While No. 2 India can't overtake South Africa in the rankings over the brief two-test contest, it can lay down a marker by ending the Proteas' 13-series unbeaten run stretching back to 2009, and the Indians already probably have enough runs and only need to give themselves enough time to bowl out the South Africans to take the opener.
"It all depends on the time now," bowler Sharma said. "I don't think the runs matter."