The Proteas are in big trouble at 9/2, trailing India by 488 runs, in the third and final Test against India in Ranchi.
After being demolished in the first two Tests, South Africa had already struggled to compete with their hosts.
And skipper Faf du Plessis and his manne were outclassed again on the opening two days after Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat.
SA had their tails up when they had their hosts at 39/3, but then Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane took India to 224/3 overnight.
On Sunday, Sharma resumed on 117 and Rahane on 83 before moving the hosts 306/4 on the back of a record fourth-wicket record partnership of 267 runs before the latter was out for 115 as debutant George Linde’s maiden Test wicket.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSA #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/dfQSJC3CDR
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA)
Sharma finally fell to Kagiso Rabada for 212 before India declared on 497/9.
Rabada finished with bowling figures of 3/85.
There was only time for five overs before close of play, but Dean Elgar lasted just two balls for his duck, while promoted Quinton de Kock only made four.
Zubayr Hamza (0) and Du Plessis (1) have to dig in to give SA any chance of a result.