Rohit Sharma notched up his maiden double century and his 267-run stand with Ajknkya Rahane, who smashed his 11th century and his third against South Africa has put India in the driver's seat against South Africa. Ravindra Jadeja continued his good form with the bat as he smashed 51 and helped India reach 450. The Indian cricket team will be looking for contributions from the tail-enders and Umesh Yadav responded with five sixes in his 10-ball 31 but India declared on 497/9 to present South Africa a tricky period.
15:56 hrs IST: That is stumps on day 2. South Africa are facing an uphill task, trailing by 488 runs.
15:46 hrs IST: Bad light has stopped play in Ranchi and the covers are coming on. That seems like the end of day is coming closer.
15:14 hrs IST: WICKET! Brute of a ball from Umesh. After caressing a full ball to deep point, Umesh bangs a short ball on middle and leg stump and de Kock tries to fend it but the ball hits the glove. South Africa 8/2, trail by 489 runs.
15:07 hrs IST: WICKET! What a start for India and Shami. Short ball on the body, Elgar looks to drop his wrists but the ball kisses the glove and Wriddhiman Saha takes the catch. South Africa 4/1, trail by 493 runs.
14:44 hrs IST: India have declared for the fourth time in this series. Thus, South Africa have not been able to bowl India out in any of the Tests. India 497/9 declared.
14:32 hrs IST: WICKET! The fun is over for India. Umesh Yadav had blasted five sixes all of George Linde but in the quest for a sixth six, he top-edges the bowler and Heinrich Klassen takes the catch. India 482/9.
14:27 hrs IST: WICKET! Ashwin plays inside the line to a straight delivery from Piedt and is drawn out of the crease. He is stumped and India are 464/8.
14:19 hrs IST: WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja notches up his 13th fifty but he departs to George Linde as he edges a flatter delivery that skids straignt on. India 450/7.
13:47 hrs IST: WICKET! Linde gets his second. Saha plays all around a flatter delivery that holds its line and the India wicketkeeper is cleaned up. India are 417/6.
13:34 hrs IST: India have crossed 400 as Jadeja and Saha continue to torment the South Africa bowling. India are 406/5.
13:01 hrs IST: Jadeja and Saha are making steady progress but South Africa are bowling with discipline. India 386/5.
12:44 hrs IST: The scoring rate will take a dip as Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha aim to get India close to 450 at the tea break. India 377/5.
12:32 hrs IST: WICKET! Rohit pulls Rabada to fine leg and he departs for 212. What a knock. What a champion! India 370/5.
12:28 hrs IST: Got to his hundred with a six. Gets to his 200 with a six. What a player, Rohit Sharma. Notches up his maiden double ton by hammering Lungi Ngidi over deep midwicket. On Virender Sehwag's birthday, Rohit has shown that he is like Sehwag when it comes to milestones. India 370/5 vs South Africa.
11:37 hrs IST: That is lunch on day 2 in Ranchi and Rohit Sharma is left stranded on 199*. How will he take his lunch break not thinking about the milestone? India 357/4 vs South Africa.
11:05 hrs IST: With another four off Dane Piedt, Rohit Sharma notches up his highest individual score in Tests, going past the 177 he made against the West Indies in Kolkata. India 322/4 vs South Africa.
10:52 hrs IST: WICKET! Maiden Test wicket for George Linde. He gives this delivery a bit more rip and it spins away outside off, a touch of extra bounce and Rahane looks to steer it down to third man but edges it to the keeper. The 267-run stand is broken and Linde is jubilant. India 306/4 vs South Africa.
10:49 hrs IST: Rahane and Rohit are dealing mainly in boundaries and India have crossed 300. South Africa once again looking clueless. India are 305/3 vs South Africa.
10:40 hrs IST: Missed stumping! Piedt gets this delivery to zip through and Rahane wanders out of the crease looking to nurdle it to the leg side, he misses but Heinrich Klassen does not collect it cleanly and Rahane survives. The partnership has reached 250. India 289/3.
10:32 hrs IST: Rohit continues his merry ways as he toys around with the spinners. India are 284/3.
10:24 hrs IST: Another 150 for Rohit Sharma. He really likes to score big hundreds. Can he go on and make a double ton this time? India 274/3 vs South Africa.
10:20 hrs IST: Century No.11 for Rahane. What a brilliant moment. He was struggling a couple of series ago but now he is absolutely in the zone. India are 272/3 and Rohit is also nearing a 150.
10:13 hrs IST: Ajinkya Rahane nears his century with a couple of boundaries while Rohit Sharma continues to grow from strength to strength as he finds the boundary on a regular basis. India 265/3 vs South Africa.
09:56 hrs IST: Rohit does the Nataraj and pulls Lungi Ngidi on one leg to the deep midwicket boundary. The 200-run stand is up between Rahane and Rohit. India are 241/3 against South Africa.
09:46 hrs IST: Rahane nears his century with a four off Anrich Nortje while Rohit Sharma gets going with a straight drive to long on. Rahane is being troubled slightly by Nortje and India are 232/3.
09:25 hrs IST: A warm welcome to the second day of the Ranchi Test. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane will be determined to pile on the agony for the South Africans. India will also be hoping that the weather stays fine throughout the day.