Pune: Team India is in firm control of the second Test being played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday. After putting up formidable first innings total of 601/5, thanks to captain Virat Kohli's herculean 254 not out, pace bowling duo Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami shared three wickets between them to reduce South Africa to paltry 36 for 3 to erect hosts' authority in the match.
The visitors are currently trailing by 565 runs with seven wickets in hand.
Soon after Kohli declared India's innings fast bowler Umesh Yadav gave India first breakthrough as the pacer trapped South Africa opener Aiden Markram on the front pad for lbw.
It was a beautiful inswinger which beat the right-handed batsman and trapped him lbw. Yadav added another to his tally as left-handed Dean Elgar, who scored 160 in the first Test, was played on.
Umesh Yadav picked up wickets of Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar. The right-arm paceman has shown great control over the red cherry. He is landing the ball in the zone and the ball is moving both ways.
Mohammed Shami gave India the third wicket as the burly pacer dismissed Temba Bavuma for the second time in the series for 8.
The Proteas are in deep trouble
The visitors are already in deep trouble. After opener Mayank Agarwal made Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander led Proteas' bowling attack looking ordinary on day 1 of the Pune Test, the second day belonged captain Kohli, who last scored a ton in December 2018 at Perth during India's 2-1 historic series win Down Under, as the stylish right-handed batsman slammed 254 not out during his 336 balls stay at the crease.
India captain Virat Kohli surpassed 7000 Test runs mark on the second day of second Test in Pune. Kohli stitched his innings with 33 boundaries and two boundaries. He was ably supported by No. 3 Cheshwar Pujara, who scored 81 in the second innings of Visakhapatnam, played 58 runs innings before Rabada got him at the slip cordon.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane too chipped in with 59 runs innings. With Kohli was looking set for his maiden triple ton, Jadeja took the responsibility to accelerate India's innings.
The southpaw played a beautiful 91 runs innings before Muthusamy took the second wicket of his maiden India tour. Being the captain the Delhi dasher didn't stretch his innings further to safeguard his team's interest.
Theunis de Bruyn (20) and Anrich Nortje (2) will resume South Africa's innings on day 3.
