Can India make South Africa pay for lost opportunities?

It seems South Africa has the upper hand over India at the end of day 1 at Wanders, theoretically, it's the way. But what if we take South Africa's missed opportunities into account, that might say, they would have been in even more dominant position.

Gone with no frontline spinner in the attack both teams had made a statement, it also well supported by the green track and overhead conditions on days to follow. On day 1 most part of morning and second session were under clouds, and the decision seems to a right way to go.

Coming back to the missed opportunities South Africa had in the Innings, might become costly for them, if India bowls well as they bowled in Cape Town’s second Innings. In the second Test, India had missed opportunities as they couldn't clinch on to some catches behind the stumps and a couple in the outfield.

Those missed opportunities cost India a lot given their sloppy batting so far. South Africa too, haven't been at their best with the bat, if India had taken those missed opportunities, South Africa may have been in trouble.

In Centurion Elgar, Markram, Amla, and Duplessis all played well, but Virat responded with a 150 to almost close the gap in the first Innings. India had paid the price for the lost chances in some big partnerships, to South Africa.

Apart from lost chances, De Villiers knocks in both matches hurt India the most, the way he transferred pressure back on to India had a significant impact in both tests so far. His 65 in first innings, allowed Duplessis to grind at the other end, and in the second Test, his 80 helped Elgar and Duplessis to grind at the other end.

In both Test matches, if India had picked De Villiers early, India would have been the more dominant position. Now, in the third Test, they find themselves in the same position, with the seaming conditions around De Villiers will try to replicate of what happened at Cape Town.

If India can knock De Villiers out of the equation early in the Innings and take them every chance those come their way India might make South Africa pay for their mistakes. If India can do those things, they can continue their unbeaten record at Wanders.