South Africa have provided a key update on their squad ahead of the third and final ODI against India, scheduled to be played in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6. Fast bowler Nandre Burger and left-handed batter Tony de Zorzi have both been ruled out of the crucial decider due to hamstring injuries.

Burger experienced discomfort in his right hamstring while bowling during the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday and was forced to leave the field mid-spell, with captain Aiden Markram completing his overs. De Zorzi, meanwhile, felt pain in his right hamstring area while batting during South Africa’s run chase and had to retire hurt. Both players underwent scans on Friday, which confirmed the extent of their injuries, ruling them out of the final ODI.

Additionally, De Zorzi has also been ruled out of the upcoming five-match T20I series against India, beginning Tuesday, December 9. He will return home, and Cricket South Africa has confirmed that no replacement will be added for him.

In another setback, young fast bowler Kwena Maphaka has not progressed as expected during the final stages of his rehabilitation from a left hamstring injury. He will not regain fitness in time for the start of the T20I series and has been withdrawn from the squad. Pacer Lutho Sipamla has been named as his replacement.

The ODI series stands level at 1-1, setting up an exciting finale in Visakhapatnam. In the opening match in Ranchi, India posted a strong total of 349, courtesy of Rohit Sharma (57), Virat Kohli (135), and KL Rahul (60). Ottneil Baartman bowled economically for South Africa, picking 2/60. However, the Proteas fell short by 17 runs despite fighting knocks from Matthew Breetzke (72), Marco Jansen (70), and Corbin Bosch (67). India’s win was shaped by Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/68 and Harshit Rana’s 3/65.

In the second ODI, India once again crossed 350, scoring 358 with Kohli (102), Ruturaj Gaikwad (105), and Rahul (66*) leading the way. Jansen impressed with 2/63. South Africa, however, successfully chased the target by four wickets, riding on Markram’s superb 110, Breetzke’s 68, and Dewald Brevis’s 54. Though Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets, he remained expensive with 2/85.

With both sides locked at one win apiece, the decider promises high stakes and high intensity as each team aims to clinch the series trophy.