India need eight wickets, South Africa 278 runs – it is pretty simple really going into Day 3 of the third Test in Nagpur.
After bowling South Africa out for 79 to take a sizeable lead, India set their opponents a target of 310, after picking up 173 runs in the second innings.
South Africa are already two down in the fourth innings of this Test match, with Stiaan Van Zyl and Imran Tahir, the nightwatchman again, falling just before the close of play on day two.
Much depends on Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla, the two batsmen in the middle, to build a big partnership. The longer these two bat, the more nervous India will become; the closer they take South Africa to the target, the more pressurised the bowlers will feel, knowing a certain AB De Villiers is still there to come and smash the bowling to smithereens and overhaul this improbable target.
That, of course, remains highly unlikely, even for De Villiers, considering the nature of the pitch and the way South Africa have played the spinners in this Test series, but then the only way for the visitors to play on Day 3 is by carrying hope, hope of completing what seems like the improbable.
"I think it has been shown that if you just sit there and look to absorb, without trying to score, you will get a ball that will get you out," South Africa coach Russell Domingo said. "The guys who have got runs have looked to score.
"We are going to look to score, because there is no way that we will block out for three days."
What India cannot do, though, is think this match is already won. South Africa are not the number team in the world for no reason, and Virat Kohli must ensure all his players walk into the field knowing there is still plenty to do, and di it to their utmost best they must if they are to win this Freedom Series.
"We know we haven't batted to our ability," Domingo added, "but it's damn tough to bat out there. It shows in one Indian player scoring over 50 in this series, and that is Murali Vijay.
"AB has scored two half-centuries, and that's it. Although we haven't batted well, India have scored 100 runs more than us. Hundred runs is a lot of runs, but it isn't a lot of runs, if that makes sense.
"So we haven't batted well, but conditions are not easy, especially with the quality of the Indian bowlers."
Somehow, South Africa need to find some spin batting spirit and make this Test match a contest, otherwise we could have the presentation ceremony before the Lunch break.
Where to Watch Live
Get the talking points from the Test match HERE
Watch the highlights of Day 3 HERE
Get the Day 3 Score Update HERE
India vs South Africa 3rd Test, Day 3 is scheduled for a 9.30 am IST (4 am GMT, 6 am SAST, 12 am ET) start.
India: TV: Star Sports 3, Star Sports 1, Star Sports HD3 and Star Sports HD1.
Live Streaming links: Starsports online and Hotstar .
Middle East and North Africa: TV: OSN Sports
Live stream: OSN Play
South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa: TV: SuperSport,
Live Streaming: SuperSport Live.
US: TV: Willow TV
Live Stream online: Willow TV online.
UK: Sky Sports 2
Live Stream: Watch Sky Sports.
