India conceded a massive 288-run first innings lead and face a series defeat after they were bowled out for 201 by South Africa on day three of the second Test in Guwahati.
Seamer Marco Jansen took 6-48 before the tourists closed on 26-0, 314 runs ahead and now firm favourites to seal a 2-0 series victory.
Resuming on 9-0, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored with 58 before being caught by Jansen off the bowling of spinner Simon Harmer.
Jansen, who struck a career-best 93 in South Africa’s first innings, took four consecutive wickets to blow away India’s middle-order, as the home side slipped from 102-3 to 122-7.
Washington Sundar (48) put on a slow-scoring 72-run partnership with Kuldeep Yadav (19), but his resistance ended when he edged a Harmer delivery and became one of five players caught by Aiden Markram.
Jansen then took the two remaining wickets of Kuldeep and Jasprit Bumrah to conclude the innings.
India went 12 years without losing a Test series at home until they were beaten 3-0 by New Zealand last year.
Though they beat West Indies 2-0 in October, losing this two-match series would mean a second home defeat in little over 12 months.
