South Africa were 62 for 3 in their second innings at stumps to trail India by 36 runs on Day 1 of the second and final Test here on Wednesday.
Aiden Markram and David Bedingham were at crease on 36 and 7 respectively at close of play.
Earlier, India collapsed to 153 all out in their first innings in the final session after skittling out South Africa for 55.
Virat Kohli top-scored with 46 while captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill made 39 and 36 respectively. India faced just 34.5 overs. They had resumed the post-tea session at 111 for 4.
India lost their last six wickets in 11 balls for no run. India, who had lost the first Test in Centurion, had taken a 98-run first innings lead.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj ripped through the South Africa batting line-up with a sensational six-wicket haul as India bowled the home side at stroke of lunch.
Brief Scores: South Africa: 55 all out in 23.2 overs (Kyle Verreynne 15; Mohammed Siraj 6/15) and 62 for 3 in 17 overs (Aiden Markram 36 batting; Mukesh Kumar 2/25).
India: 153 all out in 34.5 overs (Virat Kohli 46, Rohit Sharma 39, Shubman Gill 36; Lungi Ngidi 3/30, Kagiso Rabada 3/38, Nandre Burger 3/42).
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