'They're going to be really hungry to...': South Africa's Matthew Breetzke aware of India threat in series-decider third ODI

South Africa's star batter Matthew Breetzke is aware that Team India will present a strong challenge in the series-deciding third ODI, which is slated to be played on December 6 in Vizag.

Matthew Breetzke admits tough contest against India in 3rd ODI

However, Breetzke expressed confidence in South Africa's well-rounded batting line-up to successfully overcome the expected pressure. With the three-match series currently level at 1-1, India must secure a victory on Saturday to prevent a second consecutive series defeat against the Proteas, especially after recently losing the preceding Test series 0-2.

"We're going to have to play good cricket against a really good side. We know that they're going to be really hungry to win. It's a must-win game, so it's going to be a really good contest," Breetzke said at the pre-match press conference.

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Breetzke lavishes praise on South Africa's power-packed batting line-up

The 27-year-old batter drew encouragement from the resilient fight displayed by South Africa's middle and lower-order throughout the previous two matches. For him, the inclusion of capable batters such as Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch lower down the order is considered a significant advantage for the team.

"We've got a nice balance in our side with a couple of guys who are proper batters, and then you've got powerhouses like (Dewald) Brevis, (Marco) Jansen and Corbin (Bosch) that can change the game on its head. So I think we complement each other really well, and there's a lot of confidence in the batting group at the moment. We will have to do it again tomorrow," he added.

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The 27-year-old also said that the depth of power-hitters present lower down the batting order provides reassurance, allowing the top-order batters to approach their innings with less pressure and play a more risk-free style of cricket.

"It gives you confidence as top order batters, knowing that you have Jansen and Bosh at the bottom. I think we've seen Bosh in the last two matches play some really special innings. The top four it gives you a lot of confidence. You can take a little bit more time, because you know you've got that explosive power at the back end," he further stated.

Notably, South Africa successfully chased the targets set by India in both the Ranchi and Raipur ODIs. The presence of dew during the second innings in those matches significantly eased their task, as the Indian bowlers found it increasingly difficult to grip the ball, especially during the middle overs. Breetzke stated that the South African team has developed comprehensive strategies to address the situation if they are required to bat first in the upcoming series decider.

"We have seen that the dew has played a big part (in the first two matches), obviously, in our advantage, batting second, it's been really nice to bat. If we have to bat first, I'm sure we'll chat about it after a couple of meetings after this conference and see what the best way to go about it. But yeah, the dew has definitely played a big part," Breetzke concluded.