL Table toppers: IPL Playoffs teams from 2008 to 2025

Possible XIs

Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh

Impact Subs: Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (c & wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma

Impact Subs: Rajat Patidar

Fantasy Team Prediction

Prabhsimran Singh (vc), Josh Inglis, Phil Salt, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Priyansh Arya, Mayank Agarwal, Krunal Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harpreet Brar.