The stubborn resistance shown by Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, the two most experienced batsmen, as well as world class players mean India will have to work very hard to get that 3-0 win that they are looking at. If they do so, it will be really big as they are playing the No.1 team. South Africa have not shown this much resistance in the earlier Test matches. Here, they have decided to stick around, not play shots unless a non-regular bowler comes on or when R Ashwin tries the leg spinner and it does not land properly.

The way South Africa are batting, they are not going to chase the huge target. Their aim will be to bat out the 90 overs on day-five. It was Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliance, his second century of the match that allowed Virat Kohli to set South Africa the massive target to chase. Kohli himself missed out on what would have been a very well deserved century. He played some crisp shots and looked totally in command. For once, he was caught in the crease as the ball kept lower than he anticipated, and he was caught plumb in front.

His partnership with Rahane might just have been what South Africans would have taken their lessons from. Both Amla and de Villiers are showing patience, which is exactly what Rahane and Kohli did at the start. It might not be easy for India, but if they take that one wicket, the floodgates will open and they might win in a canter.