South Africa ended day two of the second Test at 36/3, in reply to India's mammoth first innings total of 601 for five declared, in Pune on Friday.
Pacer Umesh Yadav removed both the openers Dean Elgar (6) and Aiden Markram (0) while Mohammed Shami sent back Temba Bavuma (8).
Theunis de Bruyn (20) and Anrich Nortje (2) will resume South Africa's innings tomorrow. The visitors trail India by 565 runs.
For India, skipper Virat Kohli completed his seventh double hundred in Test cricket, remaining unbeaten on 254 while Ravindra Jadeja (91) missed out on his second hundred by nine runs.
Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, who had scored six double tons each. He also equalled Ricky Ponting's record of 19 hundreds as Test skipper even though record belongs to Graeme Smith (25).
Ravindra Jadeja (91) also helped himself with some heavy duty hitting before missing out on his second Test hundred as Kohli declared immediately after his dismissal.
Kohli effortlessly shifted gears, toying with an attack which looked resigned after the first session as India took complete control.
In the first session, a beautiful straight drive off Vernon Philander brought up Indian captain's 26th Test and 69th international hundred and the muted celebration was more about contentment than elation.
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The final boundary count in his innings was an enviable 33 fours and two sixes in 336 balls. It was a marathon knock as he alone faced 56 off 156.3 overs bowled in India's innings.
Kohli was an epitome of concentration and with dependable vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (59) he raised a 178-run fourth wicket stand which broke the spirit of the Proteas attack.
Kagiso Rabada (3/93 in 26) and Philander (0/66 in 26 overs), for the second day in a row, bowled a probing morning spell, albeit with little luck.
Credit to the skipper and his deputy for the manner in which they negotiated the first hour.
The partnership of 225 runs with Jadeja in 39.1 overs was like adding insult to the injury.
The only blemish was fishing at an away swinger from Philander, which a diving wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock failed to latch on to.
Such was South Africa's misfortune that Senuran Muthusamy was found overstepping when Kohli had edged one to slip on 208.
Meanwhile, spinner Keshav Maharaj hurt his shoulder and was taken off the ground with the team management awaiting his scan report.